"Even in a normal year it's extraordinarily dry," he says. "In fact, Seattle and the Northwest are drier than almost anywhere in the United States in this mid-July to August period. In July we have less rain than Phoenix does."
"I just put a lighter to this and started to burn!" says Mountain View Fire and Rescue Chief Greg Smith. He knows it's not just about brush fires along highways anymore, it's the stuff right in your back yard that could get you.
"We're talking about grasses, shrubs, and trees."
All of it is dry as tinder right now, so Chief Smith says clear it back at least 15-20 feet--and that's not all.
"There are all kinds of fuel here. What we call a ladder fuel is when a fire starts in the grass, climbs up a shrub then, onto a tree," he warns. "That fire can also travel up shrubs near your house then under the lofts and just keep burning. Plus, you really have to clear any kind of debris off your roof and in gutters. Those pine cones and needles are highly flammable."
Chief Smith also says when the weather is this dry and the ground is this dry most people know to clear stuff around their house, but it's what's away from your house you might not be thinking about. He says overgrown brush at the bottom of a hill can catch fire and move up with lightening speed.
"It's a lot more intense and much faster," he says.
He also says keep firewood at least 30 feet away from your house, trim tree branches back, and in case something happens, make sure fire crews can actually get there.
"You want to make sure fire engine can get into driveway," he reminds us.
"We are one of the driest places in the whole country right now," adds Professor Mass.
A fact and a warning this fire season is just getting warmed up.
"What we're really worried about is the future," says Chief Smith. "What's going to happen in August and September because we're so dry already?"
Protecting Property in Areas Prone to Wildfires
* Clear and maintain a fire break around your home by clearing the fuel that a fire needs. Clear weeds, dry brush and trees within a 50-100 foot buffer zone. In case of fire, this will allow the heat to dissipate before it reaches the building as well as eliminating fuel for the fire. This space can also provide a safe area for firefighters and their equipment, should they be needed.
* Mow grasses to a height of less than 6 inches within 50 feet of the home.
* Consider maintaining a large non-potable water storage tank that could be used in an emergency, but check local regulations to make sure this is legal in your area.
* Dead and dry grasses should be cleaned up, dead branches trimmed off trees and the landscaping plants should receive adequate water.
* Piles of firewood and other debris should be moved away from the house.
* Trees should be pruned and spaced widely apart.
* Establish fuel breaks along roadways and between buildings and fields or woodlands.
* Regularly clean roofs and gutters.
* Stone walls act as heat shields to deflect flames.
* Swimming pools and patios can be safety zones.
* Keep handy household items that can be used as fire tools such as a rake, axe, chain saw, bucket, and shovels.
* Have several garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and surrounding vegetation.
* Extinguish smoking materials properly. Put out cigarettes, cigars or pipes only in cleared areas free of vegetation or debris.
* Use tile, stucco, metal siding, brick, concrete block, rock, or other fire-resistant materials on roofs.
* Use only thick, tempered safety glass in large windows and sliding glass doors.
* Install electrical lines underground, if possible.
* Remove ladder fuels, young trees and shrubs planted close to larger trees that could carry a ground fire into the tops of large trees.
* Wood shake shingle roofs are highly flammable. Convert roof to Class A fire resistant materials such as fiberglass-asphalt, metal and tile.
* Construct decks and siding with non-combustible materials.
* Screen openings under decks and attic and foundation vents.
* Check with local nurseries to learn about fire resistant landscaping.
* Put out cigarettes, cigars, or pipes only in cleared areas free of vegetation or debris.
* Cut all branches below six feet from the ground to prevent fires from spreading into the tree tops.
* Remove all tree limbs within 10 feet of your chimney or stove pipe.
* Store firewood and other combustible materials like picnic tables at least 30 feet away from your house and other structures and clear a space of at least ten feet around them.
* Post your address along the road at the driveway entrance as well as on the home. Numbers should be at least four inches tall and mounted on a high-contrast, non-combustible background material.
* Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
* Consider installing automatic fire sprinklers.
* Know at least two ways out of your ground level floor, preferably at opposite ends of the building, and out of each room on all levels.
If a Wildfire is Burning Near Your Home
* Stay calm. Call 911 to report a fire.
* Cover all eave and roof vents.
* Cover large picture windows with plywood.
* Close all windows and doors; open drapes.
* Evacuate to a safe location.
Using Fire-Resistant Plants to Defend Against Wildfire Projected dry conditions will lead to above normal significant fire potential in areas of Eastern Washington this summer. Creating defensible space around the home can greatly increase the chances of your home surviving a wildfire. Homeowners should take active steps to defend their homes from wildfire by using Firewise plants in the landscape.
Firewise plants are fire-resistant plants that due to their ability to retain moisture do not readily ignite from a flame or other ignition sources. When planning a landscape, homeowners have a wide assortment of plants, trees and shrubs to choose from that are both attractive and fire-resistant. Key characteristics of these plants are:
-Thick succulent leaves. -Low amount of dead materials. -Sap is water-like and does not have a strong odor. -Sap or resin materials are low.
"Fire-resistant does not mean fireproof," cautions State Fire Marshal Mike Matlick, "these plants can still be damaged and killed by the heat and flames." If you still desire plant species that are highly flammable in your landscape, plant them more than 30 feet from any structure or other items that can burn, such as woodpiles and fences.
Fire-resistant Plants for Home Landscapes – Selecting plants that may reduce your risk from wildfire is a free electronic publication available online at www.firefree.org. Homeowners can also visit www.firewise.org for tips and ideas on how to protect their home from wildfire.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is a Bureau of the Washington State Patrol, providing fire and life safety services to the citizens of Washington State including inspections of state licensed facilities, plan review of school construction projects, licensing of fire sprinkler contractors and pyrotechnic operators, training Washington State's firefighters, and collecting emergency response data.
