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USA: Extreme fire weather hazards a fact of life, but officials outline response and prevention

Source(s): Noozhawk
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By Brooke Holland

A five-member panel on Friday examined extreme fire weather hazards in Santa Barbara County and discussed how residents can improve their resilience.

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Temperatures are increasing and relative humidity is decreasing in coastal areas, particularly at high elevations and on mountain slopes, said Leila Carvalho, a professor of meteorology and climatology in UC Santa Barbara’s Department of Geography.

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Communities need to accommodate a growing population and must guarantee safety with fire prevention, accurate fire alerts and weather forecasts, and improved education strategies, Carvalho said.

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Grasses from the mountains throughout the region provide fuel for fires, including the 2017 Thomas Fire. That wildfire erupted in Santa Paula in Ventura County before burning across the rugged Santa Ynez Mountains into Santa Barbara County, destroying 1,000 homes in the two counties, damaging hundreds more, and wiping out extensive animal and plant habitats. Two people died in the blaze.

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Hazards Wildfire
Themes Community-based DRR
Country and region United States of America

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