Firewise Forum - Preparing for Wildfire

Yes, Virginia, We CAN Do Something...

As the wildfires continue to burn in southern California, we watch and we wait and we wonder. We are disturbed and sad to see the television accounts that include flames, water drops, and those many, many folks who have been evacuated from their homes. And we feel that, in the face of everything, now is the time to remind all of you who live in fire-prone areas how important it is to prepare your home for the possibility that wildfire might strike.

Sometimes it would seem as if there is nothing homeowners can do. However, that is not the case. Each of us CAN participate in our home's survival potential. How? The condition of the 100 to 150 feet of space around a house and its attachments principally determines the potential for it to ignite during a wildfire. A house burns because of its interrelationship with everything in this surrounding area. To avoid a home ignition, you must eliminate a wildfire's potential relationship with your house. This can be accomplished by interrupting the natural path a fire takes---a relatively simple task. Remove flammable items like dead vegetation from the area to prevent flames from contacting the house. Also, reducing the volume of live vegetation will affect the intensity of the wildfire as it enters this particular zone.

I, for one, am going to take a Firewise walk around my house this evening and see if there is anything that needs a little attention.

posted by Judith Leraas Cook at 10/27/2007 01:28:00 PM 0 comments

Protecting Our Treasures

We all have treasures. Some are older and more valuable than others. For some it may be that baseball card of your favorite player that is roughed up on the edges because it was in the spokes of an old bicycle. Or a stuffed animal that could collect social security if it were real. A wedding album full of one and only photos- (before digital!). Point is, we all have something that we cherish- something we cannot replace.

Think about your own treasure for a moment. What would you do without it? Are you doing everything you can to keep it safe?

This ties in to something I thought about during the wildfires that took place in Greece last month. Among the coverage of the tragic wildfires, it was reported that the fires had moved dangerously close to a number of ancient treasures in Greece such as the ruined temples of Zeus and the stadium that hosted the Olympic games in 776 B.C. Not only were homes in the path of the wildfire, but 3000 year old statues as well. If you think about it, we would not be able to replace these ancient treasures the same way we would not be able to replace an old baseball card. While one may be more important on a cultural scale, on a personal level the impact is the same.

Some may call me crazy for comparing the ancient ruins of Greece to a stuffed animal or baseball card. But ask anyone who has lost a home to fire and the first reaction is not always about the home itself- but the treasures inside. The reality sets in that it is the wedding albums, stuffed animals, baseball cards, etc. that we cannot rebuild or replace.

So, how do we prevent our treasures from being damaged? By making your home Firewise.

Fact is, wildfires need fuel to burn. If you live in the WUI, and you clear out those fuels by thinning or creating defensible space, your home- and the treasures inside- stand a much better chance of surviving.

And what better time than now to do some Firewise work around your home? September is National Preparedness Month and the Department of Homeland Security and American Red Cross are working with local, state, and federal officials to promote readiness for emergencies including wildfires.

Implementing Firewise is easy. A few simple steps around your home and community will go a long way toward protecting your homes and your treasures. After all, what is more important than that?

posted by Tony Zagora at 9/17/2007 05:37:00 PM 0 comments

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Mick Jones and Joe Strummer asked this immortal question in their Clash tune of the same name, but they probably weren't thinking about dealing with wildfire approaching homes and communities. As the fire season of 2007 rages on, Firewise staff will always recommend that you listen to local authorities for the best advice about whether to evacuate your neighborhood ahead of a wildfire or to stay put. Once the order comes, however, many may be asking, "HOW do I go? Which way? For how long?"

On a visit to a small community south of Denver last week, I sat in on a presentation by John Pawlik, Wildfire Coordinator for Platte Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, to a group of about 40 residents. In addition to important Firewise advice about action that neighbors can take well before fire approaches, Pawlik discussed the secondary egress route for the community. It's a gated private road that the owner has agreed to let the fire department unlock in case of emergency. Unfortunately, it's also a road that might put travelers in harm's way, as wildfire scenarios show the possibility of fire moving in that same direction. I could practically hear Jones howling, "If I go there will be trouble -- and if I stay there will be double!"

The important point that Pawlik made to community residents is that making the plan now, while the sky is clear and the grass is green, is critical. Mapping escape routes, informing neighbors, and making individual escape plans, including emergency supply kits and arrangements for traveling with pets and livestock, can all be part of a sound Firewise community planning effort. Collaborating with your neighbors on important issues - how to assist a disabled individual, perhaps - can not only bring peace of mind, but possibly save lives, too. Making your home itself a safer place through Firewise preparation could also mean you could shelter in place should the worst happen and exit routes are unavailable.

A great many resources exist to help you plan to leave if you need to. The National Fire Protection Association's "Get Ready" materials have easy-to-use checklists, plan templates and fact sheets that can help you prepare for numerous emergency situations, including wildfire. A favorite home-spun option I like is the "11 Points to Preparedness for Evacuation" on a free home-organization site run by Marla Cilley (aka The Fly Lady) at http://www.flylady.net/. And of course, the Firewise home page strives to provide you with the important information you need to make your home and its surroundings more resistant to ignition from wildfire.

posted by Michele Steinberg at 8/06/2007 02:37:00 PM

HAVE A WUI FOURTH OF JULY

Where I live, the Fourth of July is celebrated much as it is in other parts of the country, with barbeques, parades and municipal fireworks displays. Out here in the West, we also enjoy 'safe and sane' fireworks. I am here to confess that many of my happy childhood memories are linked to these fireworks---from pounding on 'caps' in my driveway with a brick and lighting 'snakes' and sparklers to watching my father send pop-bottle rockets into the night sky. What bliss!

As an adult living in the wildland/urban interface (WUI), however, I find myself a little skittish around July 4---especially when fountains, pop-bottle rockets and sparklers are popping and crackling all over the neighborhood. I worry about them starting a fire, as they quite frequently do. After all, it is summertime.

If you live in the WUI, remember that your home is a precious asset that can burn. If you use fireworks, light them on a non-flammable surface like asphalt or concrete---not on cured grass. Keep water at the ready. Avoid letting sparks shower on flammable surfaces including roofs, mulch, and other flammable vegetation. And only use fireworks marked 'safe and sane' or those approved by your state fire marshal. If you do not, you may discover yourself calling 911 instead of enjoying a wonderful holiday. And THAT could be embarrassing.

Finally, be sure to check local regulations, as some areas have tight restrictions regarding when fireworks (even 'safe and sane' ones) can be used.

Enjoy the holiday!

Judith Leraas Cook
Firewise Communities/USA

posted by Judith Leraas Cook at 6/28/2007 02:32:00 PM 0 comments

It happened in my own back yard.....

It happened in my own back yard, so to speak. About four years ago, the Orcas Highlands Association, where I live, became interested in wildfire mitigation issues because of our climate, our slope and the density of our vegetation. Since that time, we have held an annual workday in our extremely overgrown common area with the goal of reducing the wildfire threat it presents. Additionally, we have cleared the brush along our roadways and have created an opportunity for all residents to rid themselves of green waste each summer. It is picked up and chipped, and its final resting place is a nearby composting facility.

Then, just two months ago, we discovered that we were eligible for a GRANT from the county Resource & Development Council! The joy of it all! Why were we eligible? Because of our commitment, our improved mitigation level, and all the associated improvements to our community's wildfire readiness.

Did the grant help us? Oh, yes. We were able to hire a contractor to remove undergrowth and thick ladder fuels from a great swath of our as-yet-uncompleted common area. The accompanying photo shows the results of his work. To us, this means we can make even greater strides toward our Firewise goals next summer.

What we learned was that the Firewise Communities/USA process really does work, and that our neighbors notice. We had an assessment. We organized. We made a plan. We acted. We stuck with it. And we were rewarded.

posted by Judith Leraas Cook at 2/28/2007 06:19:00 PM 0 comments

What to Do When Wildfire Approaches

Large wildfires are burning in over a dozen states as this blog is being written. Firewise Communities staff has received numerous questions from web users regarding what to do if one threatens.

If a fire is burning anywhere near your community, Firewise staff recommends that you start preparing your home for possible exposure to it. Don't wait until you can see flames, as preparations take time. Here is a list of things you can do that will reduce the probability of losing your home.

1) Be sure the fire is reported to local authorities.
2) Wear cotton/woolen clothing, including long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a hard hat or one with a broad brim, gloves and a handkerchief to protect your face.
3) Close your windows, your vents, your doors and any other openings that might allow embers to enter your house.
4) Remove all flammable vegetation from around your house.
5) Remove any flammable furniture, doormats, woodpiles, etc. that could catch embers and ignite. Roll up or remove awnings and exterior blinds.
6) Dampen all areas on the side of your house facing the direction of the fire.
7) If your gutters are sufficiently sturdy, block the gutter outlets and hose down your roof to fill the gutters.
8) If you use natural gas or propane, turn it off at the tank or the meter.
9) If you have pets, place them in a convenient place for evacuation.
10) Back as many vehicles as possible into the garage. Then close the garage door. In the event you evacuate, close the garage door behind you as you leave. If you do not have a garage or if the garage is full, park the vehicles so they are heading in the direction of the evacuation route.

Wishing you a safe wildfire season,

Judith Leraas Cook
Firewise Communities/USA Project Manager

posted by Judith Leraas Cook at 7/10/2006 09:55:00 AM