NFPA Journal -March/April 2014 - (Page 9)

>> in a flash NEWS FROM NFPA + BEYOND Plant growth in California less average more NASA imagery from January contrasts California's plant health against average conditions for the same period over the past decade. Shades of brown depict where plant growth, or "greenness," was below normal for the time of year; shades of green indicate vegetation that is more widespread or abundant than normal. WILDLAND FIRE Water Woes California's drought emergency could exacerbate the state's upcoming wildfire season. Plus, State Farm assists NFPA's mitigation efforts. by FRED DURSO, JR. In CalIfornIa, ranChers are sellIng theIr Cattle, which are unable to graze off scorched pasturelands. Driedup waterways are unearthing artifacts, including the ruins of a ghost town near sacramento. elsewhere, the gold rush is back on, with rivers running at such low levels that valuable nuggets are being revealed as the water recedes. how dry is the state? Precipitation levels haven't been this dire in more than 150 years, experts say, prompting governor Jerry Brown to declare a drought emergency in January. a more calamitous effect has been the "above-normal wildfire activity" in January, according to the national Drought Mitigation Center (nDMC). nDMC's January 2014 Drought and Impact summary reports that California firefighters battled more than 400 fires that month, more than five times the average for January. and things might get worse. fire safety advocates are cringing at the possibility of a momentous year for wildfire events in California, now in its third consecutive year of an official drought. "I've heard from folks in California about just how dry it is and how scary the conditions are," says Michele steinberg, nfPa's wildland fire projects manager. "one of the best factors for Photograph: NASA producing bigger wildfires is an abundance of dried-out fuel. If you have a home where you have water-dependent shrubs and plants that dry up, that's providing more fuel for the fire." that's why steinberg and others are urging homeowners to take steps now-if they haven't already-to mitigate the risks. More than 70 California communities have been recognized for implementing wildfire mitigation concepts through nfPa's firewise Communities/Usa® recognition Program. looking to expand these concepts throughout the state, California's Department of forestry and fire Protection (Cal fire) tasked nfPa with developing a curriculum for firewise workshops to be held throughout the state as soon as possible. steinberg, who submitted a workshop proposal to Cal fire in february, says the curriculum would focus on firewise principles, helping participants identify hazards around their homes, and minimizing home firewise.org ignition potential. Visit firewise.org for more informathe proposed tion on the Firewise Communities workshops are part Program and the National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. of Cal fire's ongoing MARCH/APRIL 2014 NFPA JOURNAL 9 http://www.firewise.org http://www.firewise.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal -March/April 2014

NFPA Journal -March/April 2014
Contents
First Word
In a Flash
Perspectives
In Compliance
First Responder
Research
Wildfire Watch
Outreach
Firewatch
In West’s Wake
Cleaning Up the Dry Cleaning Standard
The Sprinkler Difference
Conference & Expo Preview
Section Spotlight
Looking Back

NFPA Journal -March/April 2014