Dealing with wildfire risk during a pandemic

The spread of COVID-19 and the economic paralysis it has caused have impacted every aspect of wildland firefighting.

With fires beginning earlier in the spring and persisting later into the fall, communities may have to contend with the dual risk of COVID-19 and wildfire for several months. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America)

It is only the beginning of the 2020 wildfire season and already there have been 20,351 US wildfires between January 1 and June 12. Compare this to 16,630 fires during the same period in 2019, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

The 2020 fire season presents new challenges related to COVID-19.

The pandemic has raised the stakes at the worst possible time and is forcing firefighters, officials, and communities to rethink how they combat blazes.

2019 wildfire review

While 2019 wildfire activity in the U.S. was not as active as 2018, disruption was still significant, leading to the evacuation of over 200,000 people and the declaration of a state of emergency in California.

One of the most notable aspects of the 2019 California wildfire season was the introduction of scheduled intentional power outages by utility companies when fire conditions were forecast. This was meant to minimize or eliminate ignition risk from downed powerlines. These preemptive power shutoffs occurred in approximately 30 counties in California for approximately 23 days total and initially affected around 800,000 customers or about 2 million people.

The shutdowns drew widespread criticism from residents as well as government officials. Many businesses and residents complained of either being misinformed or not informed when shutdowns would occur.

The state of California developed programs to protect utility companies and consumers in the advent of future wildfire events. The state legislature passed a bill that created a $21 billion state-run insurance pool to act as a cushion for utility companies against future wildfire claims.

COVID-19 challenges

As COVID-19 continues to affect communities across the country, wildfire preparation takes on another layer of complexity. One such consideration top of mind this year is the impact of firefighters moving from blaze to blaze in camping groups while not on the front lines. This previous practice is now considered a dangerous incubator for COVID-19. Also, the combination of smoke inhalation and the novel coronavirus complications greatly expand respiratory risks for first responders.

Almost every aspect of preparing for and fighting wildfires will have to change. Several states are working to:

The continued spread of the coronavirus, as well as the economic paralysis that has accompanied health restrictions, has impacted every aspect of wildland firefighting. With fires beginning earlier in the spring and persisting later into the fall, communities may have to contend with the dual risk of COVID-19 and wildfire for several months.

Adding to these concerns, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s most recent three-month drought outlook has drought conditions across large swathes of California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado persisting to the end of June.

Scott McLean, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the agency is following strict physical distancing protocols, but there is no agency-wide guidance beyond the recommendations every American has already been given for the pandemic.

The 2020 fire season presents unique challenges and complexities that will inherently put our industry to its utmost test. Businesses can greatly minimize their losses with advance planning and close communication with their insurance carrier before, and in the unfortunate event that it occurs, during and after a wildfire.

To learn more about wildfire risk and preparation, please visit Future Fires – Weathering the Fire Storm.

Scott H. Steinmetz, P.E. is Regional Head of MidCorp at Allianz Risk Consulting. He can be reached at scott.steinmetz@agcs.allianz.com.

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