Hurricanes versus wildfires

[smokechase II]

Just a thought.

In the West we have been getting hit hard by fire seasons since 1985.
85- 96: big increase in dryness and length of season, four out of five years really bad in this period.
97- Current: mega fire period. Beyond the wildest dreams of a college student working summers.

BUT. Even major Southern Cal fire busts don't compare with a decent hurricane.

My apologies to any that have lost friends or homes. In either scenario.

*******************

An odd thought. The more the public is aware of fire threats, (SoCal disaster works), the more readily they accept us doing fuels treatments like prescribed fire. The one finger salute we used to get was a middle digit by a jerk on a drive by. Now it's a thumbs up.

Yesterday we were doing an underburn just SE of Bend Oregon. Nice day.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Being appreciated sure feels good!

 

[smokechase II]

prepare

Wildfire is the natural disaster that we can do the most to prevent.

Take care of yourself.

Your home, materials = particularly roofing.
Your fuels = every plant by your deck was not meant to be eternal.
Your neighbor = be polite, later mention legal action and your photo documentation.

If you have land, with a fuel build up, take care of it and be a responsible neighbor.

 

[Hddnis]

I have preached a fire clearing to my rural customers for years. Many have had us clear such a line.

One went so far as to have us install an automatic water mist system that was fed from his big well and swimming pool. It created a wet cloud over his home and out about sixty feet all around. He was a rare exception in the planning ahead area.

I have found that people don't worry about something until there is a problem. It applies to everything from trees lifting sidewalks, snow and ice control, floods, wind storms, fire, you name it.

One thing I do is identify potential problems and write up a bid to take care of it. I put those on file. Sometimes it is two or three years later when I get a call to do the work. I just check the jobsite again and revise the bid as needed. It has been a good source of work. Often on a tree trimming or removal bid a house down the street gets hit by a limb after a snow storm. People I gave the bid to remember us and call or in some cases find the bid I gave them. We get called and do the work while it is most valuable in the customers mind.

Just some thoughts.


Mr. HE

 

[Hddnis]

smokechase II, I'm curious about the prescribed burns.

I have been thinking about doing something like that on my property. Just a few acres total. On three sides I have open dirt fields. Fourth side is brushy creek bottom. My land is treed.

I was thinking I would cut all the dead branches off and then pile them. Put a little plastic over them and then light them when it is good and wet this winter. There is very little brush in the woods area, and once the branches are cut there won't be ladder fuels.


Thanks,


Mr. HE

 

[Canyonbc]

Ya i def. agree hurricanes can be worse then wildfires...there is no doubt about it...and i will also agree alot of these fires are started by moronic humans...

but something you can take away from people...is the people who do clear their property...the ones who have 300-500 ft of definsble space...

You cant do anything when your neighbor refused to clear there property..

I hate when we have gone cleared 200, 300 feet of space for someone and the guy next door refuses...then a fire like this happens...and with the large winds your screwed..

why dont people get it...

i was watching the news and watched a guy watch is house burn down in the east county of san diego (deerhorn valley)...we weed whacked 50ft around his house...and i tried and tried to tell the guy...he needed to clear or atleast thin out his brush...he is on 4 acres...and the only definsble space he had on his property was the drive way, the house, and 50ft around the house...

we cleared the rest of the neighborhood..with a couple hundred feet of space...

Part of me wants to call this guy up...and chew is a** out...and be like i told you so...should have gotten your space cleared..

i am rambling and pissed off...so sorry for anyone who reads this...

 

[rb_in_va]

Wildfire is the natural disaster that we can do the most to prevent.

Take care of yourself.

Your home, materials = particularly roofing.
Your fuels = every plant by your deck was not meant to be eternal.
Your neighbor = be polite, later mention legal action and your photo documentation.

If you have land, with a fuel build up, take care of it and be a responsible neighbor.

My dad has always been very adamant about this. It also helps to clear it out if you have a Bobcat.

 

[Canyonbc]

Wildfire is the natural disaster that we can do the most to prevent.

Take care of yourself.

Your home, materials = particularly roofing.
Your fuels = every plant by your deck was not meant to be eternal.
Your neighbor = be polite, later mention legal action and your photo documentation.

If you have land, with a fuel build up, take care of it and be a responsible neighbor.

I agree, there is a lot we can do....and your list i totally agree...

I think though in the national forest and parks...what happend to the days when they let people go out and cut down dead trees...or taken fallen trees....

it keep the undergrowth to a min. and the dead growth out...

 

[Canyonbc]

My dad has always been very adamant about this. It also helps to clear it out if you have a Bobcat.

Ya ... its a great way with a bobcat.

Neighbors need to work together and get whole neighborhoods clear....

doing a house here and a house there just doesnt do it

 

[rb_in_va]

I think though in the national forest and parks...what happend to the days when they let people go out and cut down dead trees...or taken fallen trees....

Lawsuits and liability. That's what happened. This country has abandoned the principle of personal responsibility.

 

[Canyonbc]

Lawsuits and liability. That's what happened. This country has abandoned the principle of personal responsibility.

That has always been my thought and theory on it...never really did research it and when they let people take wood out of the forest..well before my time...

You this there is still hope?

 

[LarryTheCableGuy]

I agree, there is a lot we can do....and your list i totally agree...

I think though in the national forest and parks...what happend to the days when they let people go out and cut down dead trees...or taken fallen trees....

it keep the undergrowth to a min. and the dead growth out...

They still DO allow it. Go to the Big Bear Discovery Center to buy the permit and get maps of where wood is available. I have done it several times.


.

 

[Canyonbc]

Really...i did not no that..

again i was only speaking upon what i know and that is San Diego County...

 

[joesawer]

Yes, the Forest Service issues fire wood permits for a very small fee. The problem is that there is far more dead and down fuel than will ever be harvested for fire wood and has little or no commercial value. Some of the FS people I work for, who are very public oriented, have us pile up the choice fire wood for the locals to cut and load even though it is not in a prescribed fire wood cutting area. There are some very good and knowledgeable people in the FS but they are frequently tied down by bureaucracy.

 

[Canyonbc]

Ya...

With the amount of wood they have...i personally dont think they should charge at all...they are getting it cleared out for free...

 

[Canyonbc]

I also think they should advertise it a little more...i have heard rummor of the permits your talking about but nothing formal..

i think if they could get the word out...people would def. go out there

A. Gets them free wood or if there is a small fee...then very cheap
B. Helps keep the forest clear of underbrush and dead trees.

Just my thought...

I know a couple FS guys and i agree...there great guys...but the Bureaucracy ruins it for all