More Firefighters Needed, Study Says
The ability to control wildfires depends on the capacity to provide adequate firefighter staffing.
Of the 20 largest documented fires in California鈥檚 history, half of them have occurred since 2000. The success of an initial attack operation can significantly influence the ultimate outcome of a wildfire event, and thus places an extraordinary burden and expectation on emergency responders.
A major goal of firefighting agencies is to keep 95 percent of wildfires at 10 acres or less. Achieving this goal with ever-tightening resources is the purpose of a new 色情视频 study discussed at a news conference held on campus today.
found that the ability to effectively and economically control wildfires in California depends on the state鈥檚 capacity to provide adequate firefighter staffing.
This study, led by Matt Rahn, director of research and education at the 色情视频 , is the result of a report published in July 2009 about the . Representatives from several of the region's firefighting agencies joined Rahn to discuss the study's findings.
The cost of wildfires
鈥淲ildfires result in billions of dollars of lost and damaged property, open space and infrastructure,鈥� Rahn said. 鈥淎dding a single firefighter to an engine will save money by saving time, property and, most importantly, lives.鈥�
According to the study, 鈥渢he success of the California wildland firefighting community depends upon aggressive initial attack and response.鈥�
Small changes make huge impacts
By increasing the number of personnel on an individual hose lay, the efficiency, effectiveness and overall ability to potentially control a wildfire are significantly increased. Changing the staffing from two to just three firefighters on an attack can increase efficiency by as much as 50 percent and is the most cost-effective and beneficial change recommended. This translates to a recommended change from three to four persons per engine, which can dramatically increase efficiency and effectiveness.
In analyzing the economic impact staffing changes could potentially have on the state, the study found that increasing staffing could potentially save millions of dollars annually.
Savings realized
鈥淚f the devastating 2003 wildfire's amount of acreage burned in San Diego County were decreased by only one percent, the region could have experienced an economic savings of between $25,000,000 to $250,000,000,鈥� Rahn said.
The report is significant because while the number of wildfires kept below 10 acres over the last decade has remained relatively unchanged, the total number of fire events and the number of extremely large fires has dramatically increased statewide.
- CBS 8 News
- KGTV Channel 10 News
Firefighting Study Press Conference A press conference was held to discuss the findings of an 色情视频 study about firefighting staffing.
