Fire Safety

firesafety

Living in a Natural Fire Environment

Courtesy of the Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group

The Pacific Northwest region is an area where fire has always played a prominent role in the natural environment. Long before towns and subdivisions were established across the landscape, fires were a natural result of the frequent summer thunderstorms that traveled across the mountains & plains. However, decades of fire suppression have resulted in fuel conditions that have the potential to create intense wildfires.

Our ability to live more safely in this fire environment greatly depends upon our use of "pre-fire activities. Pre-fire activities are actions taken before a wildfire occurs which improve the survivability of people and homes. They include proper vegetation management around the home (known as defensible space), use of fire resistant building materials, appropriate subdivision design, and other measures. Research clearly indicates that pre-fire activities save lives and property.

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Fire Risk Assessment Program

Protect your home from wildfire and prevent catastrophic fires from developing. A District forester will visit your home site and evaluate its ability to survive a wildfire.

Appointment duration is typically less than one hour for each home site. Homeowners will receive an assessment form that will provide practical ways to increase their homes' ability to survive a wildfire.

Call (509) 535-7274 or email the District forester to set up a free appointment.

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Defensible Space

What is defensible space?

Defensible space is the area between a house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been modified to reduce the wildfire threat and to provide an opportunity for firefighters to effectively defend the house. Sometimes, a defensible space is simply a homeowner's properly maintained backyard.

How big is an effective defensible space?

Defensible space size is not the same for everyone, but varies by slope and type of wildland vegetation growing near the house.

The Three R's of Defensible Space

Removal	this technique involves the elimination of entire plants, particularly trees and shrubs from the site. Examples of removal are cutting down a dead tree or cutting out a flammable shrub.
Reduction	the removal of plant parts, such as branches or leaves, constitute reduction. Examples of reduction are pruning dead wood from a shrub, removing low tree branches and mowing dried grass.
Replacement	replacement is substituting less flammable plants for more hazardous vegetation. Removal of a dense stand of flammable shrubs and planting an irrigated, well-maintained flower bed is an example of replacement.

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Other Considerations in Making Your Home Survivable

How a house is designed, where it is built, materials used in its construction and landscape, and access to the home all influence survivability during a wildfire. Presented below are recommendations from the publication "How to Make Your Home Fire Safe."

1. Roof

If you have a wood shake roof consider replacing it with class C or better fire-resistant roofing.
Remove dead branches hanging over your roof.
Clean all dead leaves & needles from your roof and gutter.

2. Construction

Build your home away from ridge tops, canyons, and areas between high points on a ridge.
Use fire-resistant building materials.
Build your home at least 30 feet from your property line.

3. Landscape

Deciduous ornamental trees & shrubs are acceptable if they are kept green and free of dead plant material. Shorter deciduous shrubs are preferred.
Minimize the use of ornamental coniferous shrubs and trees (such as juniper, arborvitae and mugo pine) and tall exotic grasses.
Emphasize the use of low growing herbaceous (non-woody) plants that are kept green during the fire season through irrigation if necessary. These include ground covers, lawn, clover, and bedding plants.

4. Yard

Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and clear away flammable vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles.
Remove all stacks of construction materials, pine needles, leaves and other debris from your yard.
Contact your local fire department to see if open burning is allowed in your area; if so, obtain a permit before burning debris.

5. Emergency Water Supply

Maintain an emergency water supply that meets fire department standards through one of the following:

a community water/hydrant system
a cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors
a minimum storage supply of 2,500 gallons on your property

6. Access

Identify at least two exit routes from your neighborhood.
Construct driveways to allow large emergency equipment to reach your house.
Post your house address at the beginning of your driveway, or on your house if it is easily visible from the road.

7. Outside

Designate an emergency meeting place outside your home.
Practice emergency exit drills regularly.
Make sure that electric service lines, fuse boxes, and circuit breaker panels are installed & maintained as prescribed by code.

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Firewise

Firewise Communities/USA

Firewise Communities/USA is an unique opportunity available to America's fire-prone communities. Its goal is to encourage and acknowledge action that minimizes home loss to wildfire. It teaches you to prepare for a fire before it occurs. The program adapts especially well to small communities, developments, and residential associations of all types.

The process towards becoming a certified Firewise Community begins with contacting Garth Davis who will advise you of the requirements and standards that you will need to meet and follow. For more information, visit www.firewise.org/usa.

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Removal

Reduction

Replacement