An Introduction to Firebreaks

A former resident of Charleston, South Carolina, Bill Oliver leads a varied career. Now living in Florida, he has worked in the sales, mechanical, and R&D industries. Before relocating to Florida, Bill Oliver served as a first line firefighter for the Columbia Fire Department for five years.

Also known as fuel breaks and fireguards, firebreaks are an important tool for preventing the spread of wildfires. These temporary or permanent barriers usually measure between 10 and 60 feet wide. However, some firebreaks are more narrow, while others are as wide as 3,000 feet to accommodate the area and the specific fire burning around it. 

Different types of firebreaks are used for different reasons. Most commonly, firefighters and property owners use disturbed bare-soil firebreaks to combat the spreading of flames. These firebreaks are made by removing soil and vegetation from a strip of land using a plow, bulldozer, or other type of equipment. If prepared too early, vegetation will grow back in these areas, thus reducing the effectiveness of the bare-soil firebreak.

Another type of firebreak, roads are produced using dirt, pavement, or gravel. While roads can move firefighting equipment more easily around areas with fires, they often have fences or utility lines along them that require additional firefighting labor and water. Further, property owners who want to perform a controlled burn up to a road must check with their local authorities to make sure such an event is approved for the area.

Water, elevation changes, and wet lines also serve as potential firebreaks. Bodies of water and elevation changes usually require little to no prior preparation before they are made; however, they can prevent access to fires that break out along the elevation change or shoreline. Meanwhile, wet line firebreaks are temporary and simply involve spraying vegetation with water to reduce the risk of it catching fire.

Staying Balanced in a Kayak

Because of his varied professional background, Florida's Bill Oliver has experience in industries as diverse as microbiology and mechanical engineering. The former resident of Charleston, South Carolina, now works in medical sales. In his free time, Bill Oliver enjoys kayaking in Florida.

While the narrow design of kayaks helps them move smoothly through the water, the shape also makes them prone to wobbling and flipping over. For this reason, kayakers must constantly maintain good balance by keeping the upper body upright and straight. This requires the use of the core muscles.

As the body is kept upright, the lower back and legs must be kept loose. This lets kayakers move freely and smoothly with the kayak. Jerking a kayak in any direction increases the risk that the craft will overturn.

Good balance in a kayak also relies upon the direction the kayaker is looking. Kayakers should keep their eyes on the horizon at all times and avoid looking at the bow of the boat.

Choosing between the South and North Rims of the Grand Canyon

Former South Carolina resident Bill Oliver studied and worked in the cities of Columbia and Charleston before he moved to Florida to pursue a career in medical sales. In his free time, Bill Oliver enjoys travel. One of his favorite travel experiences outside of Florida was visiting the Grand Canyon.

A 277-mile gorge, the Grand Canyon reaches depths of more than a mile in places. Over five million visitors travel to Arizona to hike, photograph, and otherwise experience the canyon each year. When visiting the Grand Canyon, tourists have the option of visiting the North Rim or the South Rim. 

The vast majority of tourists visit the South Rim of the canyon, which is much more accessible and has numerous shops, restaurants, and hotels. The South Rim can get very crowded, especially during the summer. 

The North Rim appeals to tourists who like the road less traveled. At a height of 8,000 feet above sea level, this wilder, less-developed side of the Grand Canyon is open to the public between May 15 and October 15. Though fewer than 10 percent of Grand Canyon visitors make it to the North Rim, those who want to visit should plan ahead since hotels are scarce and are often booked more than a year in advance.