Tom McMackin
Firewise Program on High Prairie
Thank you for checking in with Firewise on High Prairie! Wildfire is a force of Nature. It is our homegrown version of the hurricane/ flood/tornado disaster lottery for the western states, with an extra ‘value added’ kicker of the wind for us here in the Columbia Gorge. I am pretty sure that you are well versed in the principles of Firewise by now, but if you have questions there are links and contact information at the end of this article.
Things you can do right now:
• Focus on anything that may need to be done to protect your home and valuable property from falling airborne embers and create defensible space out to 30’ all around them to keep fire on the ground from making contact with them and a real chance of surviving a wildfire.
• Reminders: Use string trimmers (no metal blades) and be careful with hot engines in grasses / Have a charged hose and nozzle near the area you’re working / No parking in tall grasses
• Start creating a Fall/Winter checklist of tasks to get ready for the 2025 season.
Staying Alive
On August 4, 2023 the Hawaiian island of Maui was devastated by a horrific fire disaster. The devastation and tragic loss of life shocked us all. This event, like many others in the news, was a Fire/ Storm in overgrown fuels driven by 80 mph winds. There is very little anyone can do in the face of an event of this magnitude… Except get out of its way! But how? Notification, Preparation/Action, and Execution are the foundations for an effective response plan for any disaster event, particularly when a threat to our lives is the first order of concern.
1. Notification: Critical! You have to know it’s happening.
For current information, check the Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management: https://www.klickitatcounty.org/249/ Emergency-Managementwebsite
Use this direct link for registration in the current Smart 911 program so you’ll receive timely notification of emergency situations and the level of concern that might affect you:
https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/login.action?pa=klickitatco
2. Preparation & Action:
The Ready, Set, Go! program gives you information, planning pointers and some direction in creating customized action checklists for your preparation efforts and exit strategies for when wildfire comes to High Prairie.
https://www.iafc.org/docs/default-source/pdf/rsg-eag.pdf
Do what you can now… ahead of time… and understand the evacuation levels: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3852749.pdf
Level 1/ Ready – Be Aware & Prepare
Level 2/ Set – Packed & Ready to Roll
Level 3/ No Delays – GO!
3. Decision, Commitment & Execution:
Act based on conditions and your preparation level. If fire is suddenly approaching your driveway – prep or no prep – grab your keys and a good luck charm, saddle up your people, and leave the homestead. Level 3 evacuation order – no prep or minimal preparation – load up what you’ve gathered up to the time of the order and Go! If you’ve prepared, and loaded up with your evacuation checklist in hand, activate your ‘GO!’ plan early. Consider sending some of your folks off well in advance of the Level 3 notice, according to your preplanning at Level 1. If you think there’s a chance a Level 3 order will be forthcoming because of conditions and fire activity, Go!
You can expect challenging conditions at any time, especially if you leave at the last minute. Chaos in permutations of human emotions/frantic traffic arriving and leaving the area/flame fronts/ blinding, choking smoke/etc. can become overwhelming. If you can, leave before the official Level 3 notice – before you are in the possible path of an active, dynamic wildfire!
Resources
Contact me, Tom McMackin, if you’d like more information on the ‘Firewise’ and ‘Ready, Set, Go!’ programs; if you have comments or suggestions; or if you would like to be more involved with the High Prairie Firewise effort. I can answer questions and get you connected with the resources we have available as a recognized Firewise Community. Contact me by email at Firewise.onhighprairie@gmail.com or by phone message by calling 509-365-2786. Please call me if you don’t receive a timely response to your email!
Online resources:
Firewise – https://www.nfpa.org/en/Education-and-Research/ Wildfire/Preparing-homes-for-wildfire or https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire
Ready, Set, Go! –
https://www.iafc.org/docs/default-source/pdf/rsg-eag.pdf
Additional fire prep info –
https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/15855/Nevada-Couny-Evacuation-Guide—2015-PDF