The wildfires on August 8th in Lahaina has spurred more fear and worry among many residents in Hawaii. There was a wildfire on the Big Island too which didn't get much news because of the overwhelming horror of the fire on Maui that destroyed the famous town and displaced and killed so many residents.
Now... every time I pass a stretch of brown, dry grass... I worry and wonder. How close is it to our home? How strong is the wind? What would I save first if it came close to our house? How far should you keep vegetation away from the house?
And then, one morning in November as we were on our way to our tai chi class in Mililani, we saw smoke in the mountains.
That Mililani fire lasted close to two weeks. Friends in Mililani told me that ashes from the fire fell on their lawns.
There were people in Lahaina who had no time to grab anything before fleeing. Many didn't have their credit cards, extra clothes, medication, financial information... They had nothing.
We have a firesafe. I'm thinking about what needs to be put in it.
And I'm thinking about all that dried grass a few blocks away.
It's winter in Hawaii now. It's been raining off and on all day and I'm so glad. Then again it means there will be more wild vegetation and in the summer, there will be more dried grass which will become fuel for a fire.
Sigh...
Ah well... I'll just enjoy the rain for now.
Wildfires aren't an issue where I live... yet. But if they do become a thing, I think I would investigate using fire resistant landscaping and roofing materials. I know many California houses now use rock instead of mulch for landscape flower beds and also build their roofs differently to prevent the intake of embers into the attic.
ReplyDeleteThat wildfire stuff would scare the mess out of me. The big ones make the vision of hell very, very real.
ReplyDeleteMy husband joined the volunteer fire department here. We are more conscious of fire than ever before. The last call he went on was a traffic accident. Almost a head on collision when one driver was distracted looking for his glove and crossed the center line. Both cars totaled but both drivers walked away. Airbags were likely what saved them. No fire though thankfully.
ReplyDeleteSo many places seem to be having so many situations. Remember all of the Canadian wildfires last year?
ReplyDeleteAnd I just heard about the earthquake on Big Island? -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteSo many weather related dangers seem to be popping up around the world. I have a friend who has experienced both flood and fire. She says fires are scarier and devastating in a more long lasting way. I hope there are preventive steps to take if a threat does occur. We have to be learning something from these disasters.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading that fires may become more frequent in Hawaii because of the factors you mentioned. Guess you need a "grab and go" fire outbreak plan, alongside your hurricane supplies. Hope you never need either set! Linda in Kansas, with Toto and tornadoes on occasion.
ReplyDeleteI do need to get more organized with the "grab and go" bag. The last time I looked, the pants I had in there...ahem... did not fit and the medication was expired.
DeleteThere are a few wildfires still burning in remote areas of E WA in steep, hilly places. It's been years since one got close to our town. When it did it was very scary. I have a "to go bag" in my closet along with a box packed with meds as it's very dry here in the summers. It's the kind of concern that doesn't ever really leave your mind in the summer as even the smoke blots out the sun for many weeks here in the summer. I found knowing you're packed and prepped relieves much of the worry.
ReplyDeleteWildfires don't play by the rules.
ReplyDeleteWildfires are a terrible and very scary. They can move so fast!
ReplyDeleteThe weather has been so out of whack lately - no rain, too much rain - and people (and corporations) who own land and allow all that overgrowth need to get goats to control the vegetation.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it's raining there! It's an atmospheric river here which means LOTS of rain and flooding. But I'll take it over a fire.
ReplyDeleteI find the thought of wildfires very scary too. Having a safe box to take in an emergency is a good idea... and an idea of what you might need to grab. Hopefully you will never need it (like insurance). Traffic during an emergency always scares me too. It's hard to get out. If I was in Hawaii, I'd drive straight to the ocean...
ReplyDeleteI think many of us are considering the potential of wildfire now. Before I would not have been concerned, but now, with our extended summer droughts, we have grass fires along our freeways that get into trees and burn hot before the fire department gets them out. We live uphill from a freeway.
ReplyDeleteThe thought of wildfires, indeed any fire is scary.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Indeed, I can see that you would worry. Even in our forest we have some danger. We have a fireproof safe, in the basement, tucked in beside a concrete wall. Finacial stuff and legal papers, passports, keys to peripheral buildings, (His stuff, I have no idea). I keep my financial and medical cards in my purse at all times and the purse is in the same place all the time. (remembering where my glasses and hearing aids have got to, not so much). Have you got access to a good fire blanket, if you have to get out?
ReplyDeleteYou live in a wonderful place, but, yeah, you need to plan.
Enjoy the nice changes in our winter weather and rest assured that authorities at every level are looking at the very same places you are! They don't want another Lahaina
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone stays safe out there
ReplyDeleteFire is ever worrisome.
ReplyDelete