Spare that Drop of Water
When firefighters first learn to fight wildland fire or to apply prescribed fire across landscapes, they are taught the principals of water conservation and how to stretch each drop of that precious resource for all it's worth. I first learned these principals from a grizzled old farmer in Illinois. He was wise in the ways of using fire to do the work with minimal effort and water use. His hand-me-down wisdom also led me to some interesting long-term observations in human behavior regarding the opposing elements of fire and water.
After I moved to the western United States, I really learned what water scarcity meant. It was no longer a matter of minutes to a water source easily tapped into and relatively abundant. Instead it required trips across miles of rough terrain to find a dribble of water that you hoarded with every trick and tool in the trade. I also discovered what mental affects limited water can have on firefighters during fire seasons. Firefighters kept eyes to the skies for changes in weather and hounded the weather service daily in hopes of life-giving, fire-stopping precipitation forecasts. After months of no rain, any little sign of moisture was heralded. Fire staff would run outside and celebrate a few drops with the hope that maybe fire season-ending rains would soon be on them.
Conversely, I've watched as rain ruined the best-laid plans for a prescribed fire and crews cursed accordingly. Water psychology in the fire business is an interesting phenomenon.
As firefighters, we worked with what resources we had and we did our best to stall and divert until the weather changed in our favor. But I don't think most of us realized how climate patterns truly were changing.
As this warming/drying climate phase continues, firefighters will have to use water conservation tricks of the trade and teach the same to the public. Fresh water in many areas likely will become even more scarce, and not just in historically dry areas. Geographic areas where water has been taken for granted will need to learn water conservation in all of its facets.
Some of the water psychology previously seen in firefighters now is being expressed by politicians and the public. The political water wars, a historical feature of the western United States, are beginning in other global regions with large population demands. Areas that have had to recently implement water-use restrictions, sometimes at the last possible moment and to the howls of nay-sayers, are offering their eyes and prayers to the sky. After a few rain showers, the pressure is on to lift restrictions — the drought is over and we can fill our swimming pools, water the grass and build that new subdivision.
Everyone will eventually learn what wildland firefighters already know — that even a few months of good precipitation will do little to alleviate long-term drought patterns. A little moisture simply can be an illusion of what we would like to see happen.
With their knowledge of both fire and water, firefighters can help lead the way in long-term water planning and conservation. Many local governments either already have developed or are working on drought-management plans to help mitigate the affects of a moisture deficit. If a locality doesn't already have a plan in place, firefighters should take the lead in starting one, emphasizing their understanding of water needs in fire suppression and working with the water-resource employees to help educate the public. The water you save may be needed on your next fire. Use it sparingly.
International Assn. of Wildland Fire
P.O. Box 261
Hot Springs, S.D.
57747-0261
ph: 605-890-2348
fax: 206-600-5113
iawf@iawfonline.org
To join the IAWF, visit www.iawfonline.org
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Attn: Lisa Allegretti
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