Firewise and Fuel Mitigation

Firewise, Fuel Mitigation and the Wildland Urban Interface

It’s a chance to choose your landscape now or Mother Nature will choose for you eventually!!

Not just in the Columbus Rural Fire District, but across our appealing State, people are living in an area known as the WUI (Wildland Urban Interface). This is the area where developments and homes meet with or intermingle with the undeveloped lands and vegetation creating very difficult situations for many people. This is just not for people who live in the forested areas but also those who may live in the grass flats of farmland. As your local fire prevention professionals we will explain what fuel reduction and survivable space is, how fuels reduction works and is completed and other tips than can assist homeowners in make their home defensible. People have told us that after their property has been mitigated it looks more aesthetically pleasing and they have a greater appreciation to what is around them

What is fuels reduction and survivable space?

Fuels reduction is the removal of fuels around your property to reduce the risk of catastrophic damage to your vegetation or home. Survivable space is the modification of fuels, your surrounding areas and your building materials which can reduce the chance of home ignition even without firefighter intervention.

Before and After fuel reduction

The left side of the road is natural. The right side shows a completed mitigation project near Columbus.

How is fuels reduction completed?

Fuels reduction removes vegetation that can cause fire to increase in intensity and create major problems. Some think that when people talk about “reduction” it involves completely removing every tree, bush, or other plant life around your home, when in actuality it is a process that begins with studying the home ignition zone and find what will cause the major problems around the property. You begin with removing the vegetation that can cause issues such as ladder fuels (fuels which create fire to go from the ground to tree tops) which include small/ young trees, juniper, or dead/dying vegetation. You also want to space trees out so there is adequate space between the crowns (10-15 foot crown spaces). Remove overhanging branches or branches touching the roof to a distance of at least 10 feet, and remove all branches around chimney. Also, prune the branches off of large trees to a minimum of 8 feet up the base of a tree. When you complete these steps you will have a healthy stand of trees that don’t compete for all the water and nutrients in the ground; which competition creates sick and unhealthy trees and stands that are very susceptible to the pine beetle. You will also get a multi-aged stand of trees, not just all 10 year old or 95 year old. Plus, you will also begin growing grasses and whatever shrubs may be growing around your home since sunshine will contact the ground and bring back different nutrients that have been lost with limited sunshine.

How does fuels reduction work?

Fuels reduction works in many different ways. The major way is the fuel that fire has to burn in has been reduced so that it cannot become a crown fire (burning through tops of trees) and creating major damage to surrounding vegatation and homes. The biggest cause of a home burning is caused by ember showers, which basically start from a massive fire burning in heavy vegetation around homes. Fuels reduction “normally”* keeps fires on the ground burning the lighter fuel models (grass and shrubs) making fighting these fires less dangerous and more manageable for firefighters and homeowners. Ground fires also burn debris that can accumulate on the ground such as pine duff (needle accumulation on the ground) and dead trees and branches.

Other items that needs to be completed.

Homeowners need to do work around their homes removing firewood off decks/porches and to a safe place (recommendations are 30 feet away from home in an area where fire won’t hit hard), screening decks so vegetation can’t get under decks causing spot fires, keeping grass cut, and making a small buffer (recommendation of >3 feet) around the foundation using nonflammable items to prevent direct contact of flames on home (small rocks work great). Keep your roof and rain gutters clean of flammable materials. You also want to be aware of stored flammable items around homes (fuel and propane tanks, fuel canisters, hazardous materials, and plastic items). You want to make sure the eaves of your roof are sealed with less than 1/8 inch soffit vent holes so embers can’t enter the structure through the eaves and ignite an unseen fire in your home. If you do enjoy plants around your home make sure they are fire resistant plants. If you have taken these safety measures around your home and property it can increase the probability of withstanding fire activity.  When building a new home you want to try and use ignition resistant materials such as metal roofs, building materials and not building on steep slopes.

Cost assistance and are there people available to assist with these projects?

There may or may not be grants available to assist you in the cost of fuels reduction projects. Currently there is a 75/25 cost share program where the homeowner pays 25% of the total cost and grants pay the remaining 75%. But, these grants could become unavailable at any time! The fire department also employs seasonal employees to do fuels projects around homes and properties every summer. They can also assist the homeowner while he/she works on the projects. The employees do saw work, slash piling, chipping (if available), slash pile burning, and the fire department can assist the homeowner with suggestions on what to do while they work on the project.

Who to Contact.

If you have any questions about fuels reduction work or need assistance in starting work on your property contact Chief Cowger or Prevention/Mitigation Supervisor Nick Jacobs at Columbus Fire-Rescue.

*“Normally”-Withstanding extreme conditions or circumstances.

Please call Columbus Fire-Rescue at 406-322-4302 and ask for Rich Cowger or Nick Jacobs for further assistance.

Fuel Mitigation Links

www.firesafemt.org

www.firewise.org

www.beartooth.org

www.livingwithfire.info