Why homes are lost to wildfire
2007 was the worst fire season in the Lake Tahoe Basin when 254 houses on the South Shore were destroyed. Photo/Lake Valley Fire
By Melissa Mylchreest, High Country News
Each year, wildfires claim hundreds of homes throughout the West in what’s known as the wildland-urban interface. This issue roars into the national spotlight every summer as footage of engulfed subdivisions flickers on TVs across the country. National fire suppression budgets reach into the billions of dollars every year, much of that cost associated with protecting homes and structures. But are we approaching the problem from the right angle?
Jack Cohen is a research physical fire scientist with the U.S. Forest Service, based at the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory. With four decades of experience, he is a preeminent expert on wildfire and home ignitions, and a founder of the Firewise Communities recognition program, a project of the National Fire Protection Association that helps homeowners protect their property against wildfire.
Years of study have convinced Cohen that the loss of homes to wildfire is as much a sociopolitical problem as it is a physical, on-the-ground problem. Agencies and the public alike approach the issue as a question of fire suppression and control. Cohen, on the other hand, believes that fire is here to stay, and that proper mitigation, awareness and planning can make living with fire a whole lot easier – and safer.
What can be done if your neighbor has pine needles several inches deep all over their yard?
They haven’t raked them up in years and when they do clear the drive they just pile them up even deeper.
tahoeadvocate, If you have neighbors with years of buildup of pine needles try the friendly neighbor approach, tell them there is a risk of fire with their accumulated pine needles. If that doesn’t work then mention to other people on the street to try doing the same thing to the same problem house. Offer to help them clean up if they’re not motivated.
If done with a smile and with well meaning intentions this may work. If not, try the city Code enforcement dept., or the Fire dept.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, espicially when it comes to a wildfire in this neck of the woods. Good luck, OLS
OLS, The house is vacant most of the year and the owner and his children who also use the place have refused to do anything when politely asked by myself and other neighbors.
It is a fire hazard to my adjacent home and I had the fire department out a couple of years ago. I was told that they can’t do anything since it is a single family home and there is only a code for triplexes and above.
I would rake it up myself but that is trespassing.
Everyone else on the block keeps the needles raked and this one house is the exception.
I’ll go read the ordinances again to see if something has changed.
tahoeadvocate, In my case with the burnt out abandoned grow house behind me, I called JoAnn Conner on the city council. She got the ball rolling pronto. The owner was contacted and the place was cleaned up. It still looks like crap and is still a fire hazard but at least something was done. Nancy Kerry might be someone who could help you as well as Tom Davis. We voted them in and if you want action go to the city council…thats what their there for.
It’s worth a try, OLS
If worse comes to worse…get the neighbors together and trespass. Rake at and claim innocence. Consider it just like telling your partner he/she looks handsome/pretty in that outfit. Sometimes it is for the greater good.