What can we do to minimize this danger?
If a fire starts, don’t wait!! Call the fire department at 911 immediately. Don’t count on your ability to control a grass fire.
Keep any source of fire controlled, and this includes some you may not have considered:
· Flying sparks from barbeques can ignite tinder-dry grass.
· Fireworks can set off fires where they are ignited and where they land - in this environment, they are very dangerous.
· Yard tools and lawnmowers can hit rocks and start blazes.
· If you are building, remind your builder that no fires are allowed at any time on construction sites, and that workers should be careful with hot power tools and fence welding equipment.
Be prepared, you may be fighting the fire by yourself for 15 minutes or so.
How would you – or your contractor- control a fire if one started?
· Are water hoses hooked up and easily available if needed?
· If hoses are out of reach, keep fire extinguishers or a bucket of water near work areas and the barbeque.
· Keep extra water hose around. You want to be able to reach as much of your property line as is feasible until the fire trucks arrive.
Reduce Flammables:
While we all want to keep our neighborhood as natural as possible, it is only prudent to protect our homes from wildfire. One important step is to landscape appropriately.
The Texas Forest Service has a lot of great information on line (http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu <http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/> ).
Here are some ideas from their site:
· Select open branched, high moisture, easy to care for trees like oaks.
· Plant small trees and shrubs away from the larger trees.
· Have a secondary zone that goes out another 30 or so feet that has low growing, green vegetation. This is a great place for green lawn. This area should have some irrigation to keep plants healthy. (Drip irrigation will save water.)
· Use plants that are fire resistant and well spaced. Also consider how sidewalks, stone mulches, driveways, masonry walls, etc. make the area defensible.
· Keep brush piles, firewood, highly flammable trees and shrubs (Pines, Juniper and Cedar), dead trees and branches out of this area.
· Keep gutters free of dry leaves and branches.
· Put down gravel or stone mulch under propane tanks, and know how to turn off the propane valve.
· In the natural areas that are further out, remember that cutting wild grasses will help prevent the uncontrollable, rapid spread of fire. You may want to selectively thin and cut shrubs and trees in even this natural area to make it easier to control fires.
·Finally have a plan for your family and pets for exiting your home and getting to safety if fire threatens.
