WILDLIFE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS are available and functioning in Germany, Mexico, and Australia. Their use in Germany has reduced burned acreage by 90% since the inception of their use. The company has just begun their marketing campaign in the US. I think everyone could agree that this is something we could support, especially considering the devastation in Colorado last month.
http://www.space.com/16391-wildfire-war ... ensor.html
Fire Watch
-
nissangirl74
- Moderator
- Posts: 13910
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:15 pm
- Car: 2014 Xterra Pro4X, '12 Titan 4x4, '98 240sx, '89 Pao, '77 620, '72 240Z w/RB25, '68 510, '67 WRL411, '67.5 SPL 311, '63 Bluebird, '63 NL320
-
IanS
- Posts: 9758
- Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:07 pm
- Car: 2002 Subaru WRX, 2010 Subaru Forester XT, 2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe.
- Location: Esko, MN
- Contact:
Re: Fire Watch
As much as I hate to say it, wildfires are a part of nature.
Disasters like what we saw in Co are a direct result of trying to stop said wildfires.
Large forests need regular fires to clear underbrush, saplings and fallen trees. Without those fires, the forests begin to grow too thickly. This gives way to diseases which can run rampant because trees are growing too thick and too close together. This is compounded by trees that are undernourished because so many are fighting for a finite number of nutrients. All this disease will kill off trees, leaving the strong behind, just like a fire would. Except all those trees are left standing to dry out, then fall. This leads to a build up of fuel for a fire. All that dry tightly packed wood can and will give way to a forest fire that will burn hotter, faster and longer. It will spread over a wider area, and it will be harder to control.
Mother nature doesn't like us trying to control her. She will figure out a way to thwart our activities.
The Germans may have stopped the fires for now, but in 10 or 20 years, if that fuel builds up, it will happen.
Disasters like what we saw in Co are a direct result of trying to stop said wildfires.
Large forests need regular fires to clear underbrush, saplings and fallen trees. Without those fires, the forests begin to grow too thickly. This gives way to diseases which can run rampant because trees are growing too thick and too close together. This is compounded by trees that are undernourished because so many are fighting for a finite number of nutrients. All this disease will kill off trees, leaving the strong behind, just like a fire would. Except all those trees are left standing to dry out, then fall. This leads to a build up of fuel for a fire. All that dry tightly packed wood can and will give way to a forest fire that will burn hotter, faster and longer. It will spread over a wider area, and it will be harder to control.
Mother nature doesn't like us trying to control her. She will figure out a way to thwart our activities.
The Germans may have stopped the fires for now, but in 10 or 20 years, if that fuel builds up, it will happen.
-
nissangirl74
- Moderator
- Posts: 13910
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:15 pm
- Car: 2014 Xterra Pro4X, '12 Titan 4x4, '98 240sx, '89 Pao, '77 620, '72 240Z w/RB25, '68 510, '67 WRL411, '67.5 SPL 311, '63 Bluebird, '63 NL320
Re: Fire Watch
I agree. This is a reactive measure, not a proactive one. However, if the powers-that-be won't provide ways to thin the forests and eliminate the dead / weak / diseased trees, something to this effect might at least help save lives / homes.
We have the same issues here with our forests. They are so thick that in some spots you can't even see the sky. However, politicians claim that there is no money in the budget to allow for people to go in and thin them out (and yet there is money to fight the fires, go figure). The worst fire in AZ history happened last year and it was that bad due to this very reason.
We have the same issues here with our forests. They are so thick that in some spots you can't even see the sky. However, politicians claim that there is no money in the budget to allow for people to go in and thin them out (and yet there is money to fight the fires, go figure). The worst fire in AZ history happened last year and it was that bad due to this very reason.