Treesearch

California's foothill counties are the scene of rapid development. All types of construction in former wildlands is creating an intermix of wildland-structures-wildland that is different from the traditional "urban-wildland interface." The fire and structural environment for seven counties is described. Fire statistics are compared with growth patterns from 1970 to 1985. Potentials for the year 2000 are suggested. California planning law is overviewed in relation to development. Local governments and fire services have underutilized existing authorities in describing and mitigating fire...

The wildland fire scenario outside North American is characterized by increasing amount and severity of wildfires worldwide. In Europe, most of the Mediterranean countries suffer devastating forest fires, despite fire management efforts. Examples of the wildland fire theater within the developing countries and the tropical world have been given at this Symposium on Wildland Fire 2000. Most of the wildfires in Latin America, Africa and Asia, however, are not monitored and remain unreported. Only a few spectacular wildfires are noticed by the world media and public. The1982-83 rain forest...

Futuring Group 3 identified 12 trends that determine the way fire administrators must plan and budget for efficient wildland/urban fire protection organizations in the future. Five key visions and associated strategies were also identified.

This "futuring" symposium addressed the possible, preferred, and probable status of wildland fire management and research in the year 2000 and beyond. Papers cover the fire protection needs of the public, management response to these perceived needs, and the research and education required to meet these needs. Also covered in a separate section are the interactions between forest user, manager, and researcher, as well as international issues. Nine papers, developed by the futuring process and presented at the symposium examine key trends, define preferred "visions" of fire management in...

Fire is a natural element of the wildland ecosystem. Total exclusion of fire from the wildland creates an unnatural condition: an excessive buildup of decadent and over mature vegetation.

Futuring" is becoming a widely accepted approach to organization management and goal setting. Strategic planners for the United States military as well as the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, use Futuring to develop action plans and organizational directions for their agencies.

In the year 2025, wildland fire fighting practices have improved significantly over the method employed during the late1900's. Improved methods for predicting severe fire weather conditions, the establishment of the North American Fire Coordination Center, and the utilization of foam products for both wildfire and structural fire control have significantly changed the methods of fire suppression. An increased awareness of the dangers posed by wildfire has been accomplished through a concentrated effort to educate the public. Buildings are being constructed that afford greater protection,...