Case study: Woolsey Fires, USA (2018)

When did the Woolsey Fires occur?

November 2018

Where in the USA did the Woolsey Fires occur?

Woolsey Canyon, Los Angeles

What was the cause of the Woolsey Fires?

faulty electrical equipment at an electricity sub-station owner by a power company (Southern California Edison)

What were the contributing factors to the occurrance of the Woolsey Fires?

• chaparral (dry vegetation type)

• the Santa Ana winds (dry winds)

• low-density buildings where natural dry vegetation has been allowed to remain between properties

What are the Santa Ana winds?

• hot, dry, gusty winds

• blow into southern California from inland deserts

• descend down the leeward slopes of California’s Pacific Coast mountain ranges toward the Pacific Ocean

• bring spells of low humidity and warm weather

• dry out vegetation

• cause widespread wind damage

• exacerbate wildfires

•  pressure in the Great Basin to low pressure at the coast

How many acres of land were burned by the Woolsey Fires?

~97,000 acres

How many buildings were destroyed by the Woolsey Fires?

~1,600 buildings

How many fatalities were there in the Woolsey Fires?

3 civilians

How many non-fatal injuries were caused by the Woolsey Fires?

• 2 civilians

• 3 firefighters

What was the cost of the Woolsey Fires?

$6 billion

What is a well-known wildfire management strategy used in the USA?

‘Smokey Bear’

• a symbol of fire awareness and prevention

• an educational tool

• a real bear cub rescued from a wildfire in the 1950s