Risks After Wildfires
Post-wildfires, the risk of floods, landslides, and mudslides, are greatly
increased and present for a long time as the forest reestablishes itself.
Additionally, forest fires leave behind burnt trees with weak roots that cannot properly hold onto the soil. So, the increased runoff causes erosion and consequentially, a greater risk of debris flow on steep slopes, eventually leading to land and mudslides.
Post-wildfires, the risk of floods, landslides, and mudslides, are greatly
increased and present for a long time as the forest reestablishes itself.
Additionally, forest fires leave behind burnt trees with weak roots that cannot properly hold onto the soil. So, the increased runoff causes erosion and consequentially, a greater risk of debris flow on steep slopes, eventually leading to land and mudslides.
Merritt Community Flood
For the Merritt community, where my family friends’ farm was damaged by wildfires, these post-fire symptoms culminated in a flood later that year. The Coldwater River flooded, causing complete failure of the municipality’s wastewater treatment plant. This imposed immediate danger to public health and safety. Additional infrastructure was damaged, with one bridge collapsing while the other two remained unpassable, farm land was destroyed which once again delayed crop regrowth, and debris cleanup set the family back from from rebuilding their lifestyle.
For the Merritt community, where my family friends’ farm was damaged by wildfires, these post-fire symptoms culminated in a flood later that year. The Coldwater River flooded, causing complete failure of the municipality’s wastewater treatment plant. This imposed immediate danger to public health and safety. Additional infrastructure was damaged, with one bridge collapsing while the other two remained unpassable, farm land was destroyed which once again delayed crop regrowth, and debris cleanup set the family back from from rebuilding their lifestyle.
