PORT TOWNSEND — East Jefferson Fire-Rescue is sponsoring two free wildland fire safety seminars this week to tell homeowners how to prepare for the possibility of a forest fire.
Drought has raised the risk of fire.
“We usually see a lot more rain this time of year,” said spokesman Bill Beezley, who is conducting the seminars with Lt. Donald Svetich of the Quilcene Fire Department.
“Right now, we have post-July Fourth weather in June,” Beezley added.
The presentations will be Tuesday at the Chimacum fire station, 9193 Rhody Drive, and Thursday at the Port Townsend fire station, 701 Harrison St.
Both will begin at 7 p.m.
They focus on wildland fires, which Beezley defines as “the urban interface outside of the city that are more isolated and have forests all around them.”
Homeowner preparation can help firefighters defend their homes in case of a forest fire.
“In fighting a wildland fire, homeowners have as much influence in fighting the fire as we do with regard to the safety of their homes,” Beezley said.
“People need to know they need to look out for themselves to the degree that if they can make their homes safer and more survivable, it increases our chances of protecting them.”
Beezley said homeowners need to create a “defensible space” around their homes, removing flammable plants, wood and other materials that can easily ignite.
Firefighters judge their ability to save properties based on whether such a buffer zone exists.
“During a wildland fire, the fire crews come in and make a determination about the saveability of a house and spray-paint the numbers 1, 2, or 3,” Beezley said.
“They will concentrate on the houses they can save, those that have a defensible space.”
This involves clearing an area around the house and removing different items that can “ladder,” or catch fire from each other.
Homeowners need to be aware of the surrounding “ignition zone,” determining what flammable materials are present in the house itself as well as within a 200-foot perimeter.
Within 30 feet of the house, there should be low-flammability plants and landscaping materials with a generous space between trees with limbs pruned at least 10 feet from the ground, Beezley said.
No firewood or propane tanks should be in this zone, he added.
Other measures include reducing the density of taller trees and the routine removal of woody debris and of smaller conifers growing between trees.
Homeowners can also protect their investment with the use of fire-resistant construction materials, either in a new home or as an upgrade to an existing structure, Beezley said.
The most fire-resistant roofing materials are composition shingle, metal, clay or cement tile, while exterior walls of stucco, stone or brick provide the best protection.
Vinyl siding should be supplemented with metal screening, Beezley said,
Fireworks are illegal within the Port Townsend city limits, while some types of fireworks, such as sparklers and snakes, are allowed in the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County on the Fourth of July.
Those using these items should take special care in their use and always have a source of water nearby, Beezley said.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue doesn’t have the resources to visit individual homes and provide advice about creating a defensible zone, Beezley said, but he said he will meet with community groups if asked.
“If a group wants us to come out and partner with them in this preparation, we will, but the preparation burden is on them,” he said.
“After they do their best work, we can come out and evaluate their effort.”
The county does not have a burn ban in place now, but its implementation is a day-to-day decision, according to Chief Gordon Pomeroy.
“It will be a long and hot summer, and we need to be prepared,” Beezley said.
“It’s unlikely that we have a huge wildland fire here, but you never know.
“If there are dry and windy conditions, the fire could get a head start and do some damage here.
“We want to minimize that to the greatest degree possible.”
For more information, go to www.ejfr.org or call 360-385-2626.
For specific information about creating a fire-safe home, go to www.firewise.org.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
