Fire Wise       This Multi-Agency National Fire Plan Implementation grant deals with developing local community partnerships for educational opportunities directed towards fire prevention. The highlight of the project is to develop a "Fire Wise Training Trunk" for K-12 education. POCD also partnered with local Fire Districts on preparing a grant proposal to purchase wild fire fighting equipment and install several Dry Hydrants in the more populated areas of the county to increase their response efforts. (The following information is excerpted from a bulletin published by the Idaho Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station, March 1998 (Bulletin 67). For copies of this publication contact: Extension Forestry, Room 211, College of FWR, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844.)   Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java.   CHECKLIST OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR WILDLAND FIRES Landscaping: Defensible spaces/firebreaks around property and structures Prune trees up 6-15 feet Keep lawn and plant materials well watered and trimmed Trim branches away from chimneys and utility lines Store firewood away from structures and surround with a defensible space Clean debris from roof and yard frequently Roads and Signs: Emergency escape route Accessible to fire equipment Property clearly marked with nonflammable signs with clear letters at least 4 inches high Emergency Water Supplies: Clearly marked and accessible Emergency generator Building Materials: Nonflammable materials, especially on roof and decks Double pane windows or nonflammable window treatments Screens on chimneys Covers for attic and basement openings Fire Safe Inside: Know your fire protection agencies and post the numbers by the phone Smoke detectors, sprinkler system, fire extinguishers Chimney/stovepipe maintenance Escape plan Documents and valuables Community emergency fire procedures and alert system Fire tools and emergency supplies back to top Background Towns and cities are spreading as more and more people move into the countryside. If you live in forest or rangeland, you are part of the growing wildlife/urban interface- where the human environment meets the wild. Fire has been, and will continue to be, a natural part of that environment. Fires can be very destructive, destroy homes and place firefighters at risk. Residents of forested and rangeland areas should view wildfires as common natural occurances-and prepare accordingly.. Two types of wildfire are important to homeowners: 1. Surface fires burn surface litter and plants, shrubs and small trees. This type of fire kills many seedlings, but usually causes minimal damage to mature trees and larger shrubs. Young spruce, fir and hemlock have low fire resistance and can be extremely damaged. Historically, many such areas now occupied by homes had ground fires every 5-15 years 2. Crown fires move through the canopy of a stand of trees, burning from tree crown to tree crown. They can also occur in large stands of sagebrush. These are the most destructive wildfires and kill mature trees, shrubs and move over large areas in short periods of time. Surface fires often become crown fires in stands with a high percentage of spruce, fir and hemlock. These crowns often reach the forest floor and can act as ladders for flames to move higher into the canopy. Crown fires historically occur less frequently than surface fires but are more likely if fire has been suppressed for many years. Fuel accumulates and stands become denser. Prescribed burns and timber harvesting can decrease the fuel load, but these activities are often limited near urban areas. WILDFIRE PROTECTION DEFENSE Several steps can be taken to prepare for wildfires and to protect your property against destruction: Landscaping The most effective way to increase the protection of your home from wildfire is by creating defensible spaces. Defensible space involves creating increasing resistance to fire in concentric zones around structures (such as your home). A minimum distance of 100-150 feet around your home needs defensible space. Figure 1 below illustrates these zones. Zone 1: Moist and trim Low-growing plants which resist catching fire and provide little fuel are used. Turf, perennials, annuals and ground cover form a greenbelt that is regularly watered to eliminate dry plant litter. Individual shrubs and trees may be included but must be located at least 10 feet away from the house. Zone 2: Low and sparse Slow-growing and drought -resistant shrubs and groundcovers are used to keep fire near ground level. Native vegetation can be retained if it is low, does not accumulate dry, flammable material and is irrigated. Zone 3: High and clean Native trees or shrubs are thinned and dry debris on the ground is removed. Overgrowth needs to be removed and trees pruned every 3 to 5 years. Zone 4: Natural area Native plants are selectively thinned. If possible, highly flammable vegetation is removed and replaced with less fire-prone species. Steep slopes or windswept areas need greater defense distance. (see Figure 2 below) back to top Remember: All plants will burn if there is enough heat and other conditions are right. The condition of the plant is more important than the species. The same species may be fire-resistant in some cases and combustible in others depending on its access to water. Plants that ignite readily and burn intensely (also known as pyrophytes or fire-prone plants) typically share certain characteristics: Water-stressed Accumulate fine, twiggy, dry or dead material Have leaves and wood containing volatile waxes, fats, terpenes or oils Aromatic (crushed leaves have strong odors) Gummy, resinous sap with a strong odor Blade-leaf or needle-leaf evergreens Stiff, leathery, small or fine, lacy leaves Loose or papery bark Flame (not smolder) when preheated and ignited with a match Fire-resistive plants share these characteristics: High moisture content in leaves Drought tolerant Little or no seasonal accumulation of dead vegetation Low volume of total vegetation Non-resinous woody material Open, loose branching Slow growing Landscape Maintenance Regular pruning, mowing, raking and debris removal reduces potential fuel accumulation. The less accumulated plant debris, the slower a fire will spread. Reduce wildfire hazards by: Clean debris from roof and yard several times a year. Remove grassy fuels for 30 feet around all dwellings. Remove highly flammable brush from around each home for not less than 100 feet. Do your best to improve the health and vigor of trees and shrubs around homesites. Don't plant shrubs at the base of structures. Keep tree branches at least 15 feet away from utility lines, chimneys and stove pipes (which should be covered by screens. Store firewood 30-100 feet away from any structure and keep a defensible space around the pile. Remove dead shrubs and trees. Trim shrubs growing 100 feet and further from each house into individual plants. Eliminate "ladder fuel" configurations in vegetation. Prune the base of tree crownds 6 to 15 from the ground. Cut branches that span between tree crowns to 10 feet or more apart. Prune all dead tree branches. Roads and Signs Vehicles from firefighting agencies must have adequate access to your property. Your property should be clearly marked with a non-flammable sign in numbers and letters at least 4 inches high on a contrasting background. There should be two ways to access your property in case one route is closed off. Roads should be wide enough for two-way traffic, with vegetation cleared 10 feet from along roadsides and driveways. If a two-way road is not possible, turnouts should be constructed. Fire equipment has difficulty negotiating excessively steep roads or sharp turns. Bridges should be strong enough to support fire equipment and the water they carry (at least 34,000 pounds or 170 tons) and be identified as being so. If access to your site leads to a cul-de-sac, an adequate turn around radius is needed. A minimum of 50 feet is suggested. Emergency Water Supplies If you don't have enough water to fight a fire, consider developing an emergency water supply such as an additional well, pond, cistern, swimming pool or tank. 25,000 gallons of water should be available for emergency backup. Make sure water supplies are clearly marked and accessible to fire trucks. Leave at least 16 feet of access to a water source. Get a gas-powered generator to provide power to the pump of a well which is used as the water source in case you lose electrical service. Building Materials If you have not built yet, try to place structures on flat ground and avoid draws. Use fire resistant materials whenever possible such as tile or fiberglass roofing materials and brick or stucco walls.Line the undersides of decks and porches with a nonflammable material. Double pane windows and protective shutters or window treatments will help insulate the inside of the house from the heat of a fire, lessening the chance of the interior becoming overheated and igniting. Make sure the chimneys are screened and build covers for any openings in the attic and basement. If possible have power lines buried to protect them from fire and to prevent the ignition of vegetation. If lines are not buried, make sure trees and branches are trimmed 10 to 15 feet away from lines.  Fire Safe Inside The inside of your home should also be firesafe: Know your fire protection district and post the phone number by all telephones. Install smoke detectors and replace batteries twice a year (when you change the time in the spring and fall). Consider installing and indoor sprinkler system. Locate several fire extinguishers throughout the house and garage. Have them serviced yearly to make sure they are fully charged. Know how they work and which types work on which types of fires. Clean chimneys before cold weather sets in and as needed as creosote builds up. Some fire departments offer free use of a chimney brush. Establish and escape plan and practice fire drills with your family. Place all important documents and valuables in a fire-safe box and keep it in an accessible location. Pre-plan and emergency community fire procedure with neighbors. Prepare a fire kit. Include 3 days food and water, shovel, rake, hoe, bucket, sprinkler, hose, a ladder long enough to reach the roof, and protective clothing such as goggles, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, pants and boots. back to top YOUR HOME FIRE RISK RATING FUEL HAZARD RATING FUEL TYPE Small,light fuels (grass, weeds, shrubs) Medium size fuels (brush, large shrubs, small trees) Heavy, large fuels (woodland, timber, heavy brush) RATING   1 2 3 SLOPE HAZARD RATING SLOPE Mild slopes (0-5%) Moderate slopes (6-20%) Steep slopes (21-40%) Extreme slopes (41% and greater) RATING   1 2 3 4 STRUCTURE HAZARD RATING DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS Classified roof and noncombustible siding materials Classified roof and combustible siding materials Unclassified roof and noncombustible siding materials Unclassified roof and combustible siding materials RATING   1 3 7 10 ADDITIONAL FACTOR RATING ADDITIONAL FACTORS Rough topography that contains several steep canyons Areas having history of higher than average fire occurance Areas exposed to severe fire weather and strong winds Areas with existing fuel modification or usable fire breaks Areas with local facilities (water systems, fire districts, dozers) RATING   +2 +3 +4 -3 -3 CALCULATE THE RISK Fuel hazard ____ X slope hazard ____ = _____ Add points for structural hazard: _____ add or subtract points for additional factors: ____ Total hazard points = _____ EXTREME = 26+ POINTS HIGH = 16 TO 25 POINTS MODERATE = 6 TO 15 POINTS LOW= 6 OR LESS POINTS WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A FIRE Crawl low Touch doors before opening; if they are hot, use another escape route. Put a towel or rug at the bottom of the door to prevent smoke from entering the room. Don't panic, and stay together. If you catch fire: STOP, DROP, AND ROLL!   STEPS FOR EVACUATION WHEN A WILDFIRE THREATENS In the event of a wildfire, call 911 or your fire protection district. Click here for a local resource list. Put valuables and pets in the car, park in the direction of escape, and leave the key in the ignition. If there is time take the following steps: Wear protective clothing Close up the house and disconnect electric garage door openers. Cover attic and basement vents. Fill all available containers with water. Put up a ladder to the roof opposite the approaching fire and put a sprinkler on the roof. Get the emergency generator ready to run the pump in the well. Shut off the gas supply. Turn on all indoor and outdoor lights to make your house easier for firefighters to find in the dark. Take down flammable window treatments; close nonflammable window treatments such as metal blinds. Arrange temporary housing at the home of a friend or relative who is outside the threatened area. back to top AREA FIRE AGENCIES AND CONTACTS Call 911 in an emergency ! Be prepared to give the location of the fire and other important details so that the operator can dispatch the appropriate team to the area. Here are some other numbers of fire departments in the area: Oldtown: 447-3161 Coolin Cavanaugh Bay: 208-443-3118 Priest River: 208-448-1000 West Pend Oreille: 208-448-2600 Spirit Lake: 1-800-558-1212   FIRE-RESISTIVE PLANT MATERIALS FOR OUR AREA REMEMBER: There are NO fire resistant plant materials. Landscaping maintenance is more important that the selection of plant materials. When planning your landscape, use the characteristics of fire-resitive and pyrophytic plants along with site characteristics (such as slope, amount of precipitation, etc.) to choose the plant materials suitable for your site. Some examples are listed below by their common names. (Taken from Fire Resistant Plant Materials for the Rocky Mountains, by Gary Moen, Boise State University): GROUNDCOVERS Hardiest ice plant, hens & chicks, stone crops; wooly yarrow, carpet bugle, kinnikinnick, sea pink, thrift, snow in summer, bearberry cotoneaster, winter creeper, spring cinquefoil, dusty miller, mother of thyme, verbenia. VINES Trumpet vine, Virginia creeper, grapes, wisteria SHRUBS Serviceberry, four wing saltbush, butterfly bush, blue-mist spirea, red osier dogwood, cotoneaster, privet, creeping grape holly, dwarf mountain lover, mock orange, syringa, cherry, buckthorn, azaleas, rhododendrons, currant, silver buffaloberry, snowberry, cranberry bush, yucca TREES incense cedar, western red cedar, maple, horsechestnuts & buckeye, alder, northern catalpa, flowering dogwood, beech, ash, honeylocust, aspen, cottonwood, oak, black locust, willow PERENNIALS Yarrow, chives, bergenia, lilies, sedges, coreopsis, wall flower, California poppy, wild strawberries, geranium, daylilies, coral bells, iris, red hot poker, lupine, evening primrose, beard tongue, goldenrod, lamb's ear   REFERENCES Fire safe Inside and Out: (22 min. video) by Northwest Fire Prevention Cooperatives. Contact Washington Department of Forest Resources, Resource Protection Division, P.O. Box 47037, Olympia, WA 98054-7307. Wildfire and the Suburban Home-- a formula for disaster. by Northwest Fire Prevention Cooperatives. Contact Washington Department of Forest Resources, Resource Protection Division, P.O. Box 47037, Olympia, WA 98054-7307. Wildfire...Are You Prepared? 2 pages. Federal Emergency Management Agency and US Forest Administration, 1993. Wildfire Hits Home Series. Northwest Interagency Fire Prevention Group. 1990. Firewise web site at http://www.firewise.com UI Extension Forestry web site at http://www.ets.uidaho.edu/extforest Watershed Planning Cusick Education Site SPORT Grant National Fire Plan POWR Grant Turkey Habitat Flood Control Bull Trout Recovery Home Page || About POCD || Grant Programs Cost Share Programs || Education Programs Community Services || Special Links || Contact Us Copyright © 2001 The Pend Oreille Conservation District, All Rights Reserved.