Spring has been a little different around here for the last couple of years. The historic, slowly melting snowpack feeding our rivers is but a memory of the past as we watch the cliffs and peaks around us turn brown.
In early April, the snow water equivalent was about 13 percent of its 20-year average in our area. Long-term forecasts are not very promising for much moisture. The probability of significant wildfires this year is increasing.
Wildfire is a potential threat to almost every home in our county. Ignoring that fact will never make it go away. Understanding what the threat is can help us prepare for it.
Most of our forests have not seen a significant wildfire for more than 100 years. That is a lot of time for unchecked growth of potential fuel. Without fire to thin the trees and underbrush, that excessive growth is dense and reaches from the ground to the tree crowns, feeding the huge fires that have become the norm across the west.
Wildfires in the western U.S. have been 2.6 times bigger of late than they were in 1980.
A lot of our residents here feel very safe because their homes are nowhere near the forest. Unfortunately, that may not make a difference. Eighty-five percent or more of the homes lost to wildfire are never directly touched by the flames.
No, you did not misread that.
Most of the structure loss is caused by the blizzard of embers that blow ahead of the fire, starting spot fires outside of the area that is burning. Those embers can travel over a mile.
All it takes is one ember landing on some kindling and you have a new fire start. Usually, you will see thousands of embers swirling ahead of the fire. If those embers enter your house or find some kindling on or near your house, there is a good chance that your house will catch fire, too.
Spring is cleanup time for a lot of us. This is a great time to take steps to safeguard your house, also.
Some basic steps can make a big difference:
• Clean the leaves and pine needles off of the roof.
• Clean the eavestroughs.
• Make sure all attic and soffit vents have one-eighth-inch metal screening.
• Chimneys need spark arrestors (They keep birds out of your woodstove, too).
• Repair any holes or gaps in the siding.
• Crawl space vents need one-eighth-inch metal screening.
• Rake up leaves and needles within 10 feet of the structure.
• Remove all combustibles on, under or near wooden decks.
• Install metal screening under the deck to keep duff and critters out.
• Maintain decks and stairs. Dried-out wood is more flammable than oil-stained or painted wood.
• Use noncombustible fencing within 5 feet of the house.
• Move firewood piles at least 30 feet away from structures.
• Remove any combustible plants within 5 feet of the house.
• Within 30 feet of the house, mow grasses to a 4-inch height or less.
• Ornamental junipers and spruce are highly flammable.
Those are some good spring wildfire cleanup tips.
If you want to learn what else you can do to protect your property from wildfire, Wildfire Adapted Partnership has plenty of information and may be able to offer you a partial reimbursement on vegetation removal.
At wildfireadapted.org you can sign up for helpful e-news, a free site assessment (the first step in the reimbursement process) and learn about the popular chipper rental rebate program.
If you have any questions, call (970) 385-8909.
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