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Thursday, March 28, 2024

EU Experts Combine Knowledge to Reduce Wildfire Danger

With the climate crisis increasing the risk of wildfires in the U.K. and many other parts of northern Europe, scientists from across the world are sharing their expertise to help tackle the dangers.

Swansea academics are among U.K. wildfire experts who warn that the record temperatures recorded recently across the country, along with extremely low fuel moisture conditions, have increased the chances of Britain experiencing severe wildfires. 

The fact that severe fires are happening further north than ever has been highlighted by the FirEUrisk consortium. Made up of partners from all over the world (research institutions, universities and private companies), the group aims to develop a unified approach to the increasing hazard, developing new tools for assessing fire danger and the vulnerability of communities and landscapes.

One of its goals is to share knowledge with countries that as yet have limited previous experience in managing extreme wildfires so they can improve their ability to prevent and react to this increased threat.

FirEUrisk co-ordinator Professor Domingos Xavier Viegas, from the University of Coimbra in Portugal, explained that in the past wildfires have not been as common or as severe in central and northern Europe as they have been in the south.

He said: “We have to prepare ourselves for fires occurring in regions where they did not occur before and becoming progressively more severe. FirEUrisk is developing guidelines, protocols and recommendations that can be adopted by central and northern European countries.

“These countries will soon require a similar organizational capacity and preparation to southern territories. We need to ensure that all of Europe is a safe area where citizens, in the face of extreme fires, do not have to face material or human losses.”

For example, this year, the U.K. experienced an unprecedented loss of houses, in France the burned area is already well over 60,000 hectares, larger than in any entire year since 2008 when satellite monitoring began, and Spain is experiencing its worst year for a quarter of a century with 352 fires and 229,645 hectares burned.

Professor Stefan Doerr, who leads Swansea University’s Centre for Wildfire Research added that “there is much to be gained by closer coordination and knowledge exchange across Europe especially in regions outside of Mediterranean Europe where more severe wildfires have been historically rare or absent. “

One ‘pilot’ area for FirEUrisk project is in South Wales where the Healthy Hillsides initiative is prioritizing education and new firefighting techniques to minimize the devastation wildfires cause to the landscape, wildlife, and communities of the South Wales Valleys.

Read more at Swansea University

EU Experts Combine Knowledge to Reduce Wildfire Danger Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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