Released: February 15, 2006

Homeowners Prepare – Wildfire Danger is High

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansans can and should prepare to protect their homes from wildfire, said Jason Hartman, fire prevention specialist with the Kansas Forest Service.

Rural firefighters already have faced a clear demonstration that Kansas also is at risk to the wildfires keeping Texas and Oklahoma on a constant state of alert this year. More than 8,500 acres in Harvey County, Kan., went up in smoke Feb. 9-12.

Rangeland fire danger in Kansas continues between very high and extreme, Hartman said. Dry La Niña- related weather is combining with windy conditions to turn much of the state into a tinderbox.

Added to that, the U.S. Climate Prediction Center is calling for drought to develop or worsen in most of the state through April.

Hartman said three simple steps can have a big impact on reducing a home’s risks:

* Don’t store firewood or other flammable materials under decks, overhangs or elevated porches. Keep such combustibles at least 30 feet from the house.

* Don’t allow dead organic material – leaves, needles or twigs – to accumulate anywhere on the house exterior. Clear roofs, gutters, window sills, window wells, window boxes, porches, decks and other places that leaves and other debris can accumulate. Then, keep them clear.

* Cut back dried ornamental grasses, remove any other highly flammable garden debris, and dispose of the dry material safely. Keep lawns mowed and as green as possible.

Hartman advised that suburban and rural residents, in particular, also prepare with a four-part wildfire plan:

1. Place it on your speed dial, if necessary, but ensure that emergency contact information for the local fire department is easily accessible.

“A quick report of a small fire is the best way to ensure the fire stays small and threatens as little property as possible,” the forester said.

2. Determine the flammable materials to bring indoors if wildfire is in the area or highly likely.

“When embers are flying on the wind, little things can make all the difference in how well your home gets through a wildfire situation,” Hartman said. “For example, you may want to remove the cushions from patio furniture or bring the door mats inside.”

3. Determine what to have on hand when wildfires are around.

“I’d have at least one outside faucet attached to a hose with a nozzle. A ladder propped against the roof on the downwind side of the house can be a good idea. The family vehicle parked facing the exit is another,” he said.

Added possibilities are supplies of needed medicines and toiletries, a change of clothes, some cash, and a credit card – already packed in the car or boxed to pick up on a moment’s notice.

4. Make sure family members know where to go and what to do in the event a wildfire is nearby.

“With outdoor fires, the best plan often is to get all family members accounted for. Then make sure all doors and windows are closed and check that you’ve completed your preparations. After that, you can think about whether to wet down your roof and yard,” Hartman said. “In any case, strictly follow emergency personnel’s instructions on whether to remain with your home or to leave while firefighters extinguish the wildfire.”

For more information on longer term planning and protection against wildfires, the forester recommends that Kansans contact their local fire department or the Kansas Forest Service. Information also is available on the Web at http://www.firewise.org/.

The Kansas Weather Data Library, based with Kansas State University Research and Extension, provides regular weather/drought updates on the Web at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/wdl/. That library also provides a link to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center, which maintains a drought assessment page that includes both the longer term forecast and current U.S. Drought Monitor map.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Kathleen Ward
kward@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News