Fire season 2022- are you ready?

[twinfin]

It's the end of June already so vegetation is drying out and low humidity levels will further this process making the wildlands primed for burning. We go through this every year and as prepared people here on this forum, we plan for it.

As for our house, I've continued to manage brush and trees around our rural home during the cooler spring days. We have no trees closer than about 30 feet from the house and those out to about 100 feet are well spaced with lower limbs pruned up high from the ground for separation from creeping ground fire. All the trimmings have been moved and stacked into piles elsewhere on the property to be burned later in the fall/winter as an annual process.

We have 6,000 gallons of water storage, 70psi water pump and enough 1.5 inch hose to reach all sides of our home and shop. We also have backup hose in case the ones in use become damaged as well as smaller hose if needed. We have appropriate filter masks for comfort from smoke and blowing embers, Nomex or treated cotton outer garments, gloves, goggles helmet etc. for personal safety it we decide to stay and fight which is likely.

A new addition for this years fire season is a Kawasaki Mule (side by side) fitted with an 80 gallon water tank and small fire pump and 80 feet of 3/4 inch rubber hose on a reel. Though this won't do much for an approaching wildland fire, it can play a role in tackling a small fire on the property where our fixed water system won't reach. It also provides the required water source when I burn brush piles during burn season at sites on my rural acreage where there is no fixed water source.

Our house has non combustible siding and metal roof. We have no vegetation planted next to the house or combustible yard furniture or decorations. I think I'm set for the 2022 wildland fire season. How about you?

PS: Here is a short video of an approaching wildland fire near some structures in California.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32YGGYaUTgE

In just 6 short minutes, it captures just about everything to consider and plan for:

-Blowing winds and embers
-Clearance around structures
-Stay behinds (people who chose not to evacuate)
-Firefighters using limited water sources effectively
-Intense heat and tall flame heights even moderate sized brush can produce

If I may critique one thing from the video, the stay-behinds need to ditch the short pants and tank tops and put on long sleeve cotton t-shirts and long cotton pants to protect their skin from blowing embers and radiant heat.

Compare how their skin is exposed compared to way the firefighters are dressed. Cotton alone is the most fire resistive thing everyone has in their home. It smolders but doesn't burst into flame or melt like synthetic garments.

Notice anything else?

[WOODY2]

Develop a network of friends that can pass on fire info to you before it gets too close just in case you're not home or unaware of outside conditions. I know it sounds hokey but any extra warning is precious.

[twinfin]

Develop a network of friends that can pass on fire info to you before it gets too close just in case you're not home or unaware of outside conditions. I know it sounds hokey but any extra warning is precious.

Good point. Roads start getting blocked off by law enforcement so early warning might help if you feel competent to defend your property. Often, the little known backroads are overlooked or remain open longer than the main roads which are usually the first to close. Knowing your your backroads is a must.

Of course, the safest thing to do is comply with the directions of fire and law enforcement. They've got a job to do and are trying to keep people from getting hurt. They also know the big picture; information we're not likely to have.

Having said all that, some of us have skills, confidence, knowledge & equipment and just don't want to leave the fate of our property to the hands of others. Early warning from friends or neighbors might just get you back to your land before the roadblocks go up if that's how you choose to handle it.

[WOODY2]

Hot days, inside with an air conditioner blasting one may be oblivious to outside conditions. Living in the hilly backcountry as we do this can be very important. I've called people to give them heads up and they were hundreds and in one case thousands of miles away from their homes. This gave them and me time to plan and move livestock and protect homes. Look out for your Homies!

[jben]

Download the Watch Duty app and set notifications for your county.

[FeuerFrei]

All set here. Just another summer in the sticks.

*AM and ham radios are tested. Hams have local repeaters, FD, LE and medical freqs for monitoring. We have an in ground pool w/20k gallon supply. Tender access all clear for fire crew use.

[madland]

It's the end of June already so vegetation is drying out and low humidity levels will further this process making the wildlands primed for burning. We go through this every year and as prepared people here on this forum, we plan for it.

As for our house, I've continued to manage brush and trees around our rural home during the cooler spring days. We have no trees closer than about 30 feet from the house and those out to about 100 feet are well spaced with lower limbs pruned up high from the ground for separation from creeping ground fire. All the trimmings have been moved and stacked into piles elsewhere on the property to be burned later in the fall/winter as an annual process.

We have 6,000 gallons of water storage, 70psi water pump and enough 1.5 inch hose to reach all sides of our home and shop. We also have backup hose in case the ones in use become damaged as well as smaller hose if needed. We have appropriate filter masks for comfort from smoke and blowing embers, Nomex or treated cotton outer garments, gloves, goggles helmet etc. for personal safety it we decide to stay and fight which is likely.

A new addition for this years fire season is a Kawasaki Mule (side by side) fitted with an 80 gallon water tank and small fire pump and 80 feet of 3/4 inch rubber hose on a reel. Though this won't do much for an approaching wildland fire, it can play a role in tackling a small fire on the property where our fixed water system won't reach. It also provides the required water source when I burn brush piles during burn season at sites on my rural acreage where there is no fixed water source.

Our house has non combustible siding and metal roof. We have no vegetation planted next to the house or combustible yard furniture or decorations. I think I'm set for the 2022 wildland fire season. How about you?

PS: Here is a short video of an approaching wildland fire near some structures in California.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32YGGYaUTgE

In just 6 short minutes, it captures just about everything to consider and plan for:

-Blowing winds and embers
-Clearance around structures
-Stay behinds (people who chose not to evacuate)
-Firefighters using limited water sources effectively
-Intense heat and tall flame heights even moderate sized brush can produce

If I may critique one thing from the video, the stay-behinds need to ditch the short pants and tank tops and put on long sleeve cotton t-shirts and long cotton pants to protect their skin from blowing embers and radiant heat.

Compare how their skin is exposed compared to way the firefighters are dressed. Cotton alone is the most fire resistive thing everyone has in their home. It smolders but doesn't burst into flame or melt like synthetic garments.

Notice anything else?

You seem to have things pretty well planned out. I would just advise you to remember that although your trees are trimmed back..flying embers could still get a tree going. Just food for thought as far as the ones that are closer to your house.

Also, do you have some hand tools in the Kawi? A few shovels or other hand tools that wildland firefighters use. If you can knock down a small spot with some dirt and save the water onboard you'll be better off for it. Just my .02

[KevinB]

We run our fire system once a month. It was a pain to build but we survived a huge wild fire with no damage several years back.

The Butte fire was a very scary fire.

You can never be too ready for a major fire.

[TMB 1]

Good point. Roads start getting blocked off by law enforcement so early warning might help if you feel competent to defend your property. Often, the little known backroads are overlooked or remain open longer than the main roads which are usually the first to close. Knowing your your backroads is a must.

Of course, the safest thing to do is comply with the directions of fire and law enforcement. They've got a job to do and are trying to keep people from getting hurt. They also know the big picture; information we're not likely to have.

Having said all that, some of us have skills, confidence, knowledge & equipment and just don't want to leave the fate of our property to the hands of others. Early warning from friends or neighbors might just get you back to your land before the roadblocks go up if that's how you choose to handle it.

Everyone talking about the back roads on Facebook is what gets them blocked off faster now days.

What pisses me off, is I am quite positive I could save my place and a couple of the neighbors with my water pumps I have set up for fires and hand tools that I have, but I can't if they don't let me get home. Have one hooked up to a big water storage tank and the other I can use in swimming pools.

[Spyder]

Nope. But I also live in a MUCH less fire prone area than I have the last 6 fire seasons and I'm still more prepared than most. Just wish I had a generator.

[Spyder]

If I may critique one thing from the video, the stay-behinds need to ditch the short pants and tank tops and put on long sleeve cotton t-shirts and long cotton pants to protect their skin from blowing embers and radiant heat.

Compare how their skin is exposed compared to way the firefighters are dressed. Cotton alone is the most fire resistive thing everyone has in their home. It smolders but doesn't burst into flame or melt like synthetic garments.

Buy some brand new still in the package but expired nomex turnouts off Ebay. I got two sets for under a hundred bucks.

[FeuerFrei]

Buy some brand new still in the package but expired nomex turnouts off Ebay. I got two sets for under a hundred bucks.

Structure or wildland gear? I assume wildland, but... Good price either or.

[FeuerFrei]

Good point. Roads start getting blocked off by law enforcement so early warning might help if you feel competent to defend your property. Often, the little known backroads are overlooked or remain open longer than the main roads which are usually the first to close. Knowing your your backroads is a must.

Of course, the safest thing to do is comply with the directions of fire and law enforcement. They've got a job to do and are trying to keep people from getting hurt. They also know the big picture; information we're not likely to have.

Having said all that, some of us have skills, confidence, knowledge & equipment and just don't want to leave the fate of our property to the hands of others. Early warning from friends or neighbors might just get you back to your land before the roadblocks go up if that's how you choose to handle it.

**You have enough people to tag team? Working a fire will exhaust you asap if you haven't gotten in shape. It ain't a sprint. Usually a slow tiring grind. You and yours will need lots of water to drink while doing it. (water bladders are VERY necessary IMO)

Lots of gear is great if you have an adequate teem to pull/handle charged hose lines, man pumps and listen to shouts or radios etc. Hose line management is also a grind.

Grubbing with a hand crew to create a fire break is for the younger guys/girl. Back breaking mule/goat work.

Prepping the ground is the key. Dirt barriers/breaks are great to have before the fire.
Dirt doesn't burn and burnt ground won't burn twice during the same incident.

Make sure you have a list of defensive plans. A B C D and ask yourself "what if?" to each plan. One of or all those plans can go teats up in a blink.

I issued guys a sports whistle if they were in trouble. Personal may day.

**If it's just 2 of you then see my first comment.

Good luck and here's to seeing NO fire this year.

[TMB 1]

One going just below Bullards Bar dam right now on Nevada county side of Yuba River. Helicopters keep flying over me on their way to refuel.

[TMB 1]

Problem some people up the road from me had last year was they were under evac so nobody in or out. Some of the people stayed but were running out of gas for their generators to keep water wells running and freezers frozen, if they went to get more gas they would not be let back in, and they were blocking the back roads due to the reason I mentioned earlier. Many people were out of their homes for 20 to 30 days, lots of sour smelling refrigerators.