My apartment has 14 sprinklers in the ceiling across six rooms and hallways. As I drive the rural areas, I see massive irrigation systems watering crops. Yet, the existing fire hydrant system is almost ineffective in a community facing a wildfire. What would it look like if every hydrant in town, or on an ‘as needed basis, was able to flood the sky over the community with a hydro dome to soak homes and businesses during the peak of a wildfire? What new technology would be needed to enable every fire hydrant in town, the capability to provide an automatic water shower over key locations?
Lytton is gone, but the fire hydrants and underground water pipes are still there. Is it time for some different thinking about wildfire response? An existing fire hydrant infrastructure could be redesigned to provide an independent wall of water across a threatened community. A lawn sprinkler on a roof is a good idea — a town-wide waterfall is a better idea.
Larry Murray
Squamish
Editor’s note: We asked the District of 麻豆社国产about this and received the following response: “Longer and more intense wildfire seasons are a consequence of climate change. Given that the wildfire risk to communities like ours is growing, we expect that private sector innovation to help communities adapt to these risks will also grow. In the meantime, we have focused on practical efforts that can be implemented today. We updated our Community Wildfire Protection Plan in 2018 and have begun implementation. Residents will have seen our annual Chipper Days and other FireSmart efforts, we have an all-community evacuation plan, and we have created new Wildfire Development Permit Area guidelines (which will go to public hearing on Oct. 5) and have created the Wildfire Landscaping Management Bylaw to ensure that our community is more resilient and safer. All of these programs and documents can be found via a search on .”
