What Kennewick’s destructive wildfire teaches us about living on the edge
Gusting wind drove the Bofer Canyon Fire across open land and the treeless foothills of south
Fueled by dry grass and sagebrush, the blaze roared with a vengeance into the
Five homes, including the one moved to the hillside after the
The loss was devastating to the homeowners.
To everyone else, it is a vivid reminder of the destructive threat of wildland fires to houses, garages and more built on the edge of town.
Firefighters call it the "urban-wildland interface."
"If you lost homes, you've got a threat," said
The global nonprofit focuses on reducing fires through prevention.
Its "Firewise" program focuses on neighborhoods in transition zones, whether they're edging into forests or into desert landscapes.
In
It's not a minute too soon, says
With little significant damage from wildfires in some 20 years, the Tri-Cities got complacent, he said.
"This is really a wake-up call for us," he said.
"As the cities are moving farther out and people are building on the canyon sides for the view, there's a risk," Gear said, who knows those areas well after leading
Gear personally favors xeriscape landscaping modeled on the Mid-Columbia's natural shrub-steppe habitat --basalt and other rocks, sand and native soil and native plants and woody shrubs such as sagebrush.
The
Gear also endorses Firewise.
Those standards work passively to halt fires by depriving them of fuel through smart development and smart landscaping management.
"It's a great opportunity for the community as
Where it is working
Set in a desert with upscale neighborhoods climbing its treeless hills, it is a useful example for the Tri-Cities.
Although land use laws and building materials are different, the
Thanks in part to Firewise and public education,
The city, which borders
"People come here for it," he said. "It makes sense to preserve it and avoid having a wildfire start."
In
How it works
In a nutshell, Firewise communities reduce the amount of flammable debris and vegetation around homes and buildings. Less fuel means fewer embers to ignite structures.
Trees are trimmed to six feet -- high enough to allow firefighters to easily pass beneath them.
Only indigenous plants are allowed in some areas and roadsides are scraped to bare dirt. If a passing vehicle throws off a spark, there isn't anything to ignite.
"We take a blade down and get most of it," he said.
Seven communities have been certified and two more are going through the process.
Insurance companies are increasingly interested in the proactive measures.
In
The agency encourages residents living in the danger zones to employ its principles, noting that 80 percent of homes that burn could be saved with more defensible spaces.
Similarly, the office of the Washington Insurance Commissioner counsels property owners to ensure they have the right coverage and to take the next step to reduce potential for fire.
Typically, home owner associations or small groups of neighbors form groups to join Firewise. Once certified, they have to keep working to maintain their status. Growing vegetation and changing weather have a way of amplifying risk, said Welle, the NFPA manager in
Welle said he looked up
"Juniper is just gasoline on a stick," he said.
Arborvitae bushes are another popular landscape plant that burn like torches, officials said.
Unlike floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, homeowners can reduce the risk of fire, if they recognize the danger.
"All you need is drought conditions to set up for a little while and you are in trouble," he said. "You're in
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