For immediate release:
Contact: Jim P.M. Chamie
Managing Director, IALC
(520) 621-3024
The International Arid Lands Consortium Offers Tips for
Minimizing Wild Fires
Wild fires threaten the safety of people, property and the environment.
Firefighters and other individuals can be killed or injured in fires;
homes, businesses and equipmemt can be destroyed or damaged; and environmental
damage can have a prolonged impact on plants and wildlife.
Individuals can take steps to avoid the risk of wildfires in our county's
woodlands, fields and parks. Soon after the first prolonged dry spell
of the spring and summer, the potential for environmental fire outbreak
rises sharply and continues to do so until late September. Be aware that
periods of drought or unusually low precipitation increase the likelihood
of severe wildfires. If it has been a mild winter, or if your area is
experiencing dry season, especially with high winds, exercise extra caution
when in contact with any flammable materials.
To reduce the risk of fires caused by humans, many state and federal
agencies have issued restrictions on public use. Some areas are closed
until the fire danger decreases. Before planning a trip to a National
Forest, National Park, or other public lands, call the toll-free Fire
Restrictions Hotline at 1-877-864-6985, or click on http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire/.
Playing in the outdoors: campfires and other recreational fire hazards
Find out about fire conditions before you visit an area and
strictly observe any restrictions that may be in effect. In many areas,
all wood and charcoal fires may be prohibited, but gas or propane camp
stoves are allowed. Other areas allow campfires only in established campgrounds
with fire grills or pits. A few areas have banned all ignition sources,
including camp stoves.
- When camping, select your campsite carefully. Avoid fragile
environments; use existing clear areas; and return any displaced leaf
litter or branches after use.
- Use fuel stoves where dry wood is scarce.
- Use only fallen wood
- Before building a campfire, prepare the area by removing
all leaves, twigs and other flammable material within ten feet of your
campfire.
- Use an established fire pit or make a ring of rocks at least
ten feet from trees, shrubs, structures and debris.
- Keep fire suppression tools such as a shovel and a bucket
of water on hand in case your campfire starts to get out of control.
- Don't leave a campfire unattended.
- Be certain your campfire is completely extinguished before
you go to bed or leave the area.
- Pour water on the fire and douse the site thoroughly. Stir
water and dirt into the coals with a shovel or stick until there are
no embers and the ashes are cold to the touch.
- Make sure the fire is "dead out" before you leave.
- Fireworks are not allowed anywhere on National and State
Forests, National Parks, and other public lands.
Working in the outdoors: Backyard burning, landscaping, woodcutting
- Postpone outdoor burning if your area is experiencing dry conditions.
- Check with the local fire department to determine if a ban on outdoor
burning has been imposed.
- Have hand tools, water and enough people on hand to keep the fire
in check when doing outdoor burning.
- Before starting a backyard fire, place a firebreak around the perimeter
of the fire area. Fires can escape easily if a wind picks up.
- Do not burn in windy conditions.
- Lawn and farm equipment should have properly working spark arresters
to prevent sparks from exiting through the exhaust pipes.
- Keep mufflers and spark arresters on agricultural equipment in proper
working order and watch out for rocks and metal when bush hogging or
mowing.
- Monitor hay-baling operations closely; dry hay can ignite within
the baler.
- Watch out for sparks when using welding equipment to build fences
or repair equipment.
- Burn trash is a burn barrel or other fire-safe receptacle covered
with wire mesh or grid that will help contain burning debris.
- Stay with your fire until it is out.
- Make sure spark arrestors are in good operating condition on all-terrain
vehicles, trail bikes and chain saws when used near grass or combustible
vegetation. This screen fits between the exhaust port of the piston
and the muffler and helps ensure that sparks generated by vehicles and
equipment don't start wildfires.
- Refrain from welding and all use of spark-creating machines when
the fire danger is high.
- Follow forest restrictions and closures; chainsaws may not be allowed
if the fire danger is extreme.
Passing through: Driving in outdoor areas
- Parking in tall grass or shrubs can start fires because
the hot catalytic converter comes into contact with dry plant materials.
Don't park where vegetation is touching the underside of your vehicle.
Motorcycles and ATVs should have spark arresters.
- Do not discard smoking materials from vehicles, use interior
ashtrays.
- Be aware of smoking restrictions in Forests, National
Parks, BLM, and other public lands. Smoking may be restricted to
inside vehicles or in paved parking areas.
- All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) produce an enormous amount
of heat and can ignite brush from their exhaust systems. Don't park
your car, truck, or recreational vehicle on dry grass or brush even
for a minute. The exhaust system on a vehicle can reach a temperature
of more than 1,000 degrees. It only takes 500 degrees to start a
wildfire in the fire season.
Protecting property in areas prone to wildfires
- Clear and maintain a fire break around your home by clearing the fuel
that a fire needs. Clear weeds, dry brush and trees within a 50-100
foot buffer zone. In case of fire, this will allow the heat to dissipate
before it reaches the building as well as eliminating fuel for the fire.
This space can also provide a safe area for firefighters and their equipment,
should they be needed.
- Consider maintaining a large non-potable water storage
tank that could be used in an emergency, but check local regulations
to make sure this is legal in your area.
- Dead and dry grasses should be cleaned up, dead branches
trimmed off trees and the landscaping plants should receive adequate
water.
- Piles of firewood and other debris should be moved away
from the house.
- Trees should be pruned and spaced widely apart.
- Establish fuel breaks along roadways and between buildings
and fields or woodlands.
- Extinguish smoking materials properly. Put out cigarettes,
cigars or pipes only in cleared areas free of vegetation or debris.
- Stone walls act as heat shields to deflect flames.
- Swimming pools and patios can be safety zones.
- Use tile, stucco, metal siding, brick, concrete block,
rock, or other fire-resistant materials on roofs.
- Use only thick, tempered safety glass in large windows
and sliding glass doors.
- Install electrical lines underground, if possible.
- Regularly clean roofs and gutters.
- Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools
such as a rake, axe, chain saw, bucket, and shovels.
- Have several garden hoses long enough to reach any area
of the home and surrounding vegetation.
- Remove ladder fuels, young trees and shrubs planted close
to larger trees that could carry a ground fire into the tops of
large trees.
- Mow grasses to a height of less than 6 inches within
50 feet of the home.
- Wood shake shingle roofs are highly flammable. Convert
roof to Class A fire resistant materials such as fiberglass-asphalt,
metal and tile.
- Construct decks and siding with non-combustible materials.
- Screen openings under decks and attic and foundation
vents.
- Check with local nurseries to learn about fire resistant
landscaping.
- Put out cigarettes, cigars, or pipes only in cleared
areas free of vegetation or debris.
- Cut all branches below six feet from the ground to prevent
fires from spreading into the tree tops.
- Remove all tree limbs within 10 feet of your chimney
or stove pipe.
- Store firewood and other combustible materials like picnic
tables at least 30 feet away from your house and other structures
and clear a space of at least ten feet around them.
- Post your address along the road at the driveway entrance
as well as on the home. Numbers should be at least four inches tall
and mounted on a high-contrast, non-combustible background material.
- Install a smoke detector on each level of your home,
especially near bedrooms. Test them monthly and change the batteries
at least once a year.
- Consider installing automatic fire sprinklers.
- Know at least two ways out of your ground level floor,
preferably at opposite ends of the building, and out of each room
on all levels.
If a Wildfire is Burning Near Your Home
- Stay calm. Call 911 to report a fire.
- Cover all eave and roof vents.
- Cover large picture windows with plywood.
- Close all windows and doors; open drapes.
- Evacuate to a safe location.
Call your local State Forestry office for more information, or visit
any of the following web sites:
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The International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) is an independent
nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring the problems and solutions
unique to arid and semiarid regions. IALC promotes cooperative research
and practical application of new knowledge to develop sustainable ecological
practices. The member institutions and their affiliates share a mission
to enable people of arid lands to improve the quality of life for future
generations. IALC members include the University of Arizona, Desert Research
Institute-Nevada, the University of Illinois, Jewish National Fund, New
Mexico State University, South Dakota State University, Texas A&M
University-Kingsville, and the Higher Council for Science & Technology-Jordan.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Land Reclamation-Egypt is an affiliate
member.
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