Lecture on Wildfire and Urban Smoke

Introduction

• Speaker: John Fink from Portland State University and University of British Columbia.
• Webinar series on wildfire and urban smoke, focused on the Pacific Northwest (PNW).
• Risk of large wildfires in urban areas of the PNW is a growing concern.

Speakers

• Emily Schlichmann, Assistant Professor at UC Davis, focuses on landscape architecture, environmental design, and wildfire in California.
• Brett Milligan, UC Davis department colleague, works on climate change adaptation and land management.

Main Themes

• Historical and current perspectives on wildfire management.
• The impact of fire suppression policies and land development on wildfire risk.

Book Overview: Design by Fire

• Authors: Emily Schlichmann and Brett Milligan.
• Upcoming book: "Design by Fire: Resistance, Co-Creation, and Retreat in the Pyrocene".
• Fundamental questions about human relationships with fire.
• Fire is a dynamic, co-evolutionary phenomenon.

Key Concepts

• Resistance: Techniques opposing fire (e.g., fire suppression, firefighting, and foil wrapping).
• Co-creation: Working with fire as a landscape dynamic (includes donut extraction, infrastructure shadowing, etc.).
• Retreat: Withdrawing from dangerous areas (includes development limiting and incentivized relocating).

Case Studies

Resistance

1. Firefighting: A primary method of fire management, but has led to increased severity when fires occur.
2. Foil Wrapping: Protects structures and trees using aluminized blankets.

Co-Creation

1. Donut Extracting: Creating firebreaks around cities to prevent fire spread.
2. Infrastructure Shadowing: Transforming powerline corridors into fire-resistant landscapes.
3. Fire Lighting: Cultural burns led by Indigenous groups, such as the Yurok Tribe.
4. Fire Flocking: Grazing animals in forests to reduce fuel loads and promote local economies.

Retreat

1. Development Limiting: Enforcing stricter building regulations in fire-prone areas.
2. Incentivized Relocating: Buying out properties in vulnerable zones to create buffers.

Future Considerations

• Wildfire and Urban Planning: Urban areas, especially under climate change, need to consider fire risk even if they haven't historically.
• Policy and Governance: Need for policy changes to reflect the dynamic nature of wildfire risks.
• Insurance and Liability: The role of insurance in influencing wildfire management and urban development.

Conclusion

• Importance of continued research and discussion on wildfire management strategies.
• Need for a proactive rather than reactive approach to wildfire management.
• Book aims to provide a comprehensive view of potential strategies and foster dialogue on effective wildfire management.

Audience Engagement

• Encouraged discussions on how urban areas like Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver can prepare for increased wildfire risks.
• Consideration of strategies for urban settings, policy implications, and the role of insurance.