 |
|
|
 |
|
English > Historical Fires > 2000 Fire Season > Effects of 2000 > Community Effects
The Fires of 2000 had many varied effects on communities throughout the western United States. The wildland/urban interface is becoming more of an issue, as more people are building houses near, or in the forest, or in high fire risk areas (see wildland/urban interface under the 2000 fire statistics for more detailed information). This created a problem for the firefighters, in that they have more things they need to protect the fire from.
The fires of 2000 had the energy level of the fires in 1910, with huge, powerful, firestorms, that would wipe out whole forests like they were just little matchsticks. Since they were this powerful, the people fighting the fires decided that it would be best just to “let it burn,” and just work on protecting lives and structures.
Most communities, even ones within a couple hundred miles of a fire, experienced the smoke from the fires. It not only affected what people could see, but many people experienced health problems because of the smoke. It affected almost everybody’s daily activities, and kept them inside usually.
In the communities that were directly affected with the fires, the people of the community were usually brought together, and they all worked together to get through the hardships. Even larger communities experienced this, and set up places where people could stay if they were evacuated, or provide places for them to store their belongings that they took. In most places, the community was a place for everyone to seek refuge from the fires, and share their experiences.
Pictures:
These pictures are from a monument that the National Guard constructed, and gave as a gift to the people of Sula, Montana, during the fire season of 2000:
© ThinkQuest Team C0119184 :: Credits & Sources
|
|
|
|
|
