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Asbestos release during wildfires could pose an unexpected and significant threat to human health
Photo by Thom Milkovic on Unsplash
Asbestos, a
hazardous material commonly found in buildings constructed before the 1980s,
poses a severe risk during natural disasters, particularly wildfires. When
these buildings are ripped, broken, burned, blown, or washed away, asbestos
fibers are released into the air, leading to serious health conditions years
later. Shockingly, 71% of Americans are unaware that natural disasters increasetheir risk of cancer. Therefore, it is crucial to prepare for asbestos exposure
prevention when planning for natural disasters and severe weather to avoid
future health issues.
According to the Congressional Research Service, there are an average of 67,000 wildfires each year, burning 7 million acres annually. In 2018 alone, wildfires destroyed nearly 9 million acres nationwide, leading to a significant risk of asbestos exposure for individuals living in cities and residential neighborhoods.
To stay safe during wildfires, it is essential to follow proper asbestos exposure prevention tips, including evacuating the area immediately if instructed to do so, wearing an N-100 or P-100 respirator, designating a closed room, using a portable air cleaner, and staying indoors if not ordered to evacuate.
Furthermore, when cleaning up after a wildfire or storm, it is crucial to take precautions as even a protective mask might not prevent asbestos exposure. Fibers could stick to clothes and expose individuals and their families, potentially leading to inhalation or ingestion of hazardous materials. Seeking help from a qualified asbestos abatement company is advisable if large quantities of asbestos materials were damaged during a fire.
In conclusion, understanding the risks associated with asbestos exposure during natural disasters, particularly wildfires, and taking the necessary precautions is vital for preserving long-term health. For more information on this topic, visit https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/natural-disasters/.
Source: The Mesothelioma Center at
Asbestos.com, 2019
Wildfire danger awareness by ChatGPT
Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash
Wildfires have been a growing concern around the world, with the potential to cause significant damage to property, wildlife, and even human lives. The wildfire season has been getting longer and more severe due to climate change, with prolonged droughts and high temperatures contributing to the increase in the frequency and intensity of these fires.
Wildfires pose a significant danger to communities and ecosystems, and it is essential to understand the risks and take steps to prevent and prepare for them. Here are some key points to consider:
Causes of Wildfires:
Wildfires can be caused by natural or human-made factors, including lightning strikes, high temperatures, drought, and human activities such as campfires, cigarettes, and fireworks. It is crucial to be aware of the risks and take steps to minimize the potential for fires.
Impact of Wildfires:
Wildfires can have devastating effects on the environment, wildlife, and human communities. They can destroy entire forests, homes, and buildings, and have long-lasting effects on soil quality, water supply, and air quality. Smoke from wildfires can also cause health problems, particularly for those with respiratory issues.
Prevention of Wildfires:
Preventing wildfires is key to reducing the risks they pose. It is essential to follow fire safety guidelines, including extinguishing campfires and not discarding cigarettes or fireworks. Clearing away debris and dead vegetation can also help to reduce the fuel available for fires to spread.
Preparing for Wildfires:
Preparing for wildfires is also important. This includes creating a defensible space around homes, having an emergency plan in place, and being aware of evacuation routes. It is also crucial to have a survival kit on hand that includes essentials such as water, food, and first aid supplies.
Conclusion:
Wildfires are a significant danger that requires attention and action to prevent and prepare for. By being aware of the risks and taking steps to reduce them, we can help to protect our communities and ecosystems from the devastating effects of these fires. Stay informed and take action to minimize the risk of wildfires in your area.
Author: ChatGPT
Source: OpenAI
Wildfire Safety Guide
If you’re a homeowner, it can be highly stressful if a wildfire begins and spreads to your general location or residence. Learn everything you need to know about wildfires and how to stay safe.
There are specific actions you can take to aid in preventing wildfires. First, you can always be aware of how you’re managing campfire sites. It’s important to be a responsible campfire custodian to avoid any accidents.
Another type of burning to be mindful of is debris burning. Whenever you have brush piles to burn, you must do so responsibly, following all local ordinances.
Lastly, be aware of safety with equipment use. The type of equipment you choose and how you manage it can contribute to fire prevention and safety.
There are steps you can take to prepare for a wildfire:
- Gather supplies. You should assemble an emergency supply kit for each person;
- Sign Up for Alerts;
- Track Current Wildfires.
There are steps you can take to strengthen your home:
- Use fire-resistant materials for some parts of your home;
- Have access to a water source in case you need it;
- Consider shutters and fireproof drapes;
- Prevent embers from entering the home.
If you don’t strengthen the areas around your home, the damages and repercussions can be catastrophic. What can you do to prepare the area?
- Rake leaves;
- Trim 15ft of space between tree crowns;
- Properly store flammable materials and liquids;
- Keep your grass mowed.
Also you should always have evacuation plans and ensure that you, your children, your pets, and others know exactly what to do in advance in case of a wildfire.
If you happen to get caught in a wildfire, the first step is to look for a body of water, including a pond or river, to crouch in. If no water is nearby, find a depressed area that’s cleared and has no vegetation. You should lie low to the ground, cover your body with wet clothing, a blanket, or soil. Call firefighters.
For more information please visit https://cutterlaw.com/wildfire-safety-guide/
Wildfires burning Greece
Photo by Anasmeister on Unsplash
This year has already been a damaging one for wildfires in Greece with the most recent example being the large blaze on Mount Penteli in Athens’ northern suburbs that ignited on July 19th.
In the first few months of 2022, thirty forest fires were recorded in the country, a massive increase from the usual four. Those fires burned over 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of land compared to the average 37.5 (around 92 acres). (1)
This year confirms the general trend of increased frequency and intensity of wildfires and heatwaves in the country, which is aggravated with effects of climate change. This comes after a very destructive previous year in 2021, where Greece experienced multiple wildfires in conjunction with a historic heatwave for the country (highest temperatures reaching 47.1 °C).
It is expected that 2022 will break new records, according to the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), as the European Forest Information System (EFFIS) has registered a 750% increase of blazes in just the first 3 months of compared to the period of 2008 to 2021. Although the causes of above-mentioned fires are currently under investigation, they are usually caused by a combination of different factors. Nonetheless, wildfires are often sparked by human activity, accidental or otherwise, which are exacerbated by climate conditions - a perfect storm of high heat, dry weather, high wind. (2)
The fires forced thousands of people to flee as forests, agricultural land, homes and businesses burned. Greece's fire protection capabilities have been stretched to the limit, and the government, which appealed for international help, faced strong critique for its response. Although the government has blamed the disaster on the heat wave, Citizens Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis announced that a special prosecutor for organised crime cases was involved in a probe into the causes of the fires. (3)
Amplicam and its partner has launched a pilot detection system in Greece that will help identify wildfires and evaluate efficiency of the system in local conditions.
To learn more please contact us: info@amplicam.com and book a demo
Sources:
1) (https://greekreporter.com/2022/07/20/greece-wildfires-2022/)
3) https://www.dw.com/en/greece-wildfires-new-blaze-hits-evia-island/a-58954794
Points of Wildfire summit in San Francisco, California
International Association of Wildland Fire prescribes the following Calls for Action:.
Increase prescribed burning.
Identify ecosystems most at risk to large, high-severity wildfire.
Identify and enhance fire-adapted communities.
Foster safe and effective interagency wildfire response.
Promote shared responsibility for safer community preparedness, response, and recovery.
Reimagine and invest in the wildland fire management workforce and systems.
Invest in and promote research, science, technology, and policy.
Create opportunities for continuous improvement and adaptive management.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service for year 2022 there are the following Federal Firefighting Assets: 16,700 firefighters, 200+ helicopters, 35 single engine airtankers (SEATs), Up to 23 airtankers, 360 pieces of heavy equipment, 1,550+ engines.
For wildfire detection California is using technologies such as The SCOUT platform that provides an information sharing environment for small to extreme scale homeland security and emergency management incidents. SCOUT can facilitate strategic and tactical collaboration, training and technical management for and among the partnership. Another technology is Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System. FIRIS is a state level mutual aid asset and is an All Hazards Intelligence Platform.
Colorado State is working on a new approach to early detection.
- Current Programs:
○ National Fireguard Program
○ DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA)
○ Camera Pilot Program
For managing wildfires there are international initiatives organized - Bilateral Agreements/Arrangements, International Committees, International Study Tours, Ongoing support to Forest Service International Programs.
According to NASA, next generation fire prediction combines emerging fire science with data from many sources. For example ground-based real-time weather and camera imagery, information about fire perimeter, remote sensing, landscape data, weather forecast and modelling, land cover and fuel. There are some challenges that affect wildfire management:
Surveillance using infrequent, high spatial resolution satellite or aircraft observations.
Fire detection and location accuracy is not precise enough for effective targeting.
Few models for tracking and predicting fire progress, many are unreliable.
Better sensing is needed because it is difficult to observe through clouds and at night.
Data and model fusion is limited, need for an integrated observing system.
Overall, the evidence shows that climate change will bring more wildfires and they’re predicted to be more severe. Prevention and early detection combined with an educated emergency response is the only way to stop wildfires from further catastrophic destruction. The use of technology is imperative and the investment in this sector needs to be immediate.
Amplicam is here with proven solutions that we know will save lives and give the environment the only chance it has to survive climate change and the ensuing wildfires.
Amplicam visits Wildfire Summit in California
California has dry, windy, and often hot weather conditions from spring through late autumn that can produce moderate to severe wildfires. Protecting people, property, and resources from wildfires is an increasingly difficult challenge due to changing environmental conditions across the US and the world. However, an extremely unusual set of factors make doing the critical job of fighting wildfires in California even more difficult and complex. California is currently experiencing:
Pressure from a population of 38 million people
Fear of wildfire community destruction with over 2,000 communities identified as ‘at risk’
Increased urban and infrastructure development into California’s wilderness
Unusual, unpredictable and ever-changing weather conditions
Unprecedented tree mortality conditions with 129 million dead trees state-wide (2.)
During the 2020 wildfire season alone, over 8,100 fires contributed to the burning of nearly 4.5 million acres of land. As of April 2, 2022, a total of 925 fires have been recorded, totalling approximately 6,158 acres (2,492 ha) across the state with peak fire season not even expected until summer or fall. (3) The 2022 California wildfire season is of particular concern because it follows the 2020 and 2021 California wildfire seasons, which had the highest and second-highest (respectively) numbers of acres burned, on record. (1.)
United States taxpayers pay close to $3 Billion per year to fight wildfires, and big fires can lead to billions of dollars in property losses. More than 350,000 people in California live in towns situated completely within zones deemed to be at very high risk of fire. In total, more than 2.7 million people in California live in "very high fire hazard severity zones", which also include areas at lesser risk. (1)
Some in the firefighting sector say the tools and technologies used to combat new blazes have not kept up with the impact of climate change's fury. It is clear that new approaches and new technologies are needed. As governments put out the call for assistance, the private sector has stepped up to deliver advice, products and services that prevents, detects and mitigates wildfire damage.
As a member of this private sector contingent that offers wildfire detection and prevention solutions to communities and governments, Amplicam will be attending the Wildfire Management Summit on April 25-26, 2022 in San Francisco, California. Innovative strategies and emerging technologies to prevent wildfire damage are on the agenda, formally addressed by leading experts and will be discussed among attendees networking and peer learning.
On day 1 of the conference, the focus is on North America, and kicks-off with a USDA forest service outlook for 2022 delivered by Randy Moore, Chief, USDA Forest Service and Jerome E. Perez, National Director, Fire and Aviation Management, USDA Forest Service. There will also be a talk on how emergency services are coordinated during extreme fires in California by Brian Marshall, Chief, Fire and Rescue, California Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES)). Discussion of Colorado’s new approach to early detection and rapid initial attack along with Canada’s wildfire suppression and response in Canada, and approaches to forest fire management in Brazil, are all on the 1st day’s agenda.
The second day of the conference has a focus of international wildfire fighting cooperation and the latest research on the topic from across the world. Professionals from countries such as Germany, Spain, Portugal, Singapore will speak about their national experience fighting wildfires as well as international collaborative initiatives in wildfire management.
Incident management and operational awareness; Collection, storage and analysis of actionable and accessible data; Data from remote sensors, thermal cameras, drones, satellites and other technologies will all be a major focus on this second day of the conference as well as exploration into how NASA is working with government agencies, standards organisations and industry leaders across the world to make sure that the data is usable and actionable in operational wildfire situations.
We at Amplicam along with our international partners in wildfire prevention and detection look forward to attending the IDGA Wildfire education conference this month and invite similarly interested parties to get in touch before, during or after the event for more information.
Sources:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_California_wildfires
2) https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms437/weather/fire-season-climatology#TOC-Northern-California
3) 2) https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california
4) https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/worsening-california-blazes-prompt-calls-innovations-fight-fires/story?id=79871349
5) https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/10/new-approaches-needed-to-fight-wildfires/
Amplicam goes to Brazil
Karl de Sousa. AFP Getty Images.
Brazil has experienced unprecedented wildfires in the last decade. In 2019 and 2020, fires in different Brazilian biomes received much attention in the media and in the public debate, also internationally.
The number of forest fires in the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetlands, has tripled in 2020 compared to the year 2019, according to Brazil's national space agency Inpe. It identified 3,682 fires from 1 January to 23 July in the region, an increase of 201% compared to 2019. In the Pantanal, the wildfires in 2020 marked a sad record of burning the largest area registered over the past 20 years: almost 30% of the biome's area was on fire.
Scientists in Brazil concluded a particularly grim conservation study - attempting to count the animals killed by huge wildfires in the Pantanal wetlands. They estimate that as many as 17 million vertebrates - including reptiles, birds and primates - died.
Members of environmental network the Pantanal Observatory called the fires "a social danger since, in addition to the economic damage and the loss of biodiversity, fires cause respiratory problems, eye irritation and allergies," according to Brazilian newspaper O Globo.
The risk of severe fire events will likely increase in the future, as climate change effects become stronger and cause more extreme climatic events. Also, the majority of wildfires in Brazil are manmade - the result of illegal deforestation and clearing of farmland.
The actions taken in response to wildfires in Brazil by governmental agencies overall have been more reactive than preventive, and a huge policy gap to face the fire problem exists. Fire management thus must be developed in an integrated way with other policy fields, especially those related to land tenure and land management, and in accordance with the climate change agenda.
To effectively reduce fires and their negative effects, Brazil needs a long-term commitment with conservation and sustainable development that considers the distinct ecological, socio-economic and cultural realities across the country.
While the government of Brazil is working hard on limiting wildfires, Amplicam joins with its Wildfire early detection and monitoring software. Amplicam has signed partnership agreement with Brazilian company C & R Consultoria Empresarial Ltda (S+) aiming to help reduce damage caused by wildfires.
S+, a solutions` provider Brazilian based company started in 1998 as a representation company offering to the local market products and services without similar.
Since then, the operation of the company evolutes to a multi task service company and today we and associated partners offer: training, video production, distant learning, consultancy, BPMN, auditing, financial services, start-up projects, fund-raising, co-working, social media and website`s development, mentoring, counselling and much more services.
With on demand resources and experienced collaborators for any kind of business, we can offer solutions with commitment and precision.
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064421000560
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53500288
https://www.wwf.org.uk/press-release/illegal-deforestation-report-brazil
2022 – the world's best last chance to limit wildfires
2021 will go down in history with COP26 - the annual summit organized by United Nations and often referred to be the world’s best last chance to get runaway climate change under control. We at Amplicam strongly believe that the year 2022 should be the world’s best last chance to limit wildfires by using modern technologies and significantly reducing CO₂.
Amplicam signs agreement with Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)
Amplicam is launched in South Africa
Amplicam’s wildfire detection, monitoring & control system has just been launched in South Africa. It helps to protect local farmers against vandalism and wildfires caused by riots.
How Wildfire Detection Software Helped to Avoid a Tragedy in Jaunciems
Photo: Emīls Gatis Liepiņš
It was
just one step from a tragedy in Jaunciems – a territory located
near Latvia’s capital city Riga. During one of the hottest summers
ever recorded in the country, a wildfire started in the forest at
Jaunciems just 300m away from houses. Most likely it started in
several places simultaneously.
Fighting wildfires – a technological perspective
The number of wildfires is increasing all over the planet each year. There is no single understanding, principles, or guidelines on how to prevent them. Everything depends on the willingness of owners of forests to take care of their territories as well as on society’s level of education on how to behave inside and around forests. Given the overall development of technology, different advanced technologies able to detect and prevent wildfires are becoming more accessible. However people in the industry are not that keen on using them yet, so let's explore methods that currently are available for fighting wildfires.
Why planet Earth is burning?
2018 was the deadliest and the most destructive wildfire season in California with 102 fatalities and costing over USD 3.5 billion. Around this time a lot of wildfires also occurred in other parts of the world. For example, in Greece in 2018 about 102 people lost their lives in a wildfire. In Portugal in 2017 wildfires took 66 lives. And it didn’t stop there.
Proud member of Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Amplicam, pursuing it's expansion goals in export markets,
has joined Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Latvia. Andris Luriņš, CEO Amplicam:
Amplicam, as a provider of
early stage automated fire detection systems, video surveillance &
geographic information, and fire-fighting resource control and reporting
systems, is thrilled to be part of such a vibrant and active business community
as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Latvia. We appreciate the Chamber’s real
and tangible engagement in helping Amplicam to succeed in Canada.
Ed Kalvins, President and Chaiman of Canadian Chamber of
Commerce welcomed the new member:
"Latvia generates extremely useful innovations. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Latvia promotes the development of partnerships between Canadian and Latvian entrepreneurs, and are please to support the introduction of Amplicam expertise to Canada and the world in an effort to minimize the effects of devastating wildfires as our contribution to our climate and to the well-being of humanity. We welcome innovative entrepreneurs such as Amplicam to our membership ranks."
For more inquiries: info(at)amplicam.com