NOMEX®

Cowboy wearing nomex as he moves cattle during a fire.
NOMEX
NOMEX® is the brand name of a flame retardant meta-aramid material marketed and first discovered by DuPont in the 1970s. It is sold in both fiber and sheet forms and is used as a fabric wherever resistance from heat and flame is required. Both the firefighting and vehicle racing industries use Nomex to create clothing and equipment that can withstand intense heat.

Wildfire Information Leaders

National Leadership

Eric Norland, USDA
NIFA National Program Leader Advisor to eWIN

Community Leadership

Glenn Nader, University of California Cooperative Extension
eWIN Chair
ganader@ucdavis.edu
Jan Gonzales, University of California Cooperative Extension
eWIN Program Coordinator
jggonzales@ucdavis.edu

eWIN Subject Matter Leadership

Yvonne Barkley, University of Idaho
Chair
After Fire: Returning Home
After Fire: Assessing Damage
After Fire: Landscape Recovery
Janean Creighton, Oregon State University Extension
Chair
The Human Factor
Glenn Nader, University of California Cooperative Extension

What You Should Do Before Evacuating Your House

Article Written by:
Glenn Nader, University of California Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA
Ed Smith, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Reno, NV

 

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The first step is to make sure every body and everything is ready to leave. Park the vehicles facing toward the road and load important documents and items. Prepare elderly, children, pets and any livestock for evacuation. If there is enough time, prepare the house for exposure to embers and flames. Accomplishing these items will be doable only …

Targeted Grazing for Fuel Reduction

Article Written by:
Glenn Nader, University of California Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA

Targeted grazing is the intentional use of livestock to modify vegetation by consumption to accomplish management goals. In terms of wildfire fuel reduction, targeted grazing is often used to reduce the amount, height and continuity of vegetation. For targeted grazing to be effective, it should be tied to fuel management objectives and tightly managed. Because targeted grazing focuses on modifying fuel characteristics and not animal production, it …

Ensuring Firefighter Access and Your Escape During a Wildfire

If there is a wildfire in your area you may need to get out and firefighters may need to get in, so build fire safety into your road or driveway designs and make plans for evacuation and access.

First, the road. Having more than one way into and out of a residential area is good in case one road gets blocked. Roads should be at least two lanes wide, with gentle curves and with enough space at the end for …

Evacuation Preparations for Your Livestock


Photo source: Susie Heffernan

Prepare before the fire occurs by keeping the corrals and barns free of fuel (vegetation or hay) and have halters or facilities to load and remove the animals. Have an evacuation plan for livestock, including routes, transportation needs, and host site. Share your plan with your neighbors in case you are absent. Do not wait to the last minute to transport livestock as roads can become clogged and difficult to maneuver with a trailer. Make sure …

The Concept Behind Australia’s Stay and Defend or Leave Early Policy

Article Written by:
Glenn Nader, University of California Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA

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The concept for this and other similarly named programs (e.g., “Stay or Go,” “Leave Early or Stay and Defend”) is that if you have carefully planned for fire, implemented the plan before the fire starts, and are well prepared, then the risks of staying are greatly decreased. Preparation includes:

  • Creating and maintaining a defensible space by reducing fuel around your home,
  • Incorporating “fire-safe” designs and materials into

What It Is Like to Be In a Wildfire

Article Written by:
Glenn Nader, University of California Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA

 

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What It Is Like to Be In a Wildfire

What it is like to be in a wildfire depends on the wind speed and the fuel in the area of the home. Embers will come first, followed by the fire front that can create intense heat, smoke, and noise. The darkness and roar of the fire can be great and extremely scary. Common descriptions are of a …

Items to Take When Evacuating

Article Written by:
Glenn Nader, University of California Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA

 

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When preparing to evacuate, deciding what you should take depends on how much time you have, but you should plan on being evacuated for 72 hours. You can reduce preparation time by planning ahead what you want to take and organizing these valuable items in such a way that they are easy to assemble. It is a good idea to keep important papers, irreplaceable photos and inventory …