Protect Homes, Buildings From Wildfires

OMAHA (DTN) -- With wildfires currently burning in several states, including Minnesota and the Dakotas, as well as in the Canadian Prairies, agricultural producers should take proactive steps to protect their homes, barns and other structures from the threat of wildfires, according to an Extension specialist.

Joni Harper, field specialist in natural resources for the University of Missouri Extension, said in a news release that different types of fires can cause serious damage in rural areas. These fires include grass fires, timber fires and even prescribed burns that get out of control.

"While Missouri doesn't typically see the massive wildfires that impact Western states, we are certainly not immune," Harper said.

ALREADY MORE WILDFIRES THAN AVERAGE

Minnesota is one of the areas this week also finding it's not immune.

The state is currently dealing with several large, fast-moving fires by midweek.

Jenkins Creek Fire was detected near 11 a.m. May 12. Heat and dry winds drove the fire to reach a perimeter of 6,800 acres by that evening; by the morning of May 14, it was close to 20,600 acres. By noon May 14, the Jenkins Creek and Camp House fires were now called the Brimson Complex Fire. WDIO.com reported Wednesday afternoon that the two fires are now more than 30,000 acres and are zero percent contained. Evacuations are being announced. (https://www.wdio.com/…)

The National Interagency Fire Center noted that as of May 14, "So far this year, we've seen more wildfires than average, and we're just getting started. This week, 13 new large wildfires were reported. More than 1,500 firefighters and support personnel are working long hours to protect lives, communities and landscapes." With the above-average hot weather, this has triggered more concerns. "The latest Predictive Services outlook for May indicates an elevated wildfire potential for portions of the Southwest, including Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Texas, where dry, windy conditions are expected to persist. Southern California and central Florida also face heightened fire risk as warm, dry weather patterns settle in. Meanwhile, regions in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest are expected to see a return to drier conditions, increasing the risk of grassland fires."

As for the Canadian Prairies, they already have seen almost twice as many wildfires year-to-date than the 10-year average by this time. For example, on May 14, Manitoba had 24 active fires and evacuations in some places. (https://www.cbc.ca/…)

HOW TO REDUCE FIRE RISK

One of the best ways to protect yourself and reduce the wildfire risk is to create "defensible" spaces around your property. You are encouraged to reduce or remove vegetation and other potential fuels to help slow the spread of fire. This improves firefighters' ability to protect your structures.

Defensible space is the buffer between a building and the wildland that surrounds it. Managing this space can help stop a fire from reaching your home, pasture, hayfield or woodlot, Harper said.

Here are the three zones to consider:

1) Immediate Zone (Zero to 5 feet from structures):

This is your first and most critical line of defense.

-- Keep this area clean, green and free of flammable debris.

-- Use gravel, bare soil or noncombustible mulch.

-- Trim back overhanging branches and remove dead leaves or hay near buildings.

-- Install spark arresters on chimneys.

Harper said this zone is also a great place for features like gravel paths, rain gardens or raised beds. Just be sure they are well-spaced and maintained, she added.

2) Intermediate Zone (5 to 30 feet out):

This is typically your yard or the areas around sheds and driveways.

-- Keep grass mowed to 4 inches. A mowing height of 3-4 inches can control the weeds.

-- Prune the lower branches of trees to prevent "ladder fuels."

-- Avoid storing firewood, hay bales or fuel tanks in this zone.

-- Use fire-resistant landscaping where possible.

-- Space out shrubs and small trees to prevent fire from jumping between them.

Harper said to think of this zone as your firebreak, a space that interrupts the fire's path.

3) Extended Zone (30 to 100-plus feet from structures):

"Here's where you work to really slow a fire down before it gets close," Harper said. If you have timber stands, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres or unmanaged fencerows nearby, this zone is especially important.

-- Thin dense woods and brush piles.

-- Remove dead or dying trees and limbs.

-- Maintain clear breaks between wooded areas and buildings.

-- Keep roads, trails and field edges mowed and accessible for emergency vehicles.

Harper said wind-driven fires and out-of-control brush burns can spread quickly, even in wet years. Many homes in Missouri are surrounded by tall grass, cedar trees, dry leaves and aging outbuildings, all of which can ignite easily.

Make sure roads and woodland trails on your property are easily accessible for firefighters and emergency vehicles. Access roads and gates should be at least 16 feet wide, giving trucks enough space to turn around.

"By managing the land around your buildings, you are helping to protect not just your home but your family, livestock, equipment and neighbors as well," Harper said.

To see the Extension news release, visit https://extension.missouri.edu/….

For more information on wildfire safety and preparedness, check out Firewise USA from the National Fire Protection Association: http://www.nfpa.org/….

To see daily statistics on new fires and where they are located, see the National Interagency Fire Center website, https://www.nifc.gov/… and https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/….

DTN/Progressive Farmer Associate Content Manager Elaine Shein contributed to this report.

Russ Quinn can be reached at Russ.Quinn@dtn.com

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