Fire Information Page

Home Fire Safety Quiz

Preparing for Wildfire

Wildland Fires
Proper planning can avoid losses as Wildland fire season approaches
Rapid growth of brush and grass in the spring creates a fire hazard in the summer as the sun dries out the new growth. Wildland fires are
especially dangerous for those who live in brushy or wooded areas. Residents are urged to plan and prepare now to avoid loss of life or
property to natural cover fires.
A residential protection plan for grass and brush fires has four phases. The first phase is escape. At least two alternate routes should be
preplanned. The second phase is property protection. Systematic fuel removal to develop firebreaks is good planning. Third is early fire
department notification and response. Just as important as the fire departments phone number is clear address identification of
the endangered land and buildings. Fourth is fire suppression. The ability to self-extinguish small fires can prevent larger fires.

ESCAPE ROUTES
Escape routes are only valuable if they carry one away from danger. This means at least two alternate routes, ideally downhill, away from the fire.
Natural cover fire spreads most rapidly uphill, preheating the fuel ahead of it. Escape routes should be at least 20 feet wide and clear of flash
fuels such as arbor vitae, cedar, and scotch broom for at least 10 feet on each side. Low ground cover or bark dust is ideal for minimizing fire
exposure hazard along driveways and rural access roads.

PROPERTY PROTECTION
On level ground, fire must have relatively continuous fuel to spread. Breaks in the fuel can slow or even stop fire spread. Residents in windy
areas must consider the hazard of sparks or burning brands over wider distances. People in brushy areas should consider the use of lawns,
gravel, and bark dust to provide open space, especially on downhill exposures. Fifty to 75-foot openings between heavy brush and valuable
property are minimum protection. One good idea is to minimize shrubs and lower branches under trees. Once natural cover fires climb into
trees, the fire can grow explosively and burn over long distances. By eliminating shrubs and lower branches, the resident limits the ladder the
fire can easily climb to leaves and needles. Obviously, green shrubs and grass are less hazardous fuel than dry materials. Frequent watering
can keep decorative shrubbery less flammable. Some types of plants are more fire-resistant than others. Most nurseries can assist with
selection of more fire-resistant shrubs. A major cause of fire spread is the wood shake or shingle roof. Such roofs ignite and burn rapidly,
throwing sparks and burning brands into the wind. Residents with such roofs should be aware of the increased hazard. If fire occurs nearby,
a sprinkler and garden hose on the roof can reduce the exposure hazard. When roof replacement time comes, less flammable roofing materials
make good sense in wooded or brushy areas.

FIRE DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION
The correct number to use in an emergency situation is 9-1-1. Phone stickers are available from local fire stations. Each phone in the house
should be equipped with the 9-1-1 sticker. Residents should write their address on the sticker as well. Valuable time can be saved if the caller
can rapidly give the correct address, including correct spelling of street name and geographic direction. Computers used in dispatching fire
and emergency medical responses are very sensitive to proper spelling of address. Residents can also speed response by making access
lanes and driveways with their address on a post or sign. If several homes share a lane, an inclusive listing is very helpful (1001-1051).
Individually addressed buildings should each be labeled with three-inch minimum numerals facing the access lane or road.

SUPPRESSION
Small fires can easily be extinguished if long garden hoses capable of reaching all parts of the property are connected to water spigots and
ready to use. The garden hose nozzle is a good way to increase water stream reach. Sprinkling systems can also be used to extinguish small
fires or prevent fire spread. They should be equipped with a manual start method if on automatic timers.
People, who live in wooded, bushy areas have considerable privacy and comfort. If they realize the hazards from fire that occur as trees and
shrubs dry out, the resident can ensure the threat of fire will be minimized.

Wildfire Safety Tips

SMART FIRE SAFETY SAVES LIVES !

Post emergency phone numbers by each telephone in the house.
Install Smoke Detectors in all living spaces.
If you smoke, use your ashtray.
Store and use flammable liquids properly.
Don’t keep combustible materials under decks or elevated porches.
Keep at least two means of escape (either a door/window) in each room.
Your name and address should be prominently posted at driveway entrance so it is visible and legible from both directions of travel

Landscape Maintenance
Keep a clearing of at least 30 feet around your house as a defensible zone.
Space the trees you plant carefully.
Create "fuelbreaks" – using driveways, gravel walkways, or lawns
Thin and prune trees and shrubs regularly.
Remove leaf clutter from your roof and yard.
Mow regularly.
Remove dead or overhanging branches.
Store firewood away from your house.

Have A Fire Escape Plan
Have a family meeting to discuss what to do if there is a fire.
Practice your plan.
Plan two exits from every room
Keep calm.
Close the door.
Don’t go back.
Keep necessities in a suitcase/luggage and ready to go.
Decide on a meeting place so you will know if everyone has gotten out safely.

When Wildfire Threatens
SEND THE ALARM
Dial 911 to report a fire.
Listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information.

WALK QUICKLY, DON’T PANIC
Feel the door on your way out with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, do not open. Close door behind you to slow the spread of fire..

STAY LOW AND GO
If there’s smoke, escape by staying very low to the ground where air is cooler.

DON’T GO BACK
Do not go back into a fire for anything! Your life is your MOST valuable possession.

Pets/Livestock And Wildfire
First and foremost, you are responsible for the safety and care of your pets and livestock.
Contact hotels, motels or friends outside your immediate area to plan for an alternate shelter for your pets/livestock.
Develop a buddy system with a neighbor in case you or your neighbor are not home when fire threatens. Make sure a neighbor is familiar
with your pets and has a key to your home.
Assemble a portable pet disaster supplies kit including:

• Medications and medical reports

• Sturdy leashes & harnesses

• Current photos

• Food and water

• Carriers to transport pets

• Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian.
  
  
  

Make sure each pet has a collar, harness, or halter that has your name, address, and phone number. Add an alternate phone number if possible.
Even a trusted pet can bite or scratch when frightened.
Once away from danger keep all animals securely leashed or tied.
Don’t leave animals unattended anywhere they can run off.
When you return home, give your pets time to settle back into their routines.

WILDFIRES . . . ARE YOU PREPARED?
Living in a house surrounded by nature and wildlands can be peaceful and beautiful, but it can also be risky. The 1996 fire season claimed
thousands of acres, 32 homes, and 50 outbuildings in one area of New Mexico alone.

Wildfires can happen anywhere in the country, at any time. They are unpredictable… and no region is immune. In short, if you are living or
building on the edge of a wildland area, you need to prepare for the risk of wildfire.

When a wildfire occurs, the demand on the local fire department is intense. Protecting people’s lives is their first priority. Protecting property
and resources is secondary.

We encourage you to read and implement the following information. By doing so you can reduce the risk of and prepare for wildfires.

Don't Forget Pets in an Emergency

Got pets?

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from disaster is to have a plan. And that includes your animals.

Studies show that 90% of pets that are left behind during an emergency do not survive according to the Bernalillo County Public Safety Department’s Animal Control
section. To reduce those stats, pet owners are encouraged to follow these simple suggestions if they’re forced to evacuate their homes:

• Contact hotels and motels in your area beforehand to find out which ones will allow you to bring your pets or ask friends or relatives if they will take care of your
  pets if there is an emergency. 

• Make sure your pets are up to date on all their vaccines in the event you need to place them in a kennel.  ID your pets with collars that list your name, address,
  and phone numbers. 

• Keep a pet carrier by the door for each small pet and a small birdcage for birds. Assemble a pet disaster supply kit with your veterinarian’s name, a copy of your
  pets’ medical records and their feeding requirements, their leashes, a current photo of each animal, a two-days supply of food, water, and your pets’ medications,
  bowls, and cat litter and a cat litter box, if needed. 

• If you have a horse(s), make sure your horse trailer is in good working condition and ready to go.

Bernalillo County, and much of New Mexico, is currently under severe wildfire alerts.

"One of the biggest concerns for residents and firefighters in an urban-wildland fire setting is the evacuation and care of pets," says Bett Clark, Bernalillo
County Fire and Rescue Department Chief.  "I have pets and I know how important their safety and welfare are to me. That’s why I encourage anyone with
pets to think ahead and prepare for their well-being in the event of an emergency." 

If you have birds, the National Red Cross has these suggestions: 

Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier. In cold weather, wrap a blanket over the carrier and warm up the car before placing birds inside. During warm
weather, carry a plant mister to mist the birds' feathers periodically. Do not put water inside the carrier during transport. Provide a few slices of fresh fruits and vegetables
with high water content. Have a photo for identification and leg bands. If the carrier does not have a perch, line it with paper towels and change them frequently. Try to keep
the carrier in a quiet area. Do not let the birds out of the cage or carrier.

About Other Pets…

Reptiles
Snakes can be transported in a pillowcase but they must be transferred to more secure housing when they reach the evacuation site. If your snakes require frequent
feedings, carry food with you. Take a water bowl large enough for soaking as well as a heating pad. When transporting house lizards, follow the same directions as for
birds.

Pocket Pets
Small mammals (hamsters, gerbils, etc.) should be transported in secure carriers suitable for maintaining the animals while sheltered. Take bedding materials, food bowls,
and water bottles.

A Final Word
If you must evacuate, do not leave your animals behind. Evacuate them to a prearranged safe location if they cannot stay with you during the evacuation period.
(remember, pets are not allowed in Red Cross shelters.) If there is a possibility that disaster may strike while you are out of the house, there are precautions you can
take to increase your pets' chances of survival, but they are not a substitute for evacuating with your pets.

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

www.ciudadswcd.org/emcwpp.html

The area we know as the “East Mountains” that includes the eastern slopes of the Sandia and Manzano Mountains has escaped the devastating
wildfires experienced by other areas--so far! However, fuels for such fires (overcrowded forests, dry grass and weeds, dead and down limbs
and logs, dead trees and pine needles) and conditions for such wildfires are ever-present. We can minimize the damage to our forests, streams,
wildlife, infrastructure, and private property from wildfire, but we must take action.

Efforts have begun to create a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (the Plan) for the East Mountains. The effort to create the Plan is
spearheaded by the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association (EMIFPA) in cooperation with the Ciudad Soil and Water
Conservation District. A community-based process will be used to create the Plan. Input to the Plan is sought from all interested parties,
residents, and public agencies.

A Community Wildfire Protection Plan can take a variety of forms and may address issues such as wildfire response, hazard mitigation,
community preparedness, or structural protection—or all of the above. The only requirements of the Plan are (1) it must be collaboratively
developed, (2) it must identify and prioritize areas for hazardous fuel reduction, and (3) it must recommend measures that homeowners and
communities can take to reduce the ignitability of structures throughout the area. These requirements are described in the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003.

As stated earlier, this effort is just beginning. A grant from the New Mexico Association of Counties will provide financial resources to aid our
effort, so progress may come quickly. A handbook that includes eight steps to help prepare a plan has been recommended and is available
on-line:www.safnet.org/policyandpress/cwpp.cfm This site also provides examples of plans created by other communities and links for
additional resources on the internet.

Do you want to help protect our community from wildfire risks and in the process better protect your own home? Contact EMIFPA at 281-9756
or albuturkey@hotmail.com if you wish to receive notification of activities and events or watch for notifications at your local businesses and in
the newspapers.

For those of you who were unable to attend the meeting on Feb. 8th 2006, we would like to provide you the opportunity to contribute to the process. By understanding the questions and concerns of community members, we hope to develop a plan that is useful and relevant for all of us. Please share your responses by email or mail by March 8th so that we may consider your ideas in the first phase of plan development.To respond by email, please copy the following questions into your email client, and send them to emcwpp@comcast.net To respond by mail, please print out the following questions, write or type your response, and address to:EMCWPPc/o SWCA001 Prospect Pl., Ste 100Albuquerque, NM 871101. What information would you most like to have regarding fire in our community?2. What actions could our community take to be more prepared for wildfire?3. What could you do to help protect your home and community?4. What role do neighboring private landowners and land management agencies play in reducing the threat of wildfire?5. What would you like fire emergency service agencies and personnel to know about protecting your neighborhood from wildfire?6.Other questions or comments?Krista BonfantineEnvironmental ScientistFire and Water ResourcesSWCA Environmental ConsultantsAlbuquerque Officeoffice: 505.254.1115cell: 505.250.3629