As , environmental conservation officials in New England are responding to concerns that a similar catastrophe could happen in 海角换妻.
鈥淭he forest makeup in California is different than here in 海角换妻,鈥� said 海角换妻 Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Deputy Commissioner . 鈥淲e tend to have much more humid conditions throughout the year, which helps some of our free and dying wood to rot or decompose faster, rather than just building up over time.鈥�
But while the state has not experienced anywhere close to the level of wildfire property damage and loss-of-life seen in California, 海角换妻 is the and has had significant wildfire activity.
At one point in the fall of 2024, 海角换妻 had 100 wildfires burning at one time. The worst of those was the Hawthorne Fire, which and led to the death of a volunteer firefighter.
鈥淗ere in 海角换妻, last fall鈥檚 dry conditions coupled with high winds underscored this vulnerability,鈥� Trumble said. 鈥淲e do a couple things here in the state to prepare.鈥�
Firefighters at the ready, but more needed
One thing DEEP does to prepare for wildfires is to maintain a well-trained force to fight them.
鈥淲e have forest firefighters here in 海角换妻, highly trained, five on staff at DEEP,鈥� Trumble said. 鈥淲e also train the , an on-call volunteer crew made up of DEEP staff and members of the public. Anyone can apply.鈥�
These teams not only assist in battling local fires, according to Trumble, but they are also key in responding to fires across the country.
鈥淲e've offered a crew to California,鈥� Mason said. 鈥淲e hope to send a crew out later if that offer is accepted.鈥�
But, Trumble said he was worried about the future of 海角换妻鈥檚 firefighting crews.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e seeing across the state is just less willingness to participate in a volunteer firefighting role..and less training,鈥� Trumble said.
This year, the state had to call in crews from Quebec and from western states to bolster local capacity fighting the Hawthorne Fire. Trumble said recruiting and training the next generation of firefighters is a priority as 海角换妻 plans for the future.
Proactive measures
The department also executes protective measures, like active forest management, on state lands to mitigate fire risk.
鈥淲e do harvest trees. We do prescribed burns,鈥� Trumble noted.
These measures help reduce the underbrush that can fuel wildfires. The state also maintains a network of forest service roads, which Trumble described as 鈥渇ire breaks鈥� that enable firefighters to access remote areas quickly during a blaze.
What private landowners should do
While the state manages its lands proactively, Trumble emphasized the importance of private landowners taking responsibility for fire prevention on their properties.
鈥淚f you are a private landowner and you鈥檙e concerned about fire, you need to take a hard look at managing the brush around your structures and the bushes, even if that means rethinking your landscaping,鈥� he said.
The presence of shrubs and bushes - common in New England landscaping - can pose significant fire risks.
A lesson from 鈥淭he Three Little Pigs鈥�?
In the children's fable a wolf blew down the wood and straw houses of two of the pigs, but had no luck destroying the brick constructed home of the third pig. Something similar has played out in the L.A. wildfires where have survived the fires.
There are that this type of construction, along with shrub management, could make a structure more fire resistant.
But Trumble said he would stop short of endorsing any sort of government edict to mandate that property owners fortify the fire resistance of current homes in New England.
鈥淥ld houses are part of the New England landscape,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he best, most proactive step is managing the vegetation on your property, making sure you do have those buffers around your home.鈥�
The Human Factor
Trumble said we human beings are both and the greatest potential guardians against those fires.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e camping or just having a backyard fire, practice those good fire safety tips that you heard as a kid,鈥� Trumble advised. 鈥淢ake sure your fire is completely out. Double drench it. Make sure you have lots of water on hand.鈥�
He says avoid leaving things like cigarettes or motorized lawn equipment near flammable materials.
鈥� All those types of things where you have a heat source鈥攖hey can start fires,鈥� he said.
