The Time For Wildfire Mitigation Is Now

Check out the latest blog in Mother Earth News about having an individual wildfire protection plan. Our community has a plan in effect but regretfully when it is closely examined it has flaws that could cost lives. Our community is unique inasmuch as there is one way in and one way out which is controlled by an electric gate. Firefighters would be coming in while residents would be trying to get out. There are alternate routes but they are on very rough roads that are 4WD only and if a vehicle gets stuck those behind could be caught in the open during a wildfire.

We are in our second red flag warning and we still have 1 1/2" of snow on the ground. That would make alternate evacuation routes next to impossible to use with the snow and mud on them plus they have obstacles on them. The lakes are still frozen so that restricts water resources to drop on fire. That is why it is important to have an individual plan and be diligently working to have defensible space around your home. Without a viable plan to use a homeowner is subject to panic (yourself and others) and taking a less than wise route that could be the road to disaster. It is also important to have an information venue to make those in communities aware of the master plan.

The blog can be found at: http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/wildfire-preparedness-zbcz1603.aspx