Forest homeowners get ready for wildfires

Summer in the Inland Northwest is just around the corner – and with it, another wildfire season that inevitably will threaten houses built on the edge of forests.

Fire is a fact of life in the woods, and many who make their homes there are taking precautions against it.

“I’ve been motivated to do more, and I will,” Margaret Mortz said at a community meeting on disaster preparedness last week in Spokane Valley’s Ponderosa neighborhood.

She has more work to do in her yard, but she said she has taken some steps, such as replacing landscaping next to her house with nonflammable plants.

Among the programs discussed at the meeting were Community Emergency Response Teams, small groups of people trained to help others in a neighborhood in case of a disaster. So far, about 300 residents countywide have taken the training.

Another group preparing for catastrophic fires and other emergencies is the Humane Evacuation Animal Rescue Team. Emergency shelters don’t allow animals, so the recently formed group is preparing to house pets and other animals in the event of a large evacuation.

Officials also offered advice on how to protect houses from fires, mostly by creating a “defensible space” around vulnerable structures.

That means clearing ground cover, dead plants, pine needles and other flammable debris within at least 30 feet of a house – or farther if it is on the side of a hill. Tree limbs near houses should be trimmed 10 feet up the trunk, and ideally, trees should be at least 10 feet apart.

The 30-foot-wide area should be watered and kept green and free of plants that would allow fire to travel up into trees, officials said.

Of the more than 100 homes destroyed during the 1991 Spokane firestorm, only 3 percent that burned had at least 30 feet of defensible space, according to FireSafe Spokane.

Among fire experts’ advice for homeowners:

“Move wood piles at least 30 feet from buildings and keep them free of weeds.

“Plant only fire-resistant landscaping close to a house. Many plants don’t ignite easily, and local nurseries can provide advice on which ones are right for your home.

“Make sure your address is clearly marked at the entrance to your property so firefighters can find it. If you have a long driveway or a bridge leading to your home, make sure it is built to accommodate a fire engine.

“Keep propane and other fuel tanks clear of weeds and other debris that could ignite.

“Don’t leave hoses and sprinklers on in the event of an evacuation. That can draw down water pressure that firefighters need for equipment that has a much better chance of saving your house.

“Keep roofs and gutters free of pine needles and other debris.

“Consider replacing roofs made of cedar shakes with fire-resistant shingles.

“Keep the base of wooden decks clear of anything flammable. If they are low to the ground, install a screen to prevent material from collecting under them.

“Make sure screens and vents on your house are covered to prevent embers from becoming trapped in them.

Visit www.firesafespokane.com for more information on forest fire safety.