1. Living on the Land Workshop Living on the Land Workshop Bozeman, Montana July 22, 2008 Bozeman, Montana July 22, 2008 Ed Smith Natural Resource Specialist Overview Module 4: Module 4: Living With Fire

2. Rationale: Much of the western United States is considered a high-wildfire hazard environment. Within this region, many properties are not prepared to survive a wildfire. By being properly informed and taking action, homeowners can reduce the impacts of wildfire.

3. Wildfires in the United States 1980-2003; >250 acres Source: USGS (This PowerPoint slide is not included in the module)

4. (This PowerPoint slide not included in module) Module 4 has two lessons: Lesson 1: Describes how wildfire threatens homes and outbuildings and presents actions that can reduce the wildfire risk. Lesson 2: Discusses why homeowners don’t implement wildfire threat reduction practices, what to do during a wildfire, and what actions to take after the wildfire.

5. .. Understanding and Reducing the Wildfire Threat Developed by: Ed Smith University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Ben Hammack

6. Topics to be covered  How wildfire threatens a home and outbuildings  Why structures burn  Who should worry  Managing wildfire fuel  Actions to take before the fire occurs

7. (Pages 2-3)

9. Show footage of local fire behavior

11. Wildfire threatens a home or outbuilding in three ways:  Contact by flames  Radiated heat  Flying embers

12. . Contact by flames

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18. Cerro Grande Fire 2000 Jack Cohen, US Forest Service

19. “My examination suggests that the abundance and ubiquity of pine needles, dead leaves, cured vegetation, flammable shrubs, wood piles, etc. adjacent to, touching and or covering the homes principally contributed to the residential losses.” Dr. Jack Cohen “Investigation of the Cerro Grande Fire”

20. Who should worry? Nevada Appeal

21. (Pages 7-11)

22. Three categories of recommendations  Built zone  Defensible space zone  Access zone

23. Access Zone Defensible Space Zone Built Zone

24. Lean, Clean, and Green Area Noncombustible Area Wildland Fuel Reduction Area

25. Defensible Space Zone. Mark the boundary Step 1: How big?

26. Defensible Space Zone. Step 2: Dead vegetation

27. Defensible Space Zone. Step 2: Dead vegetation

28. Defensible Space Zone. Step 3: Separation

29. Defensible Space Zone. Step 3: Separation

30. Defensible Space Zone. Step 4: Ladder fuels

31. Defensible Space Zone. Step 4: Ladder fuels

32. Defensible Space Zone. Step 5: Lean, Clean, and Green

33. Defensible Space Zone. Step 5: Lean, Clean, and Green.

34. Resources… (Pages 4-5 )

35. .. When Wildfire Occurs Developed by: Ed Smith University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Reno Gazette Journal

36. What we’ll be covering:  Why people don’t take action  What to do during a wildfire  What to do after a wildfire has occurred

37. (Pages 2-3)

39. During the wildfire F. M. Global

40. During the wildfire   What you should wear  What you should take  How you should leave your property

41. It will likely be smoky, windy, hot, and very dry Nevada Appeal

42. What to wear pic… What you should wear and carry Ed Smith, UNCE

43. What you should take ?

44. Evacuate family members and pets Nevada Appeal

45. Resources… (Pages 4-5 )

46. Why don’t people in your area take action? Ed Smith, UNCE

47. Reason #1 “I didn’t know there was a wildfire threat in my neighborhood.”

48. Unaware Carson City Fire Department

49. Reason #2 “It won’t happen to me.”

50. Denial Nevada Appeal

51. Reason #3 “It’s all fate, when your number is up, it’s up.”

52. Destiny Brian Randall

53. Reason #4 “It won’t make a difference”

54. Futility Ben Hammack

55. Reason #5 “It’s not my job.”

56. Irresponsibility Ben Hammack

57. “So what, my insurance will build me a new house.” Reason #6

58. Insurance

59. Reason #7 “If it was important, my insurance company would give me a break on my premium.”

60. No incentives

61. Reason #8 “It’s wrong to cut trees.”

62. Unnatural or wrong Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection District

63. Reason #9 “It won’t look good.”

64. Aesthetics and function Ed Smith, UNCE

65. Reason #10 “I don’t want to because of poison oak, lyme disease, hantavirus, etc.”

66. Discomfort JoAnne Skelly, UNCE

67. Reason #11 “I don’t have the time or money to do it.”

68. Cost Ed Smith, UNCE

69. Reason #12 “I don’t know what to do.”

70. Unknowledgeable Ed Smith, UNCE

71. Reason #13 “I don’t have an easy way to get rid of all that stuff.”

72. Disposal Ed Smith, UNCE

73. Reason #14 “It’s against the law.”

74. Illegal UNCE, Reno, Nev.

75. Reason #15 “I don’t own it.”

76. Lack of ownership Gary Greene

77. Are there other reasons why people don’t reduce the wildfire threat to their property?

78. Why don’t people in your neighborhood take action? Ed Smith, UNCE

79. Good Luck! Good Luck! Contact me for help… smithe@unce.unr.edu