The devastating and tragic wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina in Maui is a stark reminder of the increasing danger that wildfires pose to Americans each year. With one in six Americans living in an area of significant wildfire risk, according to an analysis by the First Street Foundation, the need for strong, resilient evacuation routes is greater than ever.
Fire Resistant Storm Water Systems Protect Evacuation Routes
Resilient storm water management systems are a critical component of an evacuation route. Storm water systems help keep roads clear of water washing down from extinguishing efforts and prevent roadways from collapsing due to erosion.
However, the systems themselves can become a hazard if they are constructed with flammable materials or materials that will melt if wind-blown embers ignite a fire inside the culvert. This happened during the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California. When plastic and metal culverts collapsed, evacuation routes were damaged, which limited firefighter access to sections of the blaze.
To protect evacuation routes, many communities are investing in fire resistant storm water solutions to ensure the infrastructure remains structurally intact during wildfires. Increasingly, engineers are specifying reinforced concrete pipe for its inherent fire resistance and durability.
Congress Addresses Flammability in New Evacuation Route Standards
Storm water management systems made from plastic present a serious threat to communities in a fire-related event. Plastic pipes, even when buried underground, can melt when exposed to extreme heat, ignite and fuel the fire, and release harmful toxins.
In 2018, Congress passed the Disaster Recovery Reform Act in 2018 as part of an effort to build the nation’s capacity to weather catastrophic events like wildfires. The new legislation highlights the need for strong, resilient evacuation routes and directs funding toward feasible, cost effective projects that make communities more resilient against future wildfire risk.
Congress identified several performance standards for evacuation routes, including the ability to withstand tensile and compressive stresses, flammability, and hydrostatic forces. Unlike other materials, reinforced concrete pipe meets these performance standards.
Fire Resistant Infrastructure Speeds Recovery and Protects Environment
Wildfires pose risks to humans and property even after the flames are extinguished. Due to the loss of vegetation, burned areas are more susceptible to flooding and debris flows, according to the California Water Science Center. Even modest rainstorms can produce dangerous flash floods, putting recovery efforts at risk until reliable infrastructure is in place.
Additionally, any burned structures that contain plastic can pose health risks to humans and wildlife due to toxins released when plastic melts or ignites. Plastic storm water pipes can release carcinogenic dioxins and harmful chemicals such as benzene into the environment and can pollute water sources.
Reinforced concrete pipe installed before a disaster speeds recovery and may prevent further damage as it provides erosion protection during and after wildfires, resists floatation, and limits the risk of releasing harmful chemicals to the environment.
Engineers designing storm water infrastructure are selecting concrete products for box culverts, bridges, and drainage pipelines to protect communities from the many dangers of wildfires.
Use reinforced concrete pipe for your next infrastructure project by contacting your regional County Materials facility:
Florida - (352) 343-8488
Indiana and Illinois - (317) 323-6000
Iowa and Wisconsin - (608) 244-1381
Minnesota - (715) 749-3927
Resources:
Maui residents face lingering toxic hazards in aftermath of deadly wildfires
Fire-Resilient Infrastructure Depends on Concrete Pipe
Post-Fire Flooding and Debris Flow
Town of Paradise HDPE culverts melts
