Although the threat of wildfires has been part of California life for a long time, recent years have seen a serious uptick in the intensity and frequency of the fires. As climate change continues to take its toll on the landscape, summers are getting hotter, rainy seasons shorter, and overall conditions drier.
That’s absolutely a recipe for potentially catastrophic wildfires, just like the ones that recently devastated Los Angeles. Being prepared is the key to keeping risks as low as possible and preventing wildfires that do break out from escalating into catastrophes.
As one of British Columbia’s leading wildfire prevention and suppression authorities, SPIEDR understands what goes into an effective preparation strategy. Let’s dive into a bit of what everyone should know, including those subject to the threat of California wildfires every year.
Why Are California Wildfires Escalating So Drastically?
California wildfires like the recent Pacific Palisades fire in Southern California are getting more destructive every year for a variety of different reasons, many of them climate-related. Here’s a closer look at a few key examples:
- Extra-dry conditions: Factors like lengthy droughts and rising average temperatures can lead to broad expanses of dry vegetation, which means lots of fuel for potential fires.
- Rising winds: Dry, powerful winds (like Southern California’s famous Santa Anas) can exacerbate any fires that do break out by spreading embers across long distances in record time.
- Urban proximity to forestlands: As California’s cities and urban areas grow and expand, more properties are being built close to natural wildland areas, raising the chances of structures sustaining wildfire damage.
- Limited resources: Large wildfires that spread quickly often outstrip the ability of local firefighters to handle the issue alone. Especially catastrophic fires may even require relief from neighbouring countries like Mexico and Canada, as with the recent fires in Los Angeles.
Wildfire prevention resources like fire suppression, training, and risk assessment can help communities better prepare for the possibility of fires. Advanced firefighting equipment like sprinkler systems, sprinkler trailers, and more can help take the guesswork out of fighting fires efficiently.
How Advanced Firefighting Equipment Helps Offset Wildfires
Getting the best of a wildfire requires a combination of ample manpower, top-tier equipment, and an airtight strategy. Here’s a closer look at some key equipment that can help when wildfires start despite a community’s best efforts at prevention.
Sprinkler trailers
Serious wildfires like the ones California has seen in recent years call for high-performance equipment that can adequately address large areas. Sprinkler trailers allow firefighting teams to do exactly that by quickly covering even the large, sprawling areas with water.
Some of the benefits of deploying sprinkler trailers to deal with wildfires include:
- Ultra-fast deployment: A good sprinkler trailer can be set up and activated in mere minutes, making it a terrific option for surrounding structures and properties with wet buffer zones that discourage the spread of fire.
- Massive capacity: Sprinkler trailers are capable of dispensing huge quantities of water in short periods. They’re even capable of completely saturating structures and wide swaths of vegetation.
- Relief for remote areas: Structures in remote areas are not only more likely to be close to woods and forests where wildfires can break out but further away from water mains and hydrants. Sprinkler trailers can help make up the difference.
Advanced sprinkler systems
Like sprinkler trailers, sprinkler systems help protect structures and reduce the risk of them catching fire. Systems are typically strategically placed to create an ample moisture barrier on demand. (Popular locations include rooftops, decks, and throughout nearby vegetation patches.)
Reasons to consider adding a sprinkler system to your wildfire defence plan include:
- The ability to pre-soak rooftops and other vulnerable parts of a structure to reduce the likelihood of flying embers igniting the property
- The remote activation option some systems offer, makes it easy to engage them at a safe distance or from other locations
- The portability some systems bring to the table makes them a great option for enhancing rapid response in a flash
Fire pumps
Fire pumps support a wide range of important fire suppression methods, including fire hoses, sprinkler trailers, and sprinkler systems. High-performance, reliable pumps from reputable sources ensure the strong, steady water pressure fire equipment needed to get flames under control.
A good fire pump also offers firefighting teams more options when it comes to potential water sources. For example, an advanced fire pump can divert water from large bodies of water like rivers and lakes when municipal supplies are inadequate or inaccessible. They can even leverage a swimming pool in a pinch to save a property from destruction.
Fireproof Your Future with the Right Equipment
As nice as it feels to imagine a potential future free from the threat of wildfires, fires in California and elsewhere aren’t going away, especially with climate change in the picture. However investing in the right preparation measures and firefighting equipment can help offset the possibility of loss and damage.
At SPIEDR, you’ll gain access to some of the best, most effective firefighting equipment available anywhere, including sprinkler trailers, fire pumps, and much more. Ready to learn more about your available options and effectively fireproof your property? Contact us today and let us know how we can assist you.
