An unusually cooler summer in the Pacific Northwest has given firefighting crews some relief this year. Oil-rich pine trees along with grasses and brush in dry, hot summer heat are the perfect fuel for wildfires, which have engulfed several thousands of acres during the past summer seasons.
According to news station KGW, the peak of wildfire season is July 1 through August 20. This year, however, the cold, wet June weather pushed the wildfire season back three weeks. The cooler weather has kept grasses and brush greener, so even multiple lightening strikes are not producing large-scale fires. So far, for example, only two wildfires have affected the state of Oregon this summer.
While this news is can help residents put their fears aside, they should not relax when it comes to taking wildfire precautionary measures. After all, there are still several weeks remaining in the wildfire season.
Take the following steps to help protect your home and business for a wildfire:
Remove all pine needles that have fallen on the ground around a building. Additionally, do not lay pine needles down as a form of mulch or a decorative landscape element. Pine needles, even dry ones, contain oil in them that can easily ignite.
Clear the area around a building of any dry brush, and move flammable vegetation at least 30 feet away from a building.
If you like the look of vegetation around a building, consider planting succulents. These easy-to-manage plants are rich in color and moisture—even during dry, hot weather—and can help act as a fire barrier.
Keep all combustible materials, such as gas tanks and flammable chemicals, away from a building.
Keep your landscape well manicured. Well-watered lawns and trimmed hedges are harder for fires to penetrate.
More than 170 homes in Eagle Rock, Ariz. had to evacuate this weekend as thousands more are advised to do the same. A wildfire, which started last week, was thought to be about 40% contained until a second one started during the weekend. The AP reports this second fire currently “rages out of control.” It is believed that lightening started the second blaze. A man who started small campfire and did not extinguish it properly unintentionally caused the first fire.
Affected Areas
Currently, those living in the Timberline Estates, Wupatki Trails and Fernwood are being advised to leave their homes and head to a Red Cross shelter at Flagstaff Middle School. Experts from the Kaibab National Forest state the fire should be contained by Tuesday, June 22, 2010. County Road 141 is now re-open, but the area around the fire is still closed. While the Kaibab National Forest remains open for camping, the lake is closed to boating and fishing as it is being used for fire operations, according to the Fire Department News Network.
Fire Information
If you live in the Eagle Rock area and wish to learn more about the fires, call the Fire Information Center from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm at 928-635-5687 or 928-635-5688. More on this story.
Clear away debris. Debris is good fuel for a fire. By clearing things like leaves and long grasses from around your home or business, you will make it harder for a fire to flourish.
Prune trees and shrubs. Keeping trees and shrubs pruned improves their vitality and leaves less for a fire to burn. Therefore, this routine maintenance will increase their ability to heal from fire damage.
Keep landscape well-watered. When yards or plants are kept lush and green, the moisture contained within them will make it harder for them to be consumed. A green lawn will also help slow down a fire’s progression through a property.
Maintain your roof. Rid your roof of moss and pine needles, which are other forms of debris that fuel a fire. Also make sure your gutters do not have any leaves in them, especially if they are dry.
Make an emergency plan. Knowing what to do if a fire does happen on your property is just as important, if not more important, that preparing for the fire. Make a preparedness plan at home with your family and one at your business with employees. This plan should outline an evacuation plan that includes where exits in a building are located. Keep a first aid kit, flashlights and a list of important phone numbers. More on making and emergency preparedness kit.
Keep your insurance up to date. By reviewing and updating your insurance policies, you’ll know exactly what is covered in the event of a fire. Be sure to notify your insurance agent of any property changes so you are not under-insured should there be a fire. Read more about insurance.
Back up computer files: A computer left behind in a fire is easily destroyed along with all the data it contains. By backing-up the information online, you will save time and money when recovering the data. Learn about document recovery.
“* The La Brea fire, about 21 miles east of Santa Maria, is now 60% contained. It has burned at least 85,686 acres since it began Aug. 8. Two structures – including a non-operational guard station and a hunter’s cabin – have been destroyed, officials said.
* The Lockheed fire, which has burned about 7,000 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is now 50% contained. It is threatening more than 250 residences in Swanton and Bonny Doon.
* The Vintage fire in southwest Ventura County has burned 150 acres and is 60% contained.
* The Corral fire, located between San Francisco and Modesto, is 85% contained.
* The Yuba fire in Yuba County has blackened 2,200 acres, destroying two residences and threatening about 400 other residences and 30 commercial properties. It is 15% contained.
* The SHU Lightning fire in Shasta County is 90% contained, It has burned 17,623 acres.
* The Fairfield fire, near the intersection of southeast Shasta County and northwest Plumas County, is 30% contained. It has burned 1,400 acres.
* The Coffin fire, in Trinity County, is 100% contained after burning at least 1,200 acres.
* The Wildcat fire in Yosemite National Park, Tuolumne County, has burned 920 acres.
* TheLion Complex fire in Tulare County’s Sequoia National Forest has burned more than 3,200 acres.”
As many as 30,000 residents in Santa Barbara, California were evacuated this week in lieu of wildfires that broke during the later part of week on the Santa Ynez Mountains. The fires, fed by the infamous “sundowner” winds in the region, burned an estimated 80 homes down. However, many people were given the green-light to go home today as firefighters were able to better contain the fires because of more favorable weather.
Cold air coming off the Pacific Ocean provided much needed moisture. Officials state the fires are now about 30% contained and that evacuations are being lifted in phases in order to avoid traffic chaos.
The wildfires and evacuations reminds us of the importance of having an emergency kit or “go-bag” prepared should we ever have to leave our homes. These kits should contain supplies that will last for a minimum of three days: water to drink and to clean with (three-days worth per person), non-perishable foods (three-days worth per person), medications, a list of important phone numbers, hygiene products, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, a can opener, whistle, tool kit, etc.
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