NFPA Journal - May/June 2019 - 28

Wildfire by Michele Steinberg

THE VIEW
FROM NFPA'S
WILDFIRE DIVISION

Letter from Paradise
A TRIP TO THE COMMUNITIES DEVASTATED BY LAST FALL'S CAMP FIRE OFFERS A REMINDER
OF NATURE'S POTENTIALLY LETHAL BITE-AND WHY WE NEED TO PROTECT OURSELVES

n often-photographed

What we witnessed and heard was
sign in Colorado's Rocky
heartbreaking, but not unfamiliar. ParMountain National Park
adise and Magalia are among hundreds
reads "Mountains Don't
of communities across the country that
Care." It warns hikers
have been traumatized by wildfire in
of "precipitous cliffs, glaciers, and
recent years. What many of these places
steep snow chutes" and describes how
have in common is a legacy of homes and
weather conditions can quickly deteriinfrastructure developed and built withorate. No matter how much hikers may
out taking wildfire hazards into account,
love nature, the sign is a reminder that
despite the inherent danger.
nature doesn't love them back.
During the Camp Fire, high winds sent
The same can be said of wildfire.
blizzards of embers miles ahead into
I thought of this recently as I travtowns and subdivisions, where homes
eled to Butte County, California, at the
and businesses provided ample fuel for
We can take steps to
invitation of the Western Fire Chiefs
the fire. But not everything was equally
make homes nearly
Association to witness the aftermath of
vulnerable. In Magalia, tall pine trees,
ignition-resistant.
last fall's Camp Fire, the most destrucbarely scorched by the fire, stood directly
As I looked at the
tive wildfire in US history. I was part of a
beside rows of incinerated homes, many
destruction before me,
group of fire professionals that visited the
of which had been dusted with comI wondered what would
towns of Paradise and Magalia, once-idylbustible dry pine needles. The houses
have remained if those
lic communities that had been reduced
were easier targets for the embers than
steps had been taken.
to twisted piles of metal, rubble, and ash.
the trees; once ignited, fire spread horiOur guide was David Hawks, Butte
zontally from one structure to the next.
County's fire chief and a CAL FIRE unit
Nearly 19,000 structures were destroyed.
chief. Hawks' tour included a high ridge
Wildfire experts know that it is possiwhere expensive, beautiful houses once
ble right now to build and prepare homes
stood, commanding stunning views. Now only the chimneys in a way that makes them nearly ignition-resistant. As I looked
remained, along with decorative concrete benches and bird- at the destruction before me, I wondered what would have
baths in the scorched back yards. In a more modest subdivision, remained if those steps had been taken.
burned-out cars dotted the landscape; even months after the
Our desire to live in or near nature in understandable, and
fire, the stench of melted metal and plastics made my throat as we continue to develop the wildland, these strategies will
sore. The destruction went on for miles.
only gain importance. But as environmental historian William
Hawks, who grew up in Paradise and still lives there near Cronon once wrote, "The unexpected consequences of living
his parents, described a chaotic and terrifying early morning next door to a nature that is far less under control than it
mass evacuation when the fire hit. His parents, who both appears prove to be myriad." For Paradise, Magalia, and many
survived unharmed, fled in separate vehicles; his mother's other towns, the harsh reality of fire in nature is now obvious.
journey to escape took more than three hours on the clogged It's up to our society to care enough about balancing that love
roads. Like many others, they returned later to find their of nature with the safety and security of our fellow humans
family home destroyed. Many fared worse. In all, 85 people in our decision making when lives and futures are at stake.
died in the fire, most inside or immediately outside their Nature doesn't love us. It's up to us to protect ourselves.
homes, or in vehicles that never made it to the main road
MICHELE STEINBERG is director of the wildfire division at NFPA.
out of town.

28 | NFPA JOURNAL * M A Y / J U N E 2 0 1 9

MICHAEL HOEWELER

NFPA Journal - May/June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - May/June 2019