(CS3.5) Protecting Historic Resources from Wildland Fire

Wildland fire is a threat to cultural resources around the world. Fire season used to be limited to the “summer months” or “dry months”, depending on a geographic area. Fire season is now a year-round risk in much of the world and fire intensity is increasing. Warm, dry periods are intensifying; severe drought is more common. This presentation describes steps that stewards of historic properties can take to reduce the risk of damage or loss due to wildland fire. Guidelines to help prepare disaster responses to wildland fire, with a target audience of individuals and organizations responsible for managing cultural resources, have been developed through the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. The guidelines also identify a means to convey information, through the State Historic Preservation Office, to the responding fire officials so that they can assign firefighting resources to better protect – and, hopefully, save – historic cultural resources. While some cultural resource managers at the federal or state/provincial levels may have an agency-developed plan focusing on preparedness, most documents related to wildland fire and cultural resources offer only post-disaster recommendations.

For those that have never experienced a large wildfire, it is a chaotic event. The frantic challenge of preparing for evacuation as a fire approaches creates a sense of near panic, driven not only by news images but more from the intensity of the smoke, heat, wind, ash, and flames. Rational thinking is not the mode for most people under these circumstances. For a homeowner, making an evacuation plan so you know which items are important to save – family photos and mementoes, financial documents, items you would hate to lose forever - is the first step in saving your personal history. Who coordinates taking those items when the fire approaches your cultural resource? You do. You’re responsible. If you are responsible for historic structures or artifacts, you may know which items are important to save. Do you have an inventory that has been prioritized? Have you documented critical structures in case they are consumed by the fire? Once you evacuate, how do you know that firefighters know your priorities? This presentation will cover the basics of wildland fire behavior and fuels reduction on your historical property to reduce the risk of damage or loss. The means and challenges of communicating your information to appropriate authorities will close the presentation.