Skyon fire!

Combat Edge, Oct, 2004 by Anton Komatz

October is fire safety month ...

Once you have accounted for the fire threats inside your home (improperly stored flammable liquids, overloaded electrical circuits, unattended candles, and have replaced the batteries in your smoke detectors, and checked the pressure on your fire extinguishers), take a look outside and consider what can be done to reduce the threat to your life and property from grass and wildfires. Before you respond with "I live in the city, I don't have to worry about wildfires" and turn the page, consider the fact that many Air Force members recreate, travel through, train, and are sent TDY to bases or towns that are prone to wildfires. Being aware of your surroundings and what to do when wildfires threaten can mean the difference between being a survivor and a statistic.

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The causes of home fires and wildfires are very similar: unattended cooking, careless smoking habits, lightning, electrical and or fireplace sparks, faulty equipment, children playing with fire, arson, etc., but the resulting damage is often more catastrophic and far reaching. According to calendar year 2000 statistics compiled by the National Interagency Fire Center, over 1.3 billion dollars were spent fighting 122,827 wildfires, which consumed over 8,422,237 million acres of inhabited and uninhabited forest area, and burned over 861 homes, businesses, and other structures. The threat of wildfires will only grow as more and more people move into woodland and rural areas around the country, but the threat can be reduced by practicing wildfire safety, doing some pre-planning during construction, routine home and grounds maintenance, landscaping improvements to existing homes and buildings, and knowing the proper actions to take when wildfires threaten.

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Observe wildfire safety rules. People are the cause of most wildfires; therefore, the threat of wildfire can be significantly reduced by following several common sense practices. The American Red Cross recommends that home and landowners contact local fire, health and forestry offices for information on fire laws and to report hazardous conditions that could cause a wildfire. Homeowners should also make sure that fire vehicles can get to your home, and ensure all driveway entrances are clearly marked so they know your name and address. People should plan several escape routes away from your home by car and by foot as well as talking to your neighbors about wildfire safety. Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a wildfire. Make a list of your neighbors' skills, such as medical or technical. Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans to take care of children who may be on their own if parents can't get home.

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Proper site planning, design, and construction of a new home in a rural or wildfire-prone setting can lessen the threat to property during an actual wildfire. The Colorado Forest Service ranks Larimar County. Colorado, as the most hazardous county in Colorado for wildfire dangers. To counter the threat, Larimar County offers the following guidelines for those planning to build homes in fire-prone areas. Evaluate the building site, and choose a site away from heavily vegetated area (trees and shrubs), choosing to build on the most level portion of the land. Avoid building near natural chimneys or draws, as they act as natural pathways during a fire and could draw heat and flames to your home, and set the home at least 30 feet back from any ridge or cliff; increase the distance to 75-100 feet if home will be higher than one story. A steep, narrow, or winding driveway access to your home may look architecturally appealing, but may make it impossible for large emergency vehicles to access your property. If a locked gate is installed, provide a key to your local fire agency. Placing driveways on the down hill side of the home or into the prevailing winds provides a natural firebreak.

A combustible roof is a structure's number one danger in wildfires; therefore, it becomes your home's first line of defense because they usually have the largest surface areas that are exposed to airborne sparks. Use Class A or B roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, slate or clay tile, or metal. The foundation of a building is another area to come in contact with a spreading wildfire. Construct a closed foundation with concrete block, cement wall, or use other fire resistive materials. Siding should be constructed of fire resistive materials from the ground to the roof overhang. Use as fire-resistant or non-combustible like stone, brick, and stucco (considered Class III flame spread siding materials) whenever possible.

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Windows are often overlooked as fire hazards, but can be a serious risk. Radiant heat can pass through them and set fire to curtains and furniture, so minimize the size and number of windows on the side of the house that would most likely be exposed to a fire. Double-pane glass and tempered glass are more effective than single-pane glass by reducing the amount of radiant heat; plastic sky lights can melt. To prevent sparks from entering your home through vents cover attic, soffit, and floor vents with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 of an inch, make sure eave and soffit vents are closer to the roof line than the wall. Take care to design decks so that they are not located at the top of a hill where they will be in direct line of a fire moving up slope. Landscape with fire resistive plants and incorporate walkways and retaining walls as man-made fuel breaks. Fire-resistant shrubs and trees (hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees) can help contain fire rather than fuel it.