EU doubles firefighting fleet in preparation for wildfire season

by Aerial FirefightingFeatured News

Ahead of the upcoming wildfire season, the European Commission plans to increase its firefighting plane count to 28, effectively doubling its current fleet, according to an announcement made by EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič during a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday (30 May). According to EURACTIV, the decision comes in response to a surge in extreme weather-related events due to the escalating climate crisis.

During the press conference, Lenarčič recalled last summer as a season with a record number of wildfires in Europe, which led to an unprecedented number of requests for assistance and required a significant deployment of assets from the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).

The ERCC is a key player in crisis management for the EU, coordinating assistance and resources during calamities and supporting the EU’s civil protection mechanism.

Additionally, the Commissioner elaborated on the role of the RescEU capacity, an emergency reserve designed to offer a robust response in times of crisis. This reserve includes medical supplies, COVID-19 vaccines, and resources for handling chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear crises, such as iodine tablets.

The upcoming wildfire season will see the RescEU reserve of firefighting aircraft bolstered to 28 units, comprising 24 planes and 4 helicopters from 10 EU member states. The fleet will include contributions from Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Greece.

Lenarčič also noted that the EU will rely on a specialised firefighting force consisting of 400 personnel from France, Portugal, and Greece. This strategic move is aligned with the EU’s commitment to enhancing its civil protection capacities, as voiced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last September.

The Commissioner further shed light on plans to develop a permanent fleet funded by the EU budget to augment firefighting capabilities. The arrangement will eventually relieve member states from committing their existing resources to the fleet and lessen the burden on national capacity.

Lenarčič confirmed that all 28 planes will be financed by the Commission during the fire season, spanning mid-June to the end of October. He cautioned that the transition from the current fleet to a permanent one would take significant time, particularly for the medium amphibious aircraft.

Finally, Lenarčič disclosed plans to introduce newly-built Canadairs into the fleet in the coming years. EURACTIV reported that these tanker aircraft are expected to become operational by 2027, with the full fleet anticipated to be in service by 2030.

California to benefit from $1.4 million wildfire safety grant program

by AmericasFeatured NewsWildland Fire

A fresh chapter of collaboration was inaugurated between Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the California Fire Foundation (CFF), with the announcement of new grant offerings for organisations and fire departments based in California, dedicated to wildfire safety and emergency readiness.

The deadline for application submission via the CFF online portal is June 30, 2023, with grant awardees slated to receive notification from July 31, 2023.

PG&E, in association with The PG&E Corporation Foundation, is channelling a cumulative sum of $1.4 million towards CFF’s Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program (WSPP).

For the sixth year in a row, this joint venture aims to augment public understanding of wildfire safety while providing vital resources to underprivileged communities situated in high fire-risk zones. In its previous iteration, the grant initiative bestowed a total of $730,000 upon 66 community associations and local fire departments.

Ever since its inception in 2018, CFF, as the administrator and manager of the WSPP, has granted 265 grants to diverse community bodies and fire departments across California, laying special emphasis on the Northern and Central regions. The funding primarily targets communities deemed to be at high risk of severe wildfires, as recognised by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Enhancing public safety

Reflecting on the recent weather conditions, Rick Martinez, Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation, commented: “While the unprecedented storms of this past winter helped lift the majority of California out of the decades-long drought, the unfortunate flip side is the increased potential for a later but more robust wildfire season.”

He continued: “The Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program is a partnership with PG&E that was created to address the increasing wildfire risk. Our collaboration over the last six years has played an important role in helping local communities mitigate their wildfire risks and enhance the public’s safety.”

Emphasising the shared objectives of the CFF and PG&E, Mark Quinlan, PG&E’s Senior Vice President of Wildfire & Emergency Operations, said: “PG&E and the California Fire Foundation share the same goal of ensuring that our hometowns are doing everything possible to prevent wildfires from starting.

“Local fire departments, agencies and community groups play such a key role in prioritising and executing the projects that protect communities and in raising awareness about wildfire safety. We’re grateful for our ongoing partnership with the CFF as it provides real-time benefits such as defensible space and fuel-reduction programs as well as crucial awareness to customers in underserved communities.”

What is the funding going towards?

In the period from 2018 to date, PG&E and the PG&E Foundation have committed a substantial total of $7.4 million to support fire safety awareness via the WSPP. This philanthropic contribution is funded by shareholders, without impacting PG&E customers.

The WSPP’s extensive reach since 2018 has enabled funding for:

  • Specialised fire equipment and personal protective gear
  • Efforts towards defensible space and vegetation management
  • Fuel and hazard mitigation programs
  • Fire prevention and emergency readiness education, including programs targeted at senior citizens
  • Fire safety awareness campaigns, inclusive of 12,000 multilingual pamphlets aimed at underserved communities in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hmong, and Vietnamese
  • Collaborative partnerships with community organisations in high fire-risk areas for the distribution of fire safety material.

The program further focuses on developing and circulating fire-safety messages in languages that include Spanish, Chinese, Hmong, and Vietnamese, encapsulating comprehensive media campaigns utilising outdoor billboards and in-language television, radio, and digital advertisements.

About the California Fire Foundation

The California Fire Foundation, a nonprofit organisation, extends support to firefighters, their families, and the communities they protect. The Firefighters on Your Side program by CFF, which is backed by PG&E, delivers multilingual and culturally pertinent fire safety messages in digital and print formats, thereby helping to ensure public safety.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a branch of the PG&E Corporation, is a combined natural gas and electric utility that serves over 16 million individuals across a 70,000 square mile area in Northern and Central California.

Wildfire resiliency bolstered in Colorado with historic new law

by AmericasAmericas - Breaking NewsFeatured NewsWildland Fire

In a progressive move hailed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Colorado has launched a ground-breaking law, SB23-166, instituting the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board. The board will bolster building codes and strengthen protections against the ever-present wildfire threats in Colorado’s wildland-urban interface regions.

Jim Pauley, President and CEO of the NFPA, lauded the enactment, stating: “This is a tremendous step forward for expanding wildfire mitigation in Colorado and recognizes the need for policy action to better withstand the impact of wildfires.” Pauley added, “Signing SB23-166 into law reaffirms Colorado’s commitment to wildfire resiliency, safeguarding homes, and supporting firefighters in their response efforts. The NFPA commends Governor Polis, the Colorado House, and the Senate for their leadership in prioritizing the safety of residents, businesses, and properties.”

The urgency for the enactment of this law is underscored by Colorado’s recent wildfire history. The state has experienced four of its largest wildfires in just the last three years. Fires in 2020 and 2021 resulted in the obliteration of approximately 1,500 structures, tallying an estimated $3.3 billion in insured losses. The 2021 Marshall Fire tragically claimed two lives.

The newly adopted law represents a vital step toward mitigating wildfire risks to communities. The creation of the Wildfire Resiliency Board entrusts the body with the task of implementing statewide standards and developing solid wildfire mitigation strategies. This strategic plan will leverage the knowledge of key stakeholders to curb wildfire risks in Colorado’s diverse communities.

NFPA was a staunch supporter of SB23-166, providing expert input to the state fire commission’s Wildland Urban Interface subcommittee. The association’s experts offered valuable insights on the benefits of implementing statewide standards to regulate construction and land use in wildfire-prone areas.

Michele Steinberg, the Wildfire Division Director of the NFPA, spoke to the new law’s merits, saying: “By setting strong building codes and promoting resilience measures, this law ensures that at-risk homes and communities in Colorado are better prepared to withstand wildfires.” Steinberg also emphasised the law’s alignment with NFPA’s voluntary wildfire mitigation program, Firewise USA. She highlighted that Colorado currently has 200 active Firewise sites, representing 100,000 residents, making it the state with the third-highest number of participants nationwide.

Firewise US is a component of Outthink Wildfire, an NFPA policy initiative. The initiative urges all tiers of government to introduce major policy modifications to facilitate safer homes and businesses. This includes home enhancements and risk reduction, robust building and land use standards, and additional resources for wildland fuel management.

The new Colorado wildfire law’s implementation coincides with the availability of federal funding for hazard mitigation efforts. This support extends to technical assistance for implementing wildfire building codes and risk reduction strategies.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Established in 1896, the NFPA® is an independent, globally-recognsed, nonprofit organisation committed to eradicating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and associated hazards. With over 300 consensus codes and standards, NFPA disseminates information and knowledge through research, training, education, outreach, and advocacy, working alongside partners who are dedicated to furthering the NFPA mission. For more details, visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be freely accessed online at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

FEMA urges inclusive wildfire safety and prevention efforts

by AmericasFeatured NewsWildland Fire

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has urged everyone to participate in wildfire safety and prevention efforts in 2023, as the West experienced excessive growth of flash fuels, such as grasses, weeds, and bushes, due to an incredibly wet winter season.

Human-caused fires accounted for 87% of U.S. wildfires each year, and there was a potentially busier-than-normal fire season that threatened lives, property, watersheds, and ecosystems.

To promote wildfire prevention messaging, FEMA suggested fire and emergency services personnel start by identifying the leading cause of unwanted wildfire ignitions in their community and conduct a first round of outreach highlighting that risk. The US Fire Administration (USFA) provides free resources and tools, including social media cards and pictographs, to help with wildfire prevention outreach efforts.

The Agency said it is essential to make messages relevant and simple to understand, considering the audience’s abilities and needs, including cultural needs, and advised fire departments to use the media to amplify their outreach and hosted an open house to provide an opportunity for residents to ask firefighters questions.

FEMA also encouraged everyone to prevent wildfire arson by creating an arson tip line and developing fire-setting intervention programs for children in collaboration with social services agencies. Fire departments are promoting Arson Awareness Week this week (May 7-13, 2023) to foster understanding of, and prevent, youth fire-setting.

Through these efforts, FEMA aims to create a wildfire safety solution that everyone could contribute to, preventing unwanted wildfire ignitions and protecting communities, wildlife, and the environment from the devastating effects of wildfires.

21 dead in suspected arson wildfires in Russia

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

The death toll from wildfires raging in Russia’s Urals region has risen to 21, according to the state news agency TASS. Medical officials warn that the tally is likely to increase, with some of the fires suspected to have been caused by arson, according to Reuters.

The emergencies ministry in Kurgan region near the border with Kazakhstan has identified 46 suspects, including minors, and initiated seven criminal cases against alleged arsonists. However, the motives of the suspected arsonists remain unclear.

Wildfires have long been a problem in Russia’s forests and steppes during hotter months, but in recent years, they have grown in intensity. The 2021 fire season was Russia’s largest ever, with 18.8 million hectares of forest destroyed, according to Greenpeace Russia. Last year, wildfire smoke blew hundreds of miles to Moscow, choking city residents.

Fires began in late April in the Kurgan and neighbouring Tyumen regions. Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov flew to Kurgan on Monday as the blazes continued to spread.

Evacuations of residents are underway, and hundreds of homes have been razed. Officials said that firefighters are working to contain the fires, with footage showing them training their hoses on burning fields, and a plane scooping up water from a reservoir and releasing it over the fire.

Vadim Shumkov, governor of Kurgan region, announced on his Telegram channel that he was cancelling Tuesday’s planned Victory Day parade and fireworks display due to the fires, although concerts and other events would continue. Shumkov declared a state of emergency in the region on Monday.

The situation remains tense, with authorities and emergency services closely monitoring the fires and their impact on the local communities. The Russian government has assured the public that it will do everything possible to contain the wildfires and support those affected.

Oregon invests in wildfire risk reduction

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

The Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited the Rogue Valley on Sunday, joined by Oregon US Senator Jeff Merkley, where the federal officials met with local, state, federal, and tribal leaders, to discuss investments in wildland fire preparedness and response.

They were also briefed on our region’s current fire conditions and expectations for the upcoming fire season.

Senator Jeff Merkley said there is an effort to get more boots on the ground to help prepare for fire season, with groups like the National Guard training to support firefighters when needed.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced in a press conference Sunday, that over $21 million in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is coming to help wildfire risk reduction here in Oregon. Including fuel management work on over 170,000 acres this fiscal year. The $21 million in funding is in addition to the $50 million that was announced earlier in the week, to further enhance wildland fire management in 2023.

Secretary Haaland said: “The reality is that these days fire seasons last for most of the year, we have fire years more than fire seasons anymore. Oregon, unfortunately, knows this all too well, with so little room for error, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to wildland fire preparedness mitigation and resilience.”

She said that the funding will go towards specific mediation and response efforts including helping local communities across the country acquire slip-on tank units and expand remote sensing for wildfire detection. It will also go to increase federal and tribal firefighter pay, improve housing options, and expand the current number of permanent firefighters.

The Interior Department is investing $1.5 billion over the next five years to increase the resilience of communities facing the threat of wildfires, like the Rogue Valley. Secretary Haaland said these funds will help put our fire programs on more proactive footing, to not only manage fires as they happen but to help them from taking hold in the first place.

NFPA and State Farm announce Wildfire Community Preparedness Day

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm have announced that Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (Preparedness Day) will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, some 71.8 million properties in the U.S. are at some level of risk from wildfire. This number is predicted to grow by 11 percent over the next 30 years.

In the past five years wildfires have destroyed nearly 63,000 structures, the majority of which were homes. This number is poised to grow as increased wildfire activity encounters the substantial number of homes and communities located in wildfire-prone areas.

The national campaign, which began in 2014, provides an opportunity for groups and individuals who live in wildfire-prone areas to come together on a single day to complete projects that can help make their homes and communities safer from wildfire.

This year, the campaign is focused on what residents can do to help their home survive a wildfire.

Home ignition zone

Years of scientific research support the prescription of removing fuel sources from the area around the home – known as the “home ignition zone” – and is a key component to making a home safe from embers and radiant heat from wildfires.

NFPA said that simple, low-cost home improvement projects such as clearing dead leaves, debris, and pine needles from roofs and gutters, keeping lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches, removing anything stored underneath decks or porches that could burn, and other similar actions are being actively supported by NFPA and State Farm on Preparedness Day and can be easily undertaken by the majority of homeowners.

‘Increasingly prevalent and dangerous’

Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy said: “The threat of wildfire is becoming increasingly prevalent and dangerous, posting greater risks to people and property than ever before.

“In preparation for a future with more wildfire activity, homeowners need to understand their role and take action in reducing wildfire risk. We encourage people to use and share NFPA’s wildfire safety resources with others in their community to not only make a difference in safety on Preparedness Day, but all through the year as well.”

Scotland launches Care for your Countryside campaign in response to wildfires

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

New statistics from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have revealed that during March and April 2022, 95 incidents of wildfire were recorded across Scotland.

With many wildfires being started deliberately or are due to careless, reckless or irresponsible behaviour SFRS has launched its new prevention campaign called ‘Care for your Countryside’.

SFRS said that wildfires can be devastating for rural areas and those living within these communities and that this type of large-scale incident also negatively impacts the environment and has the potential to burn for days, placing a drain on emergency service resources.

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer (DACO) Bruce Farquharson, SFRS Wildfire Lead, is appealing to the public to always think twice before setting a fire outdoors.

He said: “It is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments to prevent a fire from spreading out of control.

“Wildfires in particular are extremely dangerous and pose a major threat to rural communities, wildlife and areas of countryside. Wildfires can spread rapidly and it’s vital that people never start a fire during periods of high wildfire danger.

 “We would always recommend not having a fire at all but we do recognise there are occasions where people will still want to have one.

“It is important that people understand the impact of deliberate or careless fire-setting – even with the best intentions there is still a risk that a fire can spread.

“If you light a camp fire, for example, please be aware of conditions such as high winds, high temperatures and low humidity and always take steps to make sure your camp fire is fully extinguished before you leave.

“You should also ensure other items such as cigarettes are disposed of safely and responsibly.

“You can care for your countryside by taking simple steps to act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always following the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”

At least 24 killed as wildfires rage across Chile

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

Firefighters battled dozens of raging wildfires in Chile over the weekend in a bid to gain control of one of the country’s worst natural disasters in years as the death toll rose to at least 24 with nearly 1,000 more injured, Reuters reported.

International arrived on Sunday including planes and expert firefighting teams, as the most intense wildfires torched forests and farmland clustered around three regions near the middle of the South American country’s Pacific coastline. Authorities said they were facilitating the arrival of assistance from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal and Venezuela.

The fires have so far consumed around 270,000 hectares, officials said on Sunday. A heat wave in the Southern Hemisphere’s summer complicated efforts to extinguish the flames.

There were 260 fires active across the region, interior ministry officials said on Sunday, with 28 of them considered especially dangerous.

Thirteen of those who have died come from Biobio, home to extensive forests as well as farms that grow grapes and other fruit for export. Nearly 1,500 people fled to area shelters. At least 26 of the 970 injured are listed in grave condition at local hospitals.

President Gabriel Boric issued emergency declarations for the largely rural southern regions of Biobio, Nuble and Araucania in an effort to speed relief, and stressed that his government would provide all necessary resources, while he also sought to inspire solidarity in the face of the deadly wildfires.

“I’ve seen the resiliency of our people, and it’s exactly that spirit that has to guide us during this difficult time,” he said. “All together, we’ll come out of this ahead.”

Oregon delays release of next wildfire risk map

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

The Oregon Legislature has said it will be considering a number of recommendations for changes related to the state-wide wildfire risk map during the 2023 session, some of which would substantively change the map itself.

Following conversations last week with the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, the state has decided to postpone the release of an updated draft of the map, which was planned for March 2023.

Cal Mukumoto, Oregon State Forester and director of the Oregon Department of Forestry, explained: “As we’ve been working with Oregon State University on technical adjustments to the map and planning for community outreach and engagement, we’ve also been keeping a close eye on the policy conversations happening in different venues.

“There were some great recommendations that came out of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council’s first annual report and opportunities identified by Wildfire Programs Director Doug Grafe related to the map that I hope the Legislature gets the opportunity to explore during this session.”

These recommendations are in addition to several bills proposing a variety of changes ranging from which areas are assigned a risk classification to abolishing the map entirely. “We want to avoid expending resources on work that may not align with new direction that may come from the Legislature this session,” Mukumoto said.

Members of both the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council expressed support for continued mapping of wildfire hazards to identify where to direct investments in wildfire mitigation activities including fuels reduction and building defensible space.

“Our goal this session is to get resources and expertise to Oregonians already doing good work on the ground to protect their properties and neighborhoods,” said Senator Jeff Golden (D), Ashland. Golden chairs the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and was the chief sponsor of SB 762.

“It’s important to get that done and to do all we can to ease the homeowner insurance challenges that the era of megafires has brought us before moving forward with any map.”

Mark Bennett, chair of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, recognised the broad recognition of the need for increased outreach, education and engagement with communities: “We need an integrated, coordinated and robust communications and outreach effort across all Senate Bill 762 programs to help property owners understand what their classification means, how they can better protect their homes and what resources are available to help them with that work.”

OSU, ODF’s partner in the development of the map, will lend technical expertise to upcoming educational efforts related to wildfire risk and hazard. Tom DeLuca, dean of OSU’s College of Forestry, said: “We are prepared to support state agencies in education plans and will help develop and implement an operational plan as needed.”

Other state agencies with SB 762 responsibilities that have a nexus to the map are Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Consumer and Business Services – Building Codes Division and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.

Senator Golden added: “The success of this whole program depends on strong collaboration between state government, local leaders and property owners in wildfire-prone areas. Building that partnership has to be job number one over the coming months.

“When we feel like we’re pulling in the same direction, we’ll be ready for a much better conversation about the map.”