WILDFIRE: Camp Fire, 2018 Flashcards
1
Q
Where did the wildfire originate?
A
Butte County, Northern California
2
Q
Wildfire magnitude:
A
- burning time of 18 days
- 62000 hectares burned
3
Q
Hazard cause:
A
- failure of a poorly maintained PGE transmission line
- molten metal was ignition source
- Santa Ana winds in valleys (55 mph)
- six-year drought followed by large grass crops and a hot, dry summer
4
Q
Secondary hazards:
A
- strong winds preventing drop of fire retardants
- smoke meant only helicopters could fly
- ash and smoke
5
Q
Primary impacts:
A
- loss of life and injury
- loss of buildings in Concow and Paradise
- firefighters unable to stop fires so focused on helping residents
6
Q
Secondary impacts:
A
- evacuations in Pulga, Concow and Paradise
- propane tank exploded
- collapse of trees and buildings
7
Q
Economic impacts:
A
- $16.5 billion in damages
- 18,000 buildings damaged
- use of CalAir aircraft
- PGE bankrupt
8
Q
Social impacts:
A
- 50,000 displaced
- 85 dead
- 17 injured
- one missing person
- Paradise and Concow received evacuation warning too late
- 94% of people didn’t receive emergency alerts
- people trapped in traffic jams
9
Q
Environmental impacts:
A
- air pollution as far away as NYC
- heavy rain aided containment
- water and soil contaminated
10
Q
Political impacts:
A
- people couldn’t return home for up to 5 months
– civil unrest: people camping on their property
11
Q
Risk:
A
- Mediterranean climate
- Santa Ana winds funnel through River Canyon
- low humidity and resinous trees
12
Q
Vulnerability:
A
- 13 fires since 1999
- urban incursion into wilderness
- densely populated
- remote start point
13
Q
Long-term management strategies:
A
CalFIRE
14
Q
Short-term response strategies:
A
- 700 soldiers deployed
- CalAir airtankers dropping water
- 5600 firefighters
