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Weather Continues to Make Case for Masonry
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Drought Threatens More Wildfires
As 2007 nears the midway point, some parts of the U. S. are experiencing
severe weather, and predictions for the next few months raise additional
concerns. Extended dry spells cause worries for many people, including
home owners, builders, and firefighters.
Obviously, as drought conditions worsen, fires become more threatening
and potentially more widespread. These events heighten the concern
about and need for safe buildings. People intuitively understand
the sense in building with masonry and other non-combustible materials.
Fire-resistant construction preserves the safety of occupants and
reduces the concern about property damage.
Drought
Spring of 2007 has brought drought conditions to many parts of
the country, extending from east to west. Florida, Georgia, and
California for example, have all been affected by recent wildfires.
The Southeast has been especially hard hit by the dry weather.
According to a CBS news report, Georgia is suffering through one
of its worst droughts in decades, with almost half the state's 159
counties experiencing extreme drought. The land in Georgia is so
dry that wildfires have been burning for more than a month. Officials
there have even restricted when residents can use water for outdoor
activities like watering lawns or washing cars—early mornings,
alternating days, or just once a week (Atlanta is in the most severe
restriction category). With little rain in the forecast, conditions
are not expected to improve any time soon.
CBS News also reports dry conditions in Florida and Alabama. In
Florida, Lake Okeechobee, the backup water supply for 5 million
people in the southern part of the state, is shrinking every rainless
day and the lake level is expected to hit an all-time low. Summer
in Florida brings with it frequent lightning strikes, and heightens
the chances for fire. In Alabama, farmers struggle to keep thirsty
crops alive. As the land dries up, fire becomes a greater concern.
In the West, fire season usually runs from Mid-May through November.
However, the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) already reports
that from January 1 through May 20, 2007, 1669 fires have occurred,
affecting 7570 acres. On May 10th, the resort island of Catalina
experienced a devastating fire, burning 4000 acres in one day, destroying
one home and six other structures. Although most of the fires occurring
within CDF’s jurisdiction are contained early on, Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order directing the CDF
to mobilize additional personnel and equipment to respond to wildfires
in California.
Extreme Weather a Reality
While the weather conditions mentioned are extreme, they appear
to be more the norm than the exception. In 2003, California experienced
another especially active fire season.
Read more on 2003 California wildfires.
More on fire resistance of masonry.
Veteran Firefighter Takes a Stand
Structural integrity during the fire is more certain with non-combustible
construction. One firehouse veteran has weighed in on lightweight
building materials. Vincent Dunn, 42-year veteran New York City
firefighter, writes that collapse of burning buildings is a leading
cause of death to firefighters, and the widespread use of lightweight
construction materials is heightening this danger. His column, "Why
Do Burning Buildings Collapse?" appears in the March
2007 issue of Firehouse magazine.
Dunn cites four contributing factors to the collapse of burning
buildings:
- Age of buildings
- Abandonment of buildings
- Use of lightweight construction materials
- Faulty or illegal renovations
Dunn says that materials such as lightweight wood trusses and steel
joists cost less but fail more readily in a fire than traditional
building materials.
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