Rethinking Fireproof Houses-The Problem of Wildland Fires

Abstract

Global warming and climate change have caused more often the occurrence of wildland fires (WLF), during the summer, in the Mediterranean Europe, California and Australia, mainly in large unattended forest areas or without significant population occupation. In addition to the damage caused in the forest, these fires cause the destruction of dwellings and occasionally lead to the death of residents. It is therefore necessary to implement constructive preventive measures. The risk of wildland fires in Portugal has increased in the last 10 years due to climate change and the unguarded plantation of the forest (eucalyptus and pine). The north and central zone of Portugal (with large forest vegetation), are the areas that were more heavily affected by the biggest wildland fires (WLF) from 1996 to 2009, due to the existence of fire spread mechanisms, mainly fuel and topography. In 2017, two of the largest wildland fires (WLF) recorded in the history of Portugal (“Pedrógão Grande” and “October 15th”) had a major impact not only on the forest areas (burning 45.000ha+241.000ha, respectively) [1,2], but also on the communities with a death toll of 114.