The increasing threat of wildfires in most states is real. Residents are moving away from these places due to the consequences, health hazards, and life threats they pose. In this article, we will discuss what the best place to move to is to avoid wildfires.
The things you must consider when choosing the place are its climate, its agencies, and the amount of vegetation in the area. Urban areas, coastal regions, high altitude regions, areas with sparse vegetation, and states with proactive firefighting resources are the ideal places to live in to avoid wildfires.
For more information, please continue reading.
Things To Consider
The three elements you must consider when looking at areas where the chances of a wildfire are reduced are climate, the effectiveness of authorities, and vegetation.
Climate
The climate plays an integral role in the cause and spread of wildfires. We will discuss the different climate conditions you must avoid in the new place you wish to move to.
- Hot Temperatures – High temperatures are the first prerequisite to make wildfires. If an area has extremely hot weather during the summer, the chances of a wildfire are multiplied.
- Dry Climate – A dry climate causes the leaves to rub against each other, producing friction and, eventually, a fire. The air should have ample moisture in it for wildfires to not occur.
- Thunderstorms – Lightning is one of the leading causes of wildfires. If the area experiences thunderstorms, it also gets lightning, threatening the region.
- Strong Winds – Strong winds are responsible for fuelling the fire once it is set. They make the flames grow, embers fly, and considerably increase the fire’s size.
Effectiveness Of Authorities
Natural disasters occur all the time, but the consequences and extent of damage depend on how the authorities deal with the issue. If the agencies in an area are active enough to track wildfires, send firefighting teams, and carry out evacuations, the damage from the wildfire will be considerably reduced.
Vegetation
The presence of forests and other dense vegetation threaten the containment of a wildfire. Sparse vegetation is ideal for preventing the spread of wildfires.
Urban Areas
Urban areas are the least prone to wildfires. They fulfill the criteria that are needed for a wildfire not to grow.
Concrete Structures
Urban regions are laden with buildings, roads, and bridges. These concrete structures provide a barrier for fire not to grow and be diminished. Moreover, due to the high amount of concrete, the vegetation in cities could be more sparse.
The number of trees is low, and the strength of the trees is weak.
Less Open Spaces
Due to the absence of many open spaces in cities, there are no spaces where winds can flow freely and interact with dry vegetation. Moreover, this reduces the risk of any fire quickly spreading with the help of embers.
Better Resources
Cities are more equipped than the outskirts; if help is needed within cities, it can readily be provided without waiting for help to commute to the affected area. Due to this, even smaller fires in the cities are managed and rarely spread.
Due to the high population density in cities, fires can also be swiftly reported while they are still in a state to be controlled.
Coastal Regions
Coastal regions have a climate characteristic of humidity, high moisture content, and warm sea breezes. None of these regions have a chance of experiencing wildfires. The high moisture content in the air prevents the possibility of a dry climate which is the key ingredient for the ignition and spread of naturally occurring wildfires.
Some coastal regions to consider are:
- Maine
- New Hampshire
High Altitude Areas
High-altitude areas are ideal for avoiding wildfires. The climate in these regions is cold and wet, reducing the chances of fires igniting or sustaining for longer periods. Some examples of these areas are:
- Canada
- Colorado
- Michigan
Areas That Are Not Green
Regions with sparse vegetation have the least chance of breaking into wildfires. This is because the friction between the leaves is absent, and the chances of ignition are reduced to zero. Even when deliberate fires are set, they do not spread due to the lack of fuel for the fire.
The list of states with the least vegetation is given below:
- Nevada
- Wyoming
- Montana
- South Dakota
- North Dakota
Nevada is a desert, while Wyoming, Montana, SD, and N.D. are covered in grasslands and shrubs.
States With Proactive Firefighting Systems
Wildfires are becoming increasingly common, and sometimes you may not have a choice but to move to a place where wildfires are an occurrence. However, you can move to states with proactive firefighting systems and elaborate plans that allow them to mitigate the risk and consequences of wildfires.
Some states in the U.S. which have invested significantly in research on wildfires and plans for dealing with them are discussed below.
California
California experiences a high number of wildfires annually. However, significant damages are not reported due to the robust and effective systems in place. The state has employed technology to track the intensity and movement of wildfires. Moreover, they have a team of highly trained firefighters.
Arizona
The Arizona forest department uses a significant budget for thinning and monitoring its forests during summer. Along with other state agencies, the department educates communities on wildfires.
Oregon
Oregon has a firefighting and wildfire management system in place. The agencies ensure that forests are thinned and monitored by air. They also provide regular training to professional firefighters and community members to prepare them for the crisis.
Wildfire Preparedness
Communities play a huge role in the mitigation of wildfires or any other natural crisis when government agencies are absent. Even when government agencies are active, communities owe it to themselves to adhere to any instructions, guidelines, and orders. Moreover, if there are people who are trained in certain skills which might help during that time, they must offer to volunteer to save the lives of other citizens and animals.
Final Thoughts
Despite where you move, the threat of wildfires will always be there. This is because sometimes, even when the perfect environment is not provided, wildfires may still occur from flammable materials or flying debris on fire.
Hence, it is crucial to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of your loved ones and yourself.