Wildfires

Florida is home to millions of residents who enjoy the state's beautiful scenery and warm climate. But few people realize that these qualities also create severe wildfire conditions. Each year, thousands of acres of wildland and many homes are destroyed by fires that can erupt at any time of the year from a variety of causes, including arson, lightning and debris burning. Adding to the fire hazard is the growing number of people living in new communities built in areas that were once wildland. This growth places even greater pressure on the state's wildland firefighters. As a result of this growth, fire protection becomes everyone's responsibility.

History | Fire Protection in Undeveloped Areas | Fuels | The Existing Home | Fire Safety Checklist | As A Last Resort

History

Florida has experienced fires on a cycle of every three to five years since vegetation has crowded its shores and since lightning has lit its skies. In recorded history, Florida's fires received national media attention in the 1920s, which led to the creation of the Florida Division of Forestry. The 1935 Big Scrub Fire in the Ocala National Forest was the fastest spreading fire in the history of the U.S., covering 35,000 acres in 4 hours. In 1956, the Buckhead Fire burned 100,000 acres in Osceola National Forest in a single day. In the drought period of 1969 to 1976, fires in the Everglades again gained national attention, with some fires reaching 50,000 acres.

In 1985, Florida had its first serious "wildland/urban interface" fire with the Palm Coast Fire, which burned 250 homes.

This fire was important in introducing the state to the concept of the wildland/urban interface. Research on this fire indicated that a model could predict home survivability based only on the intensity of the fire, presence of roof overhang vinyl vents, and proximity of heavy ground vegetation to the structure.

In 1998, fires struck the same Palm Coast subdivision. 45,000 people were evacuated and fire suppression organizations responded from 44 states.

In July of 1998, Florida hosted the largest aerial suppression operation ever conducted in the United States. Largely because of this massive effort, protection of structures was quite successful, with only 337 homes damaged or destroyed and 33 businesses burned. Although this is small compared to 475,000 structures lost in the U.S. per year to all fire incidents (National Fire Protection Association statistics), the fires received major media attention for almost two months, largely because of the massive evacuation. To the insurance industry, however, this is a relatively small incident, and is not likely to provide the social impact needed for significant behavioral changes, with regards to wildfire education. To fire researchers, the 1998 Palm Coast incident is interesting, because the same subdivision was burned thirteen years earlier and the same findings are relevant thirteen years later:  ground vegetation and roof overhang vents were once again responsible for the loss of homes.

Fire Protection in Undeveloped Areas

In most forest and wildland areas of Florida, there are three types of fire protection agencies. This first is the city fire department, either paid or volunteer. These departments are funded by taxes paid by property owners inside the city limits. They have no obligation to protect property outside their jurisdiction. In the absence of a mutual-aid pact with another agency, they may be prohibited from responding to fire calls outside the city limits.

The second fire protection agencies are the forestry departments. The wildland fire protection agencies have no responsibility for structure fires and are not equipped or trained to control them. Their primary function is to prevent and extinguish forest and other wildland fires. They are financed only for wildland protection.

Standards of attack time and water pumping capabilities of these forestry agencies are much different from those of the city fire departments. It may take them a half-hour or more to respond to a fire call. Forestry agencies provide an adequate level of protection for the wildlands, but may not be able to provide dependable protection for homes located there. All too often these agencies arrive at a forest home fire only to cool down the coals of a lost home and to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding wildlands.

Between these two protection systems are rural fire protection districts. Those close to cities are nearly identical to neighboring city fire departments where there is sufficient improved property and an adequate tax base.

Rural fire districts away from population centers, however, have about the same response time as forest fire protection agencies. Many fires occur in these more remote districts. The main difference is that rural districts provide full-time protection and can prevent fires from spreading from house to house. They are better equipped, trained and funded to control structural fires.

Generally, fire protection improves as population density increases. Early in the development of an area, the only protection available will likely be provided by a forestry agency. As development increases and as people settle into their residences for year-round living, they will seek year-round fire protection. Local residents will form volunteer rural fire protection districts.

At this point there is a dual responsibility. The forestry agency is responsible for protecting the forests and other wildlands. The rural volunteer fire department is responsible for protecting homes and other buildings.

Eventually, more year-round residences are established. Land and property values increase. Rural fire protection districts increase their resources, upgrade their equipment and occasionally add paid firefighters.

During this time, forestry agencies usually provide protection only for intermingled patches of brush and forest lands; and the rural fire protection districts provide most of the fire protection for more populated areas. Finally, as the development continues, the forestry agencies may contract with the rural fire protection district to perform the total protection job, so only one agency is providing all of the fire protection within the area.

Before buying any wildland property, second home or permanent residence in a forested area, know the level of fire protection. While none of the previous examples are bad by themselves, it is important that you recognize the level of protection you will receive. Besides providing you with an understanding of existing fire protection, knowing the level of protection will help you determine you structural fire insurance cost.

Fuels

To forest fire agencies, fuel means flammable vegetation, grass, brush, land clearing debris and other materials. Exposure to forest and brush fuels is a primary hazard. Under severe weather conditions these fuels burn with intense heat and spread rapidly.

Clearing fuels around buildings will reduce structural exposure to flames and radiant heat. It will also give fire fighters a reasonable chance of saving structures.

In many parts of Florida, large inland areas are covered with flammable brush and other vegetation. A fire starting in these areas is extremely difficult to control and can spread rapidly. As you evaluate the development you have chosen, consider the following important items:

1. Some vegetation and dead material may be on the ground. The more there is, the more difficult it will be to control a fire. Dense brush is particularly bad.



2. All dead vegetation should be removed by the developer. This fuel is dangerous as fires start easily in it and are difficult to control. Sparks from these fires can create small fires in the surrounding vegetation and threaten nearby homes.



3. A fuel break is recommended around developments in dense brush. Vegetation that might carry fire from the wildland to the development should be removed. This need not be a bulldozed fire trail. It can be a strip where single trees or shrubs and non-flammable ground vegetation have been left. The developer should use the road system to provide internal fuel breaks so that any fire starting in the development can be confined to a small area.



4. Solid waste disposal should be available in the development. Generally, there will be a sanitary landfill within a reasonable distance, or a regular garbage collection service. Community dumps are extreme fire hazards and are illegal in most areas. In developed areas lacking a sanitary landfill or garbage pick up systems, illicit dumps often appear. These are guaranteed locations for future fires.

The Existing Home

Firesafe recommendations in this publication also apply to existing homes, but there are some additional recommendations for improvements.

Urban dwellers' prime concern is a fire starting inside their homes. Rural residents must also consider fire from outside the home, such as a wildfire endangering their structures.

Longer travel time for fire trucks means rural residents must be prepared to take initial action on fires. This may slow the fire until firefighters arrive.

Basic needs for exterior fire protection include:

• Pre-connected garden hoses with nozzles attached to exterior water outlets. Hoses should be long enough to reach all structure exteriors.



• A ladder that is long enough to allow access to roof areas should be stored in a convenient location.



• A long-handled, round-point shovel and a 2 1/2 gallon water bucket, as minimum hand tools, should also be conveniently stored.

Additional hand tools such as rakes or grubbing and chopping tools might be recommended, depending on local fuels. Contact the fire protection agency for recommendations on these additional tools.

You should make an exterior inspection of your home annually to remove overhanging tree limbs close to your home. At the same time, you can maintain a fuel-free area around your home. Remove flammable material lodged against buildings, under foundations and in eaves. Remove leaves, moss or needles from roofs and gutters.

The increasing use of outdoor cooking equipment has caused a number of serious fires. Permanent outdoor fireplaces should be equipped with a screen over the outlet and a method of controlling in-draft. Screens should be constructed of non-flammable material with mesh no coarser than one-quarter inch. At least five feet should be cleared of flammable material around permanent outdoor fireplaces with no overhanging limbs closer than 15 feet.

Portable barbecues present a special problem; extra caution must be used in disposing of briquettes after use. These should be placed in a closed metal container located in a safe place or extinguished in a bucket of water.

Electrical lines leading from the main power line to houses or outbuildings start many fires. These lines should be installed underground wherever possible, but if this cannot be done, trim all limbs that could contact the wires.

Vegetation should not be allowed to grow up under lines. Inform the local power company of any hazardous trees or limbs that could contact their lines. Power companies are fire-conscious and will remove these hazards. Make certain that all electrical wiring during initial construction and future remodeling conforms to local electrical codes.

Interior fire protection covers a variety of recommendations. If some form of fire protection service is servicing your area, ask them to inspect your house for potential problems and make recommendations.

Homeowners should consider fire-warning devices, such as smoke detectors and portable fire extinguishers. The proper location, type and size of these devices may make the difference between controlling a small fire and complete loss of the structure. Other protective measures include automatic sprinkler systems in the home and in other structures. Rural residents should seek recommendations from a fire protection agency to determine the type, size and installation location of all of these protective devices.

The most effective fire prevention device yet invented is a FIRESAFE attitude developed by the rural resident. While fire insurance might replace property destroyed in a fire, there is no insurance available to replace human life - yours, your family's, or your neighbors.

With a positive fire prevention attitude and by following preventative measures suggested in this guide, you can enjoy your rural home with confidence.

Fire Safety Checklist

As A Last Resort

If you find, despite your best efforts, the fire is still overtaking you, the following steps could protect you from injury or death.

1. Enter the burned area. If escape means passing through the flame front into the burned area, do so when the flames are less than three feet deep and you can see clearly through them. Do not delay. Cover exposed skin, take several breaths, and move through the flame front quickly.


2. Burnout. If unable to enter the burned area, ignite grass and other fine fuels between you and the fire edge. Step into this burned area and cover exposed skin with clothing or dirt. This will not be effective in heavier fuels that burn for a long time.



3. Protect against radiation. Shield yourself from heat rays by seeking a shallow trench, crevice, large rock, large pond, lake, stream, vehicle, or building. Don't shelter in elevated water tanks. Cover exposed skin.



4. Lie prone. In an emergency, lie flat with head down on an area that will not burn. The chance of survival is greater in this position than if overtaken by fire when standing upright or kneeling.



5. Regulate breathing. To avoid inhaling dense smoke, take shallow, slow breaths close to the ground.

Do not Panic:  If fear becomes overwhelming, judgment is impaired and survival becomes a matter of chance.

Do Not Run Blindly:  Unless a path of escape is clearly indicated, do not run. Move away from the direction of the fire. Save your strength.

The information found on this page is from the booklet "Save Your Home from Florida Wildfires". This booklet was adapted for the State of Florida in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Forestry. Copies of this booklet may be obtained from the State of Florida at the address below:

State Of Florida
Department of Community Affairs
Bureau of Recovery & Mitigation
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
Phone:  850-413-9884