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CHAPTER 15. WILDFIRE <br />15-15 <br />The worst-case scenario would include an active fire season throughout the American west, spreading <br />resources thin. Firefighting teams would be exhausted or unavailable. Many federal assets would be <br />responding to other fires that started earlier in the season. While local fire districts would be extremely <br />useful in the urban interface areas, they have limited wildfire capabilities or experience, and they would <br />have a difficult time responding to the ignition zones. Even though the existe nce and spread of the fire is <br />known, it may not be possible to respond to it adequately, so an initially manageable fire can become out <br />of control before resources are dispatched. <br />To further complicate the problem, heavy rains could follow, causing flooding and landslides and releasing <br />tons of sediment into rivers, permanently changing floodplains and damaging sensitive habitat and riparian <br />areas. Such a fire followed by rain could release millions of cubic yards of sediment into streams for years, <br />creating new floodplains and changing existing ones. With the forests removed from the watershed, stream <br />flows could easily double. Floods that could be expected every 50 years may occur every couple of years. <br />With the streambeds unable to carry the increased discharge because of increased sediment, the floodplains <br />and floodplain elevations would increase. <br />15.9. ISSUES <br />The major issues for wildfire are the following: <br />• Public education and outreach to people living in or near the fire hazard zones should include <br />information about and assistance with mitigation activities such as defensible space, and <br />advance identification of evacuation routes and safe zones. <br />• Wildfires could cause landslides as a secondary natural hazard. <br />• Climate change could affect the wildfire hazard. <br />• Future growth into interface areas should continue to be managed. <br />• Area fire districts need to continue to train on wildland-urban interface events. <br />• Vegetation management activities. This would include enhancement through expansion of the <br />target areas as well as additional resources. <br />• Regional consistency of higher building code standards such as residential sprinkler <br />requirements and prohibitive combustible roof standards. <br />• Fire department water supply in high risk wildfire areas. <br />• Expand certifications and qualifications for fire department personnel. Ensure that all <br />firefighters are trained in basic wildfire behavior, basic fire weather, and that all company <br />officers and chief level officers are trained in the wildland command and strike team leader <br />level.