Photo: David McNew/Getty Images
A small rural community southern California installed a system of protection against forest fires with the purpose of safeguarding its inhabitants.
Located between Orange and Riverside counties, it is the community of Rancho Carrillo, made up of about 300 people, with only one road in and out, about six miles, into the Cleveland National Forest.
The residents decided take the necessary measures to prevent a repeat of the history of 1993, when a rapidly advancing conflagration destroyed part of the town.
“Fire behavior today is dramatically less predictable than it was 30 years ago. We all have the feeling that it is not a question of if that will happen, but when it will happen,” said Rancho Carrillo Volunteer Fire Company Capt. Brent Chase.
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The captain mentioned that consideration must be given to how people and their animals can safely evacuate the community in the event of a forest fire, but a shelter-in-place should also be considered, which can give space to all residents, if they are unable to get out in time.
The community determined to install a system called Frontline Wildfire Defense at your community center for a level of protection if the threat of a wildfire occurs.
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According to Frontline Wildfire Defense officials, the system uses software to monitor wildfires, and in case flames threaten the building, activates outside sprinklers that saturate the structure with a mixture of water and foam, creating a wet zone up to 30 feet.
“Essentially creating an environment that is too humid for embers to ignite, which is the number one reason homes burn down during a wildfire, is embers being carried by the wind,” representatives from Frontline Wildfire Defense.
Captain Chase said that regardless of whether or not each community resident decides to implement such a wildfire protection system in their homes, They already know that there is a safe place to go to in case of an emergency..
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