Spring!!! That familiar chapter, a reaffirming renewal of Nature’s beauty and the wonders of the Columbia Gorge, especially on High Prairie. The fresh greenery and the bursting brightness of wildflowers, the almost audible ‘Pop!’ of buds, and the leafing out of buckbrush, oaks and willows – they are, in a word, magnificent! It’s this season that reminds us why we choose to live in (or extend our visits to) this place.
Our springtime slice of paradise in an Oregon White Oak savanna is framed by the equally charged seasonal realities of Cold/Wet and Hot/Dry. These are the engines driving the progress of bud or sprout to seed and fruit for the next renewal and an elemental return of vitality to the soil for the next cycle of Life. The browning/drying of the grass and other fuels is a critical phase in returning crucial elements for regeneration; and wildfire is a dynamic catalyst in this annual renewal.
Given where we live, it is a simple fact that on High Prairie it is not a question of ‘If’ but ‘When and how intensely’ a wildfire event will impact our lives and properties. We have all seen the incredible power and speed of the spreading advance of wildfires on the nightly news or on social media. It makes sense to protect our properties as much as we can and be ready for prompt evacuation if necessary.
FireWise Tasks:
Survey the defensible space around your home, other structures and any property you need to protect. Property losses to fire generally happen when fire can make contact with your property. For example:
• Embers carried on the wind, then falling on combustible material on roofs or other similar surfaces
• Fire traveling on the ground and igniting material next to or attached to the property, like a wood fence.
→ 0 to 5’ – Immediate Zone: The home and the area 0-5’ from the furthest attached exterior point of the home. Start with the house itself, then move into the landscaping section of the Immediate Zone. Eliminate potential entry for embers and remove sources of ignition. Any work needed should be your top priority!
→ 5’ to 30’ – Clear up debris, cut grasses, prune shrubs, etc. to prevent fire from moving easily to your property. This will also provide defensible space work areas for firefighters if they need to come to your home. Take time to assess and create a 3’ cleared area around wooden utility poles and fence posts! Any work needed should be scheduled for completion before June 1st!
→ 30’ to 100+’ – Clean up debris and plan for thinning shrubs and trimming ground level or low tree branches. Any work needed can be done when possible or planned for Fall’s regular chores. Also, take time to assess and create a 3’ cleared area around wooden utility poles and fence posts!
Burn, chip or take to a transfer station all trimming, pruning, other yard items. If burning, prepare a burn area 10’X10’ on bare ground center a fire pile to 4’ high in a 4’ square area. A water source, a shovel, other hand tools and no wind will make your work safer for all. Burn barrels are illegal in Klickitat County!
Know the Evacuation Levels
Klickitat County Emergency Management will issue alerts in case of developing wildfire incidents.
• Level 1 (Ready) – Assemble your supplies or load your prepared items in your vehicle and complete tasks on your 2-3 hour checklist.
• Level 2 (Set) – Complete tasks on your 1-hour-or-less checklist. If you expect a Level 3, when you’ve completed your tasks Leave Now! Leaving now will make having to navigate crowded traffic, smoke, or possible fire impingement less likely!
• Level 3 (GO!) – Drop whatever you’re doing. Get everyone and the dog into your preloaded vehicle. Don’t dilly-dally. Leave!
• Why leave early? Watch: “Family’s Car Runs Out of Gas While Fleeing Wildfire” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1GVAzdwHYo 02:11
Online resources:
CalFire: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/
Preparing for Wildfire: https://tinyurl.com/5y3zkn43
WA Evacuation levels: https://tinyurl.com/3rj3dbc5
WA Wildfire & Smoke information: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/Wildfires or https://tinyurl.com/2m79f34v
FireWise: http://www.firewise.org orhttps://tinyurl.com/2p85str8
Ready, Set, Go! http://www.wildlandfirersg.org
Contact me, Tom McMackin, if you’d like more information on the ‘FireWise’ and ‘Ready, Set, Go!’ programs or anything else about wildfire readiness. Email at :firewise.onhighprairie@gmail.com or phone message at 509-365-2786.