by SAMMY PAYNE
Special to the Sounder
The message of last week’s presentation at the fire station was: as a community we have a responsibility to actively help prevent wildfire by making our properties more fire resistant.
Jack Cohen argued wildfires are part of the planetary dynamic, however, there is a higher risk of ignition because there are more people in the wildland, so these fires are human problems.
Cohen, a fire research scientist, addressed an audience on the deadliness and destructiveness of wildfires on Aug. 8 at the Eastsound Fire Hall.
Devastating case studies, such as the 1980 San Bernardino, Calif. wildfire, which destroyed 284 homes, were used to highlight the importance of resistance strategies.
Wildfires become even more dangerous to humans when they become urban fires that spread through homes and wipe out whole communities.
Fire protection resources such as firefighters, diggers and helicopters can be quickly overwhelmed when faced with raging flames ripping simultaneously through a town full of houses.
“We’re just not geared up for that,” said Cohen. “Frankly, none of us pay taxes for that level of protection.”
Therefore, Cohen draws his conclusion, we have to use preventive strategies.
“We have to slow a wildfire down to give firefighters a real chance at combatting the flames,” he said.
A wildfire is caused by extreme conditions of fuel, weather and landscape. The intensity and speed of this type of fire is dependent upon the weather and fuel.
To prevent wildfires rapidly spreading, islanders can interrupt the conditions by focusing on removing the fuel.
“Preventing home ignitions is key to limiting wildfires,” said Cohen.
Homes have been ignited by flaming embers carried on the wind from up to half a mile away.
Keeping dry vegetation, dead leaves, grass cuttings, and tools away from your property can decrease the vulnerability of your home.
Planting high moisture plants around your neighborhood can slow a wildfire down.
After the lecture concerned community members raised questions from how to handle sparking power tools to correctly storing fire wood.
“Fire wood should be more than 30 feet away from your home,” said Cohen. “But, I would prefer 60 feet just for good measure.”
This year around 5-6 million acres have been destroyed by raging wildfires. Historically, fire studies show 40-100 million acres per year were being lost.
“Wildfires are inevitable,” Cohen said. “They don’t occur every year but we should count on them occurring.”
Did you know?
• Piled grass not composted correctly could spontaneously combust and start a wildfire.
• Orcas Island is home to highly flammable weeds such as Scotch broom, ocean spray and gorse.
• Grass fires can be ignited by hot machinery and sparks from blades.
Orcas Fire Captain Chad Kimple’s three steps to making a home more fire resistant
1.) Clear your gutter. Regularly cleaning your gutter stops a build up of debris and prevents embers from igniting your home.
2.) Give your home at least 30-foot radius of space. Keep fire wood off the deck and don’t keep gardening tools leaned up against the house.
3.) Maintain your property. If you have weeds growing, get rid of them. Just keeping your grass cut can help protect your home from catching alight. Remove dead vegetation from under your deck and porch.
