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Taylor Gomm

Professor Nielsen

Natural Disasters

19 April 2019

Disaster Preparedness Plan

The area I choose to research was Spanish Fork, Utah. The disaster I am focusing on is

wildfires. Within the past few years there have been multiple fires in and around this area. I

chose Spanish Fork because I live fairly close and happen to know people who have been

affected by these fires. The intended audience are residents of Spanish Fork and surrounding

areas. Many natural disasters can and do occur in the state of Utah. Floods, wildfires,

avalanches, landslides, and even earthquakes are all very possible here in Utah. Floods may

occur where there are steep slopes, they are also more likely to occur where there are narrow

stream valleys and where drains and gutters runoff.

Wildfires occur here most often because Utah is a desert. This makes it is very hot and

dry which is the perfect condition for a fire to start and burn. Avalanches also occur due to many

factors. Things like the amount of mountains we have, how much snow we get during the

winter, and because we have a large population of people who like to ski and snowboard on our

mountains. Landslides are very similar to floods, if you are at risk for flooding you are probably

at risk for a landslide as well. Earthquakes may occur where faults are weak or where part of the

earth's crust is weak.

Wildfires in Utah
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The areas that are shaded in red are restricted for

camp fires, fireworks, or anything that could light

other things on fire. The biggest reason for these to

be shaded out is that the surrounding land/area is so

dry it could catch fire very easily.

Many of the fires in Utah are started by humans

leaving camp fires unattended, cigarettes, or shooting

off fireworks. But other things can start these fires as

well, like lightning, volcanoes erupting, and sparks

from rocks falling. After they start they just take on a life of their own.

Geography wildfires

The geography of wildfires is pretty simple. These fires are going to be more likely to

start and take off if they are in a dry/desert area like Utah and California because they are so hot

and so dry. If there is moisture or anything wet in the air or on the ground it is less likely to have

a fire in those areas.

Impacts of Wildfires

Wildfires can impact not only humans and their lives but it can hurt animals lives. For

humans it can take houses away, and it can even take their lives. The same goes for animals.

Not only does it take their homes and some lives but it takes away their whole world, and it gives

them nowhere to live.

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Science Behind Wildfires

A wildfire starts from the “Triangle” of

ingredients. You have to have oxygen, heat, and fuel.

For the oxygen it is in the air, as for heat it can come from

a large variety of different things, and the fuel has to be

there too. The fuel can be anything from a dried up

branch to a cardboard box.

Mitigation and preparedness

If you live near a high risk area for fires and want to be prepared here's how. In order to

try and save your home you need to have defensible space. This means you clear out all of the

tree, debrease, and anything near your home that could catch on fire. If you clear all of this out

then the fire will not get close enough to burn your house. The bigger the defensible space the

better off you will be.

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References

https://nhmu.utah.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/All%20About%20Wildfires.pdf

https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights/report-findings/ecosystems-and-biodiversity

https://utahvalley360.com/2014/02/03/5-natural-disasters-likely-to-hit-utah-and-how-you-can-

be-ready/