Assessing Structural Damage after a Severe Wildfire: A Case Study

Abstract

Wildfires have always been a threat to forests and areas of high combustible vegetation. When they are not kept under control, they can spread to residential areas, creating severe damage and destruction. This paper examines the effects of the extreme heat conditions that developed during a wildfire on buildings as a function of their construction type. One of the deadliest wildfires in Greece (July 2018) is considered as a case study, and the damage that occurred to buildings during this event is presented. The temperature of the various structural subsystems in extreme heat conditions was estimated using the finite element method. Parameters that influenced the corresponding temperature distribution were identified. Simple guidelines are given to prevent or reduce damage in buildings exposed to wildfires.