Fire Adaptation Strategies from Across the Nation: My Travels in 2016

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Great to see such amazing work happening across the nation -- we are so grateful to be a part of this movement towards Fire Adapted Communities. Mahalo to USAA's Rob Galbraith and Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network for the feature and encouraging support.  

From the Source:

"Finally, I had the unique opportunity to spend a day with Pablo Beimler and the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) on the Big Island in September. Pablo’s previous blog post captures much of what he shared with me, but I left so inspired by what HWMO has been able to accomplish with such a unique landscape (where fire is not a natural part of the ecology), being so remote from others and with limited resources. Their can-do spirit, willingness to innovate and strong sense of motivation and engagement has remained with me and inspires me to continue our work at USAA to further collaborate and support FAC Net members and affiliate members in their efforts."

Kapolei and Koko Head Fires Prompt Road and Trail Closures

Credit: Branden Lohrey / Hawaii News Now

Wildfires can have impacts even on your favorite hiking and recreational destinations. You can help protect your favorite places by volunteering with groups that hold flammable/invasive vegetation removal days or if there is not a group already doing it, a great place to start is to group up with others who want to protect those areas.

From the Source:

“One fire closed lanes in Kapolei, while a separate fire shut down the Koko Head hiking trail and gun range.

Eastbound lanes on Farrington Highway were closed near Honokai hale and Kalaeloa due to a fire that broke out around noon Sunday. That fire has since been contained.

Traffic was slow-going as east bound lanes were rerouted. 

The Koko Head hike and gun range was also closed as firefighters battled a brush fire that also started around noon Sunday. 

Witnesses in the area say that police blocked the entrance to the popular trail and did not let anyone enter the hike.”

Highway Reopens as Firefighters Battle Five Fires Along Highway 190

"Firefighters survey the scene at mile marker 15 on Thursday afternoon." (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Arson is a serious offense and can have detrimental consequences on our communities, lands, and waters. And, of course, fires tax our resources and put our brave firefighters in harm's way. Please report any suspicious activity to Hawaii Police Department at (808) 935-3311.

From the Source:

"

The brush fires were located near mile markers 22, 19, 16 and 15.5 and the highway’s intersection with Waikoloa Road in South Kohala. All of the fires were located on the makai side of the road, with the exception of the fire near mile marker 15.5.

The fire near the 15.5 mile marker was estimated at 25 acres, while the remaining four fires were kept small due to favorable conditions and quick response times. The fire burned primarily in state Department of Land and Natural Resources land."

Lightning, Tornadoes and Mice: The Science Behind Bushfires

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Flickr.com: Bert Knottenbeld

Even though Australia is miles away from Hawaii, there are many commonalities with how wildfires (or bushfires, as they call it) behave on the continent versus Hawaii. Here’s a great article that explains how bushfires work — see if you can draw the parallels with Hawaii. The main difference? Wildfire is part of a natural cycle in Australian ecosystems, unlike in Hawaii where it is an introduced cycle.

From the Source:

“Peak fire conditions occur when there's a period of significant rainfall that causes plants to grow, followed by a hot spell that dries out this fuel. This means the bushfire seasons vary around Australia.”

“Bushfires typically move in a front — a thin line of burning grass or forest that inches forward as new material catches alight.

Radiant heat from the fire front warms the air ahead, drying out fuel, and causing volatile gases inside wood to escape – thus priming new fuel for the approaching fire.”

“Strong winds can sometimes blow burning embers ahead of the fire front, setting alight new patches of fuel in a process known as "spotting".

These patches of fire can then quickly grow and join up, forming one giant blaze, hundreds of metres or even kilometres wide. Such an event, known as "deep flaming", is more difficult for firefighters to control.

The heat and smoke given off from deep flaming can even create "pyrocumulonimbus" clouds that form over a bushfire.”

“'Different species have different life cycles, and some of their aspects of reproduction and regeneration may be linked to fire,' Professor Bradstock said.

An example of such a plant is the acacia, which requires the heat of a bushfire to crack its seed pods so it can germinate.”