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Curiosity #9: Power Lines, Wildfire, and the Race to Glory
High above the ground, Zip Zap is one of billions of electrons racing through a high-voltage transmission line. Rumor has it that a wildfire is roaring nearby. Most electrons fear the heat, but not Zip Zap. She is a thrill-seeker. She is tired of the daily grind — running from the power plant to a toaster and back. She dreams of having a big breakout moment where she starts a fire or shocks someone.
Her strategy is to try to escape in this part of the race: Once she gets to the lower lines, they will be covered in plastic insulation. The high-voltage lines are bare metal, and the surrounding air itself is the insulation keeping her from veering off the track.
Zip Zap knows her race could end abruptly. If that’s going to happen, she hopes it’s because of what Californians call a Public Safety Power Shutdown (PSPS) — when the utility company cuts the flow before the fire arrives to thwart her ambition to create mayhem. If the flow is turned off at the source, the lines stay intact, and Zip Zap only has to suffer a long boring wait. If the fire hits first and snaps the line, the race track is destroyed, and her racing career is over.
But, so far, so good.
As the line gets close to the fire, the air turns into an oven. Zip Zap feels the metal wire beneath her begin to expand and stretch. This is thermal expansion. The once-tight wire sags and droops into a long, lazy curve. Zip Zap accelerates down the dip, watching the ground get tantalizingly close. The sagging line is now a major safety violation, and is inches away from touching dry brush, almost granting Zip Zap her wish of starting a fire. Almost.
Then comes the big wipeout! Thick soot and ash have coated the wire and, more importantly, the ceramic insulators. Usually, these insulators act like “DO NOT ENTER” signs, keeping Zip Zap and other electrons from running onto the wooden or metal poles. But the soot creates a dirty, conductive bridge over the ceramic.
Sparks fly in all directions. Electrons skitter onto the poles. It is a free-for-all, with every electron looking for a way out. Zip Zap tries to get into the fray, but momentum shoves her back onto the main line.
Disappointed, she almost misses her big break. The air around the wire is no longer clear; it is a smoky vortex filled with carbon and ash. This mixture is so intense that it ionizes, the smoke enables the very air between the wire and the trees to conduct electricity.
Seized by the attraction, Zip Zap joins a massive strike force of electrons. Together, they arc through the smoky haze like a localized bolt of lightning. They slam into a pine tree with a deafening crack. Bark explodes, branches ignite, and sparks spew over the forest floor.
Zip Zap’s wildest dream is fulfilled: She goes out in a spectacular flash of fire-starting glory rather than meekly slipping out a kitchen outlet.
What can you do?
BEFORE the fire: Ensure that trees are trimmed from around power lines. Utility companies often do this for free. Or hire professionals who have the expertise and equipment to work safely around electrical lines.
DURING the fire: Stay safe.
AFTER the fire (and at all other times): Report damage to power poles and downed lines. Stay clear of downed and low-hanging power lines — at least 30’ (about one city bus length)!
RIGHT NOW: Make a donation to help Creative Crisis Leadership turn complex science into simple, life-saving knowledge!
Sources
- Wildfire Reliability | California Public Utilities Commission
- Extreme Weather and Climate Vulnerabilities of the Electric Grid | Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Knowing what to do around a downed power line could save your life | San Luis Valley REC
Stay Safe and Be Curious this Holiday Season!
Curiosity #8: Don’t Drink the Water, A Modern Horror Story
Photo from PxHere
In October 2017, the Tubbs wildfire raged through the city of Santa Rosa CA, destroying more than 3000 homes and other structures. A month later, residents began noticing unusual tastes and smells in their water.
The dedicated Santa Rosa Water department staff quickly leaped into action, testing samples. Within two days, they realized that the water was not safe to drink, even if boiled. They immediately changed “Boil Water” advisories to “Do Not Drink” advisories in select areas.
Unfortunately, people had been drinking contaminated water for a month.
The Bad Guy–VOCs
The Santa Rosa team found high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), especially benzene, in the water. These are toxic chemicals that can cause a range of health issues, including eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Long-term exposure may lead to more serious problems, such as damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system, and some VOCs are suspected or known to cause cancer.
The chemicals the team found had never before been seen in Santa Rosa water.
The Plot Thickens–A Toxic Cocktail with a Straw
Where did the VOCs come from?
When the Santa Rosa Wildfire raged, two things happened simultaneously:
- Extreme heat broke down plastic pipes in the plumbing: The ground got so hot that the High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and PVC pipes started breaking down, releasing VOCs into the water they were carrying. Add to this contaminated air, ash, and other debris, and you have a toxic cocktail brewing in the water.
- Loss of pressure sucked contaminated water back into main distribution lines: Fire hydrants were blasting thousands of gallons a minute. The pressure in the main lines dropped dramatically. The ensuing pressure vacuum back-siphoned this contaminated water, like sucking through a straw, back into the service and distribution main lines, contaminating them.
As clean water later traveled through the contaminated pipes, it picked up those contaminants and delivered them to households.
The Plot Twist–Don’t Boil the water
So, why not just boil the water? Boiling water for at least one minute (three minutes if you’re above 6500 feet of elevation) will kill bacteria that can make you sick.
Unfortunately, boiling water does not remove chemicals — like VOCs — that can also make us very sick. In fact, it can concentrate chemicals, and release them into the air as vapor, leading you to inhale them instead of drinking them.
Nor do most home water filters, like Brita, help out. They can reduce contaminants like chlorine and heavy metals, but they fall short when it comes to VOCs and other ingredients of wildfire’s toxic cocktail. Fortunately, there are more advanced filtration systems, such as reverse osmosis or specialized carbon block filters, that are designed to remove VOCs.
Epilogue–One Year Later
Santa Rosa did get benzene levels down and lifted the “Do Not Drink” advisories. But it took a whole year!
What can you do?
BEFORE the fire:
- Know where to get official local water status and advisories.
- Stock up on drinking water! Keep it in a place that minimizes heat should a wildfire come close.
DURING the fire:
- If you’re ready to go, and you feel you have time, shut off your home’s main water shut-off valve to prevent contaminated water from getting sucked back into your house pipes.
AFTER the fire:
- Do not drink the water from your tap until you know it is safe. Don’t use it to brush your teeth, wash fruit, or in other ways that might lead you to swallowing some.
- Check for “Boil Water” or “Do Not Drink” advisories from your local water board.
At any time, if you detect any strange flavor or scent in your tap water, stop drinking it immediately and alert your local officials!
RIGHT NOW: Make a donation to help Creative Crisis Leadership turn complex science into simple, life-saving knowledge!
Sources
- Post-Fire Water Quality Investigation: Analysis of Cause of Water Contamination | City of Santa Rosa
- Proctor, C. R., et al. (2020). Wildfire caused widespread drinking water distribution network contamination. AWWA Water Science.
- Address Contamination of Drinking Water Distribution Systems from Volatile Organic Compounds After Wildfires | U.S. EPA. (2021).
- California Wildfire Water Quality Impacts, Monitoring and mitigation | California Water Boards
- What Do Brita Pitchers Filter Out Of Water? | ETR Laboratories for Water and Environmental Testing
Stay Safe and Be Curious this Holiday Season!
Curiosity #7: Wildfire and The Melting Snow
Pop quiz! Let’s test your intuition about melting ice.
- Which melts faster? A block of ice that is:
- 1 foot square
- 1 inch square
- Which melts faster? A block of ice sitting in:
- Direct sunlight
- Deep shade
- Which melts faster? A block of ice wrapped in:
- Shiny white plastic
- Matte black plastic
If you answered B, A, B — congratulations! You’ve mastered the main ways wildfire accelerates snowmelt.
The Missing Shade
When a wildfire destroys the forest canopy, more snow reaches the ground — which sounds like a win. However, without the “umbrella” of tree cover to provide shade, that snow is exposed to the direct, punishing heat of the sun. Just like the block of ice in the sun, it stands no chance of lasting through the spring.
The Black Coating
Wildfire doesn’t just clear trees; it produces massive amounts of carbon (soot and ash). When these dark particles land on snow, they it becomes a giant heat-absorber. Just like wearing a black shirt on a hot day — or wrapping ice in black plastic — this “dirty” snow absorbs the sun’s energy instead of reflecting it, melting up to 57% faster than pristine white snow.
Why Should You Care?
If you live in the Western U.S., the mountain snowpack isn’t just for skiing — it’s your water supply. We rely on the snowpack to build up through the winter, and then slowly melt through the summer.
If the snowpack melts too quickly, we can experience two problems:
- Spring floods: When the snow melts fast, it’s like trying to fill a tea cup with a firehose. Rivers and reservoirs overflow, causing dangerous floods.
- Summer drought: Because the “ice block” melted too early in the spring, the water is long gone by the time the dry, hot months of July and August come around.
In short, the wildfire burns off anything providing shade and covers the ice block in black. As a consequence, it melts quickly, and the water spills across the table. By the time you’re thirsty, it’s all gone.
What can you do?
BEFORE the fire: Learn about and support sustainable forest and water management practices that protect the watershed and balance different needs.
DURING the fire: Stay safe!
AFTER the fire: Heed water usage restrictions and guidelines. Even if you see plenty of water now, there may be much less coming
RIGHT NOW: Make a donation to help Creative Crisis Leadership turn complex science into simple, life-saving knowledge!
Sources
- Wildfire impacts on western United States snowpacks | Frontiers in Water
- Wildfires Are Increasingly Burning California’s Snowy Landscapes and Colliding with Winter Droughts to Shrink California’s Snowpack | Desert Research Institute, February 2023
- Severe Summer Wildfires Are Impacting Western U.S. Mountain Snowpack During Winter and Spring | NOAA February 2023
Stay Safe and Be Curious this Holiday Season!
Curiosity #6: Meet the Wildfire Party Guests: Ground, Surface, and Crown
Every large gathering needs a mix of personalities: the Shy Wallflower, the Relaxed Socializer, and the Swinging Party Animal.
It turns out, a wildfire has the same three types of guests. And, it takes a mix of all three to throw a truly devastating wildfire party!
The Shy Wallflower: Ground Fire
Like the quiet shy guest who hugs the walls, the Ground Fire creeps along the ground. It munches through the duff — the squishy carpet of decomposing leaves, needles, and other organic materials covering the ground. Ground Fires produce few visible flames and little smoke, but skulk about, sometimes hiding in tree roots and decaying stumps, only to pop up where you least expect it. Even long after the other guests have left.
The Relaxed Socializer: Surface Fire
The Surface Fire is the mixer and mingler. It’s visible and steady — the classic wildfire guest. It stays grounded, dancing with low-level fuels like grasses, leaves, and small bushes. Unlike the Ground Fire, the Surface Fire leaves when it has danced with everyone in close range.
The Swinging Party Animal: Crown Fire
Then there’s the Crown Fire. The Crown Fire grabs everyone’s attention by flaming through the tree tops, literally burning through the roof. It screams “Watch this!” as it “torches” — leaping from the top of one tree to the next. If there’s wind, it’s sure to be featured on the evening news, throwing embers and flaming bits around with wild abandon.
For a Good Wildfire, Invite All Three!
The terrifying one is the Crown Fire, but it’s the Ground Fire that gets the party started, and the Surface Fire that connects them all:
Step 1: The Spark & The Wallflower. A careless spark lands in dried leaves. The quiet Ground Fire sneaks around, smoldering in the duff.
Step 2: The Socializer Arrives. A slight breeze pushes the creeping Ground Fire into dry grasses. Presto! The Surface Fire arrives, burning openly through low brush.
Step 3: The Party Animal Takes the Roof. The Surface Fire finds “ladder fuel” — low branches, bushes, fences, etc. — it can climb to reach the treetops. The Crown Fire ignites, leaping from tree to tree, and spreading the party with wind-tossed embers that, in turn, start new Ground Fires.
As long as there is something to keep any one guest going, the party will continue!
What can you do?
BEFORE the fire: Don’t be the spark that starts a fire — most wildfires are caused by humans. Create breaks in the paths fire might take: Clearing a 5-foot bubble around your house will keep Ground Fires from nesting. Gaps in fences and vegetation can prevent Surface Fires from spreading. Space between tree tops and branches make it harder for Crown Fires to swing from tree to tree.
DURING the fire: Stay alert to fire updates — conditions can change quickly and suddenly. If you are ready to leave at a moment’s notice, but don’t think it’s time to go yet, move flammables such as propane tanks and deck furniture at least 30 feet away from the house.
AFTER the fire: Check for Ground Fires nesting anywhere near your house and around the neighborhood. Report any persistent, localized smoke or steam rising from the ground to the authorities.
RIGHT NOW: Make a donation to help Creative Crisis Leadership turn complex science into simple, life-saving knowledge!
Sources
- A Land Manager’s Guide for Creating Fire-Resistant Forests | Stephen Fitzgerald and Max Bennett, Oregon State University Extension Service
Stay Safe and Be Curious this Holiday Season!
Curiosity #5: Throwing a few Wrenches into the Water Supply Assembly Line
Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County. Broad, cobbled, and fed by many tributary streams, Grays Run meanders between steep slopes before emptying into Lycoming Creek. The wide floodplain along much of the stream eases access for fishing. By Nicholas A. Tonelli (swimming fire sprite added by CCL).
Mother Nature’s water cycle and your local water infrastructure collaborate in a long assembly line to deliver water right to your tap. But did you know that a wildfire can vandalize every step in this process? A wildfire can disrupt your water supply immediately – bye bye reservoir water – and set up for problems in the future – hello, floods!
Here’s the water supply assembly line and the wrenches that wildfire throws into the works.
Step 1: Clouds kick everything off by bringing rain.
However, wildfire smoke can clog clouds with zillions of microscopic water droplets that are lighter than traditional raindrops. These lighter water droplets prefer to float rather than fall, resulting in less rain.
Step 2: Soil absorption collects that precious rain water, storing some and passing some on to underground aquifers.
Along comes a wildfire, giving the soil a serious case of hydrophobia, hampering the soil’s ability to absorb water — it’s like the ground is wearing a giant raincoat! So, when it rains, the water can’t soak in. Instead, it runs off and is wasted in flash floods and debris flows.
Step 3: Trees, grasses and other vegetation shade the ground, keeping the water in the soil from evaporating.
But after a wildfire? Goodbye, vegetation! With no shade, the water evaporates, escaping into thin air instead of going into the water supply system.
Step 4: Lakes, aquifers, and reservoirs collect water from the soil over time.
Only, after a wildfire, the rainwater isn’t soaking into the soil! Instead, it rushes downstream, carrying ash and debris into the lakes and reservoirs, filling them with mud rather than water, decreasing their capacity.
Step 5: Water treatment systems filter out nasty contaminants from the water supply to ensure the water is safe to drink.
Of course, wildfires can attack treatment plants directly, and put them out of commission. More sneakily, though, wildfires can fill the incoming water with gunk from runoff, pollutants from burning cars and structures — even bits of melting pipes from the supply lines themselves. This can gum up the system for days, and even weeks!
Step 6: Finally, a giant network of underground pipes and water mains delivers the clean water to your tap, using electricity to move the water around, and make sure you can shower under comfortable water pressure.
Unfortunately, water delivery pipes — especially plastic — can only take so much heat before melting or breaking. Not ideal! Plus, wildfires often knock out the power grid.
So you see, the wildfire might last a week, but the impact on your water supply can haunt your community for a long time.
What can you do?
BEFORE the fire: Stock up on water. As a rule of thumb, you’ll need at least 1 gallon per person per day (plus what your goldfish and other pets need). If you’re on well-water, be sure your pump has a power source you can rely on if the electricity is out and everything is covered in ash.
DURING the fire: When a wildfire threatens your top priority should be getting away safely. If you’re ready to go, and you feel you have time, see how much water you have stored. Remember, that wildfire heat can easily melt plastic containers, so consider putting water in a cellar or other protected location.
AFTER the fire: If you evacuate, stock up on food and water before returning home. Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone has what they need.
RIGHT NOW: Make a donation to help Creative Crisis Leadership turn complex science into simple, life-saving knowledge!
Sources:
- How do Wildfires Affect the Water Cycle? | Western Fire Chiefs Association
- Wildfire Impacts on Drinking Water | EPA Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series, Jul 25, 2023
- Interdependencies Between Wildfire‐Induced Alterations | AGU
Stay Safe and Be Curious this Holiday Season!