Nevada Fire Marshal: Defensible space around homes and property help defend against wildfire
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 05/01/2023 - 5:14pm
As everyone is aware, we had a very wet winter. Along with these wet conditions, is an overwhelming crop of cheatgrass. An excellent way to get rid of cheatgrass after it has sprouted is to use a string trimmer or mower and cut it down before it starts to dry out and drop more seeds.
Remember to use trimmers and mowers in the morning when the weather is cooler. If you are looking for long-term control, have a professional spray, a pre-emergent called Plateau or Panoramic, to prevent the seeds in the soil from germinating.
Another tip to help defend against wildfire is to create defensible space around your home and property. A defensible space is a natural and/or landscaped area around a structure that has been maintained and designed to reduce fire danger. The components that make up a well-designed defensible space are:
5-Foot Noncombustible Zone: - This area needs to have a very low potential for ignition from flying embers. Use irrigated herbaceous plants (lawn, ground cover, and flowers), rock mulches, or hard surfaces (concrete, brick, and pavers) in this area.
Lean, Clean, and Green Area: For a distance of at least 30 feet from the home, there should be a Lean, Clean, and Green Area. Lean indicates that only a small amount of flammable vegetation, if any, is present. Clean means no accumulation of dead vegetation or flammable debris within the area. Green denotes that plants located within this area are kept healthy, green, and irrigated during fire season.
Wildland Fuel Reduction Area: This area usually lies beyond the residential landscape area and is where cheatgrass, sagebrush, bitterbrush, and other wild plants grow.
Within this area:
— Remove all dead vegetation (dead shrubs, dried grass, and fallen branches).
— Thin out thick shrubs and trees to create a separation between them.
— Prevent ladder fuels by removing low tree branches and removing or pruning any shrubs under the tree.
For residents that live in designated Wildland Urban Interface areas of Carson City, the Carson City Fire Department (CCFD) has a trailer program to assist residents in creating defensible space. CCFD will drop off either a 7’x12’ trailer or 22 cubic yard dumpster in your yard for you to fill with vegetation cut while creating defensible space. You can call 775-887-2210 for availability and scheduling.
We also offer free defensible space inspections.
For more information about defensible space, wildfire preparedness, and evacuation planning, please check out the websites and the links below.
https://www.carson.org/government/departments-a-f/fire-department
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire
https://www.livingwithfire.com/
Wildfire Retrofit Guide
Be Ember Aware! Will your home survive when the embers arrive?
Be Careful! Cheatgrass is extremely flammable!
Choosing the Right Plants for Northern Nevada
Wildfire Evacuation Checklist
Living With Smoke: How to be prepared for smoke exposure
The Carson City Fire Department and Carson City Open Space announce the return of the sheep program. You can find these sheep reducing hazardous fuels along the west side of Carson City every spring. They play a crucial role in creating defensible space around threatened communities.
For more information on the sheep program, call: Lyndsey Boyer, Open Space Manager, Carson City Open Space (775) 283-7341.
