FACT: More than 1,600 fires will break out
The number of ignitions that will create fires large enough to call the fire department can be extrapolated from previous earthquakes and depends upon the number of households at different levels of seismic shaking.
This leads to an estimate of 1,600 ignitions of which 1,200 will be too large to be controlled by one fire engine company.
In areas of dense, wood-frame construction, these fires, if not controlled, will grew quickly to involve tens or hundreds of city blocks.
The fire risk is increased by the damage to the water distribution system and by the traffic gridlock that will result from the ShakeOut earthquake.
Costs for fire damages are estimated at $40 billion for buildings and $25 billion in damage to building contents.
This leads to an estimate of 1,600 ignitions of which 1,200 will be too large to be controlled by one fire engine company.
In areas of dense, wood-frame construction, these fires, if not controlled, will grew quickly to involve tens or hundreds of city blocks.
The fire risk is increased by the damage to the water distribution system and by the traffic gridlock that will result from the ShakeOut earthquake.
Costs for fire damages are estimated at $40 billion for buildings and $25 billion in damage to building contents.
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