In 2018, the Camp Fire ripped through Paradise, California, devastating the town and killing dozens of people.
But many residents survived by taking refuge in local parks.
Glaser: “The fire burned all the way to the edge of the park and then stopped there. In fact, in some of the photos you can see all the burns around it.
Deborah Glaser is a disaster specialist with The Nature Conservancy.
Open space helps slow the fire, she said.
Glaser: “The park has an irrigation system. And the burning of fuel in the forest has been discontinued.
So now Glaser and others are trying to build a firebreak around Paradise to protect the town from future fires.
These firebreaks may include additional parks as well as fields, pastures, or orchards.
Hiking trails and private properties seeking to reduce fire risk can also help prevent flames from spreading into towns and cities.
Glaser: “The idea is to stitch them together as a protection for the community. … This buffer slows the spread of the fire and gives firefighters a chance to respond and contain the fire before it gets into the community.”
Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme wildfires. But establishing fire breaks around populated areas can help keep people safe.
Report source: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
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