More than 200 wildfires have been recorded across the UK, in just 12 days. We're just not equipped to manage this kind of thing and it's only going to get worse.
The only reason I know about this is because I lived with it in the Mediterranean where, they've had a little more practice.
So if you're interested, I'll share the little I know. Otherwise, please keep feel free to scrolling.
The problematic wildfires occur because the ground foliage is tinder dry, requiring only the slightest spark to ignite it. The wind catches it, fanning the flames and the fire continues, fuelling itself. It can travel frighteningly fast, leaping across fire breaks (areas burned back and/or with layers of stone to prevent spread) and has often caught even experienced firefighters, tragically unawares.
Remember, that whilst it might appear as though the fire has been subdued, underground, peat can continue smouldering and burning for weeks or even months on end.
Most are found to have been started by such seemingly trivial things as a dropped, lit cigarette end, fireworks, BBQs and campfires extinguished and/or properly disposed of.
Watching the British firefighters tirelessly working to gain control, is like watching someone trying to save their house from burning down with the use of a tablespoon.
Fire engines carry a lot of water, but having to negotiate narrow country lanes up to mountaintops, then return all way back down again to refill, just isn't anywhere near enough.
The only way to manage these fires is with the use of scooper planes. You may have seen them in action whilst on holiday. Landing just off shore, they scoop up a bellyful of sea water - 6,140 L (1,350 imp gal; 1,620 US gal - within minutes and then, are quickly up on the mountain and able to cover all kinds of terrain that might not even be accessible by any other means.
Watching helicopters attempting to do their best (after much public criticism) the downdraught they elicit is causing way more problems than the meagre amount of water they can carry and indiscriminately dump on the area, could ever achieve.
Peat fires/helicopter downdraught
The Canadair CL-415 is THE dedicated aerial firefighting plane of choice. They're simply unequalled in their ability to quell fires before they grow out of control. Nothing else can fight raging fire travelling across unsurpassable terrain like this , this or this . Believe it or not, many of these planes that fly into uncontrolled flames, are part of the local volunteer firefighting crews. They're motivated purely by the desire to keep their families and homes safe.
The UK will need to equip itself with appropriate equipment and invite volunteers to train to act as assistants to the professionals. Unfortunately, sometimes, we have to get off our assess and stop waiting for incompetent governments to do what's necessary.
Fire breaks need to be constructed quickly and efficiently, for maximum effect. All whilst we await the terrible and inevitable consequences of this disaster - flooding.
What's next?
When the heat abates and water starts to fall from the sky; normally we'd be right to think this would provide refreshing, much meeded moisture to soften and nourish the scorched earth. Sadly, that's really not the case.
Baked hard and so impenetrable, water will just flow across the hardened Earth's surface. All that foliage, formerly responsible for preventing soil erosion is gone and not growing back anytime soon.
Now comes the second act that inevitably follows every wildfire.
Water and soil flood the area will descend, taking everything in it's path with it - roads, bridges, buildings and communications equipment will all be washed away,
Nature is an indiscriminate, cold, hard bitch. Wildlife and livestock that call these areas home, won't stand a chance.
These places become increasingly unliveable, people are displaced and other people (who don't appreciate that life beyond their town's limits exist/are any different to their own) become irate because the displaced need somewhere to live - is this sounding familiar?
What must be done?
•In California, thousands of goats were commissioned and successfully reduced/eliminated hazardous foliage that would otherwise, almost certainly have provided kindling for further wildfires there. Particularly certain breeds of goats are astonishingly hardy and require little/no shepherding. They're sure-footed and so can reach seemingly impossible locations. They eat virtually everything in sight.
•Firebreaks need to be installed hastily, but in accordance with expert advice, to ensure they provide the maximum efficacy to protect human habitats and prevent the blockage of escape routes.
Controlled burns may produce barren strips of land across which fire cannot ordinarily pass. Dry stone walls and wide strips of stone, slate, paving and rocks at ground level can provide similar protection.
•The acquisition of Scooper planes
•training of pilots,
•training of fire crews in the most efficient ways to work (in unison with other methods),
•the organisation and training of volunteers to assist in the event of these emergencies
•Establish conferences to better learn from the experiences in other parts of the world, exchange ideas, techniques that had proven beneficial
• Public awareness campaigns to avoid unnecessary risks haxards and endangerment
• Identify and initiate methods for protecting populations, properties and roadways from flash flooding.
•Planning and construction of drainage channels for the diversion of flood waters/debris
