| ||||
|
|
Wildfire season is here, citizens urged to be "firewise"
Oklahoma
Oklahoma's worst part of fire season has arrived and state Forestry Services staff with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry say homeowners must do their part to protect property and homes. Neither the agency nor the over 800 fire departments across the state can always arrive on time to save structures during days of extreme fire activity.
"Our agency's fire fighters have contained 540 wildfires since the first of the year," said Pat McDowell, assistant director of Forestry for the ODAFF. "Last week alone we suppressed 97 fires that burned over 3,300 acres. We were able to save 46 structures but four, including one home, were lost."
Fire departments statewide face the same problems during this time of year, he notes. Many are understaffed and spread too thin to handle extremely large or multiple fires.
"This can be hot, dangerous, exhausting work for fire crews," McDowell said. "During periods like we're in now with lots of dry fuel and windy conditions, it's often impossible to get to the fires in time to save homes and structures."
The answer, he says, is for property owners to get "firewise" and remove fire hazards from around vulnerable homes and outbuildings. Firewise is a national program created by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, which is made up of state and federal agencies and professional organizations dealing with wildland fire protection.
The group makes fire safety recommendations, travels to communities nationwide to help educate people about fire safety and offers materials and a website with more information.
Some basic safety precautions include keeping rain gutters and roof valleys clear of leaves or other debris, mowing grass close to the ground within 30 feet of the house, storing firewood and other fuels far away from the home, removing limbs overhanging roofs and chimneys, clearing flammable debris that may have accumulated under wooden decks or porches, removing leaves and other litter that has drifted against the side of the structure, and being aware of anything that attaches to the home--such as wooden fences or sheds--that could carry fire to the home. More information is available on the Firewise website at www.firewise.org.
"Fire studies show that it's the little things like these that most often cause homes to burn in wildfires," McDowell said. "We find that homes often burn after the fire front passes when debris or fuel at the site has ignited. Remove the fuel and reduce the risk. That's the message."
Oklahoma's relationship with fire is often misunderstood, according to the forester. Part of the natural process that has shaped the landscape and ecology, most of the state's native plant communities are dependent on periodic fires to germinate and stay healthy.
"Prescribed burning is one of our most important tools for land management," McDowell said. "We use it to reduce invasive species such as red cedar and improve conditions for native grasses and other species. Under the right circumstances we can even use prescribed burning to reduce the risk of dangerous wildfires."
Date: 3/25/04
Copyright 1995-2008. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com
 
| |||||||||||||||||||
