The 2003 Firestorm in Southern California Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The 2003 Firestorm in Southern California - Essay Example Some mitigation tactics existed before 2003 to avoid extreme wildfires. However, the measures were inadequate during the 2003 firestorm in California. The firefighters lacked the firefighting capacity and surveillance as well as communications capabilities to salvage people whose homes construction materials were highly flammable materials besides surrounded by flammable vegetation. To reduce the risk of wild fires, resource agencies developed expertise in fuel loading and fire behavior that allowed them to decide when lighting fires could be left to burn or deliberate prescribed fires to be set (Newig, Voß, & Monstadt 2013). The top priority of the fire agencies became protecting the vulnerable communities. The 2003 firestorm was a catalyst for passage of a national law that promised â€Å"healthy forests†. Post the 2003 firestorm, the department of forestry in California commands approximately 3,800 firefighters on a full-time basis, 1,400 being seasonal, 7,800 volunteers and 1027 fire engines (Newig, Voß, & Monstadt 2013). Moreover, it maintains a fleet of aircraft, which include almost twenty air tankers, thirteen air attack planes, and ten helicopters. This is an increment from the little equipment available prior to the 2003 firestorm.The urban/wild land interface refers to an area or environment inhabited by humans (man-made) joins the natural environment. Over the years, people are building their houses nearer to the forests and some are cutting down forests to live there.