Wildfire

Wildfire
Wikipedia
Wildfires, or forest fires, are uncontrolled fires burning in wildland areas. Common causes include lightning, human carelessness, arson, volcano eruption, and pyroclastic cloud from active volcano. The can be a threat to those in rural areas and also to wildlife. Wildfires can also produce ember attacks, where floating embers set fire to buildings at a distance from the fire itself.
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• A well-designed and properly maintained area around a home or building offers a "defensible space" This is the area of landscaping where homeowners may achieve fire safety without giving up the visual beauty we all want when we work so hard in our yards all spring! 

• Fire officials recommend homes have a minimum thirty foot vegetation clearance around the structure. Fire fighters use this space when protecting a home during a wildfire. Most homeowners plant shrubs and gardens near their home structure and many properties have limited space around and between other out buildings and structures.
• Gift Packs from Nature's Inventory! Get 4 Nature's Inventory Wellness Oils for $59.95! Use code SAVE25C and take 25% off your order!To meet vegetation clearing recommendations, experts at Firewise.org suggest that homeowners consider designing zones around the structure and extending outward. A four zone concept forlandscaping design progressively reducing the amount of vegetation and fuel as we get closer to the home and other structures.

• Zone 1- Should be the protection area surrounding the house. Plants and vegetation should be the most fire resistant, in your areas. Along with good irrigation and the correct spacing will help minimize threats from flames and sparks nearing the structure.
• Zone 2- Is the next area and homeowners need to establish vegetation of plants that are fire resistant and low growing. Lawns and flower beds or other small gardens with an irrigationsystem keep this zone green and healthy and provide an additional layer of fire safety.

• Zone 3- Should be another layer around the home or structure where fuel volume is kept low. Chose plants that are low growing and fire resistant when possible to help provide a decreased fuel volume area. PlantingGift Packs from Nature's Inventory! Get 4 Nature's Inventory Wellness Oils for $59.95! Use code SAVE25C and take 25% off your order! some well-spaced, lower growing and well groomed trees can retard a fire's progress.
• Zone 4 Is the outside area of a homeowners property and should be a natural zone. The use of native or naturalized vegetation is an important step in reducing fire risks in Wildland-Urban Interface areas. Selective thinning and reducing the volume of fuel in this zone is critical. Remove and highly flammable plants from this zone when possible to offers fire protection and maintain a natural appearance.landscaping to reduce wild fire risks for homeowners

Thinking about fire safety and risk management landscaping now during the spring could start your projects for the whole spring and summer season and greatly reduce the risk your home may face during the upcoming wild fire season

What are the Components of a Wildfire Response Plan?

There is no standard format for this plan. It should be brief (3-5 pages) but include enough information so that it can be used as a communications tool with the local fire control agency. 

It may be useful to think of the local fire control authorities as the intended audience for the document. Groups of similar sites in a common geography can be planned for together.

Typically, key components include:

• the location of the site
• a physical description of the site (fuels, topography, fire-sensitive areas, etc.)
• a narrative of the procedure to be followed in the event of a wildfire (e.g. notification, evacuation, suppression action)

• identification of the fire control agency responsible for suppression in the area (e.g. volunteer fire department, state forestry agency), with contact phone numbers
• list of Nature Conservancy staff to be contacted in case of wildfire, with phone numbers
• information concerning any cooperative agreement with multiple landowners or agencies, such as a Mutual Aid Agreement
• communications procedures, including radio frequencies of responding agencies

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• list of any TNC resources which may be available to firefighters
• list of values at risk
• maps identifying
• roads into and on the site, and access gates
• natural features that could be used as firebreaks, such as streams, lakes, or changes in fuel types
• ecologically sensitive areas to be avoided by response vehicles
• wet or low-lying areas where response vehicles may get mired
• water sources
• 
  

• location of flammable fuels or hazardous materials storage

In some areas, Conservancy fire programs may decide to develop a media response plan in anticipation of an escaped prescribed burn. This document would designate one or two staff to interact with the media and include a basic framework for a response and a fact sheet on the preserve or site which could be distributed to media contacts.
Example: Albany Pine Bush Media Response Plan

Where is a Wildfire Response Plan Filed?

A copy should be kept in a readily-accessible area of the local TNC office, and any additional offices to which a wildfire might be reported. You should also meet with local fire control officials to give them a copy of the Wildfire Response Plan and discuss its implementation. (See below for more information on developing relationships with local authorities.)

It is important to instruct all staff about proper wildfire response. 
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The person who receives a telephone call notifying the Conservancy of a fire on its preserve may be unfamiliar with fire management, and unwittingly expose the Conservancy to liability risk through an inappropriate response. Be sure that everyone understands the notification process for contacting fire control authorities and the appropriate TNC staff.

Develop a Relationship with the Local Fire Control Agency

Foremost in wildfire planning is developing close and effective liaisons with local and state fire control agencies and officials. Get to know the fire control officials likely to respond to a fire in your area. Invite them to visit the site for a tour and discussion of sensitive areas, access points, and roads. 

Once suppression resources are deployed, fire officials may or may not be cooperative, but the potential benefits of collaboration are great. It may make the difference between a fire plow staying along the boundary of a preserve rather than going through its center. When fires threaten people, livestock or buildings, fire officials cannot be expected to place ecosystem damage above other considerations. But even in threatening situations there may be some room for flexibility in response. 

Cooperation is most likely if you work to help fire officials accomplish their objectives while not compromising those of the Conservancy. Wildfire planning may also help reduce the occurrence of fire, increase the efficiency of fire control, and help avoid high expenditures of funds to cover damages and suppression.

If you are concerned that local fire control personnel do not have sufficient experience in dealing with wildland fire, it may be useful to conduct a joint training session. The session might include a review of communications procedures, agency and Conservancy equipment, practice with hoselays, and suppression exercises. Even with experienced personnel, an annual joint refresher is a good way to build a relationship between the two groups.

Fire Fighting Service Charges and Insurance

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Although practices vary from state to state and county to county, in some localities a fee is charged to a landowner if the local fire department or state or federal fire control agency is required to extinguish a fire on a landowner's property. The Conservancy might be faced with such fees if a local fire department provides assistance in the event of a wildfire, or particularly a wildfire that originates as a prescribed burn getting out of control. In some instances, these service fees could be quite high. Conservancy staff should see the Conservancy's Intranet Fire Manual (Insurance, Section-E) for a discussion of the applicability of insurance to these charges. tnc firemanual