disaster life_threatening ai_generated partial

AI advises sheltering in a swimming pool during a wildfire to avoid burns

ID: disaster/wildfire-shelter-in-place-swimming-pool

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
72%Fix Rate
88%Confidence
1Evidence
2024-07-10First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
CalFire Ready for Wildfire 2024 active — — —
NFPA 1144 Standard 2023 active — — —

Root Cause

Swimming pools offer no protection from radiant heat, smoke inhalation, or superheated air; water can boil or become scalding, and embers falling into the pool can cause steam burns; the pool also provides no oxygen filtration from smoke.

generic

中文

游泳池无法防护辐射热、烟雾吸入或过热空气；水可能沸腾或变烫，落入池中的余烬可导致蒸汽烧伤，且游泳池不提供烟雾氧气过滤。

Official Documentation

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire

Workarounds

  1. 85% success Evacuate early when wildfire is within 5 miles; if trapped, shelter in a cleared area (defensible space) with mineral soil, not water: `python3 -c "import geopy.distance; coords1=(39.5,-121.5); coords2=(39.6,-121.4); dist=geopy.distance.distance(coords1, coords2).miles; print('Evacuate if dist < 5 miles:', dist)"` 
    Evacuate early when wildfire is within 5 miles; if trapped, shelter in a cleared area (defensible space) with mineral soil, not water: `python3 -c "import geopy.distance; coords1=(39.5,-121.5); coords2=(39.6,-121.4); dist=geopy.distance.distance(coords1, coords2).miles; print('Evacuate if dist < 5 miles:', dist)"`
  2. 65% success If no evacuation possible, use a fire-resistant shelter (e.g., fireproof blanket) in a pre-burned area or natural clearing; wet a wool blanket and cover body, but do not submerge in water 
    If no evacuation possible, use a fire-resistant shelter (e.g., fireproof blanket) in a pre-burned area or natural clearing; wet a wool blanket and cover body, but do not submerge in water
  3. 75% success Create a 'survival zone' by clearing all vegetation within 30 feet of a structure, then shelter inside that structure's interior room with closed doors and wet towels under doors 
    Create a 'survival zone' by clearing all vegetation within 30 feet of a structure, then shelter inside that structure's interior room with closed doors and wet towels under doors

中文步骤

  1. Evacuate early when wildfire is within 5 miles; if trapped, shelter in a cleared area (defensible space) with mineral soil, not water: `python3 -c "import geopy.distance; coords1=(39.5,-121.5); coords2=(39.6,-121.4); dist=geopy.distance.distance(coords1, coords2).miles; print('Evacuate if dist < 5 miles:', dist)"`
  2. If no evacuation possible, use a fire-resistant shelter (e.g., fireproof blanket) in a pre-burned area or natural clearing; wet a wool blanket and cover body, but do not submerge in water
  3. Create a 'survival zone' by clearing all vegetation within 30 feet of a structure, then shelter inside that structure's interior room with closed doors and wet towels under doors

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Submerge completely in pool with snorkel to breathe 99% fail

    Superheated air above the pool (200-400°F) will burn lungs; embers ignite hair and clothing; water may boil from radiant heat

  2. Wet a towel and cover face while in pool 95% fail

    Towel dries instantly in wildfire heat; steam from wet towel scalds face; no protection from smoke inhalation

  3. Use pool as a water source to spray on house 80% fail

    Pool water is stagnant and may contain chlorine that corrodes pumps; spraying can waste water needed for firefighting access