Living with Wildfire in Mendocino County

LIVING WITH WILDFIRE IN MENDOCINO COUNTY

Protecting ourselves, our property, and Our Natural Resources

fOREST Facts ... WHEN TO MOW ... RESCUING YOUR HORSES ... safe growing practices burn piles ... FIRE WATER SUPPLY ... aND MORE!

The reality of wildfire

A Mendocino scenario Suddenly the water stops flowing. The one wildfire can move. And they don’t know power line along the road has burned, so that most people killed by wildfires die IT’S A HOT DAY in early October. It’s 2:30 the pump has quit. Phones go dead too. while trying to evacuate—too late. and the afternoon wind has just kicked up. There’s been no rain since May, and Now really in panic, Joe and Barbara make Fire engines from other counties begin everything is tinder dry. Our CDF air one last attempt to capture their animals. to arrive. They check in with the chief in tankers, command plane, and helicopter With heavy hearts, they leave without them. charge. He tells them to stop at the local are fighting a fire near Santa Cruz. Nearly fire station for maps. In the confusion, The drive downhill takes a long time. In half our county’s fire engines are near L.A., the maps can’t be found. Radio waves are places the road is only one lane, so they where160 homes burned earlier this week. jammed and instructions aren’t clear. must back up to turnouts to let fire engines A wildfire breaks out in Mendocino County. pass. Other cars are collecting behind A fire chief from Napa is assigned to them, making matters worse. A huge dozer protect the canyon’s homes. He has five The fire is in a steep canyon, four miles on a lowboy barely fits on the road at all. engines under his command. He’s nervous from a paved road and 30 minutes from about fighting a wildfire without a map. the nearest fire station. By the time the Now the sun is completely blocked. Joe first local firefighters reach it, the fire is 200 turns on the headlights. Ashes are falling He arrives at the beginning of the road. It’s acres, spreading fast, and beyond their on the windshield. For most of the drive narrow and bordered by pines, tanoaks, control. They radio for more help and start they can’t tell where the fire is. and French broom, all highly flammable. looking for homes in harm’s way. He wonders how much worse the road is Luckily, they pass the fire where the can- farther up the canyon. He tries to reach The Emergency Command Center at yon is wider. The fire races up the hill. Trees local fire engines on his radio, but can’t. Howard Forest leaps into action. Air tank- explode like torches. The wind is fierce. ers are ordered, but they’re an hour’s flight A sign tells the chief the road’s name. But away. The nearest helicopter is 45 minutes there’s no indication of how long it is, if it out. Firefighters who’ve never been to our dead ends, or if it connects to other roads. county are called to help. Sheriff’s deputies He doesn’t know if it has tight curves his are dispatched to evacuate residents. fire engines can’t navigate, or if there are bridges that can’t support their weight. As the fire grows, Joe and Barbara notice smoke below their property. They call He wonders how many homes there are, their neighbors and fire station to find out and if the owners have prepared them to what’s happening. Lines are busy or no survive. Have they cleared their brush? one’s there. There’s no news on the radio. Trimmed trees away from roofs? Are the roofs fire-resistant, or flammable shakes? Joe gets in his pickup to scout out the situ- Joe and Barbara make it to the valley floor. ation. He finds that the fire is close to their Is there room for fire equipment to turn only road, and heading up the canyon. A But they are frightened for those who may around? Backing down a quarter-mile hundred homes are uphill from the fire. If not have escaped. They wonder if their driveway is dangerous, and he won’t send the fire spreads, they’ll all be trapped. elderly neighbors got out, and feel guilty. his crews into that situation. They are worried sick about their animals. Joe speeds home. He’s not sure if they He wonders about water. Is there water should stay or leave—and wishes they had From the valley, they can see that the fire he can tap? Tanks must have National Fire prepared for either eventuality. The smell has spread to three neighboring canyons. connections for him to access it. He thinks of smoke drifts up the canyon. Flames are leaping from treetops. Houses about all the times he’s come upon large are burning. The scene is terrifying. tanks but found no way to tap them. Joe turns on a hose to wet down his home, while Barbara hastily loads children and Some residents have stayed behind. The chief doesn’t see anyone evacuating. He wonders if everyone is gone, if some documents into their car. They try to corral Some have prepared themselves and their people are staying, and if any elderly or their pets, but two of their dogs run away. property in advance. Their homes are fire disabled persons need to be rescued. Starting to panic, Joe and Barbara try to resistant and the brush has been cleared. get their horses into the trailer, but they’re Their gravity-fed water supply has a fire All these dilemnas -- Joe and Barbara’s, and spooked and won’t cooperate. department connector and hose. They the Chief’s -- could be solved by one thing: know the risks and are ready to meet them. Local preparation — by you and me. The fire is getting closer. The smell of smoke is thick in the air, and an occasional But some who stay behind aren’t prepared. This scenario was contributed by Julie Rogers, ash falls on the ground. The sun starts to They think they can evacuate at the last Executive Director of the Mendocino County glow orange. The scene is surreal. minute. But they don’t realize how fast a Fire Safe Council, [email protected]. It will happen here

By Robert Bruce The Oakland fire was not stopped by the It took us three years to rebuild, with firefighters from 36 jurisdictions, or by CDF, predatory contractors and insurance October 20, 1991 was a hot, dry windy or by local volunteers. It stopped because adjusters crawling over the hills, and a morning I will never forget. In many the wind reversed and the fog rolled in city permit process that was clogged ways it was the defining event of my that night. with the needs of 3,000 families. life. The East Bay hills have experienced I still get shivers every time I return and It was an Indian summer Sunday in destructive fire every generation since drive up Highway 24 and look at the the Oakland/Berkeley hills. People people began building their homes in hills, now mostly rebuilt. We moved went to the beach or Lake Tahoe or the the Wildland Urban Interface. Most of the away in 2001 for fear of earthquakes 49er game. Those who stayed home Mendocino County homes outside the city and came to Mendocino County. And experienced the fire the way my family limits of Ukiah and Willits are built in this where did we buy a home? did — as an unexpected battle for our zone. You guessed it. In the hills west above lives, a battle we survived but 25 others After I arrived at the lake, Bonnie jumped the Ukiah valley. In an area that burned did not. back into her car and raced home. With to the ground in 1959. My wife and I and our little dog had my background as a journalist I felt more The lesson here is clear. Anyone living taken a walk that morning. The wind excitement than personal danger, and I away from the cool coastal fog is in was blowing from the east, a Diablo raced around taking photos, as the wind danger of eventually being burned out wind that only occurs during the fall. whipped up whitecaps on the lake’s by fire. We are in a drought year this The temperature was near 90º, the surface. A CDF helicopter dipped water summer, and don’t think droughts last humidity was 6%, we were in the sixth from the lake. only for a year. Next year could be just year of a drought. It was just one week after CDF’s contract as dry, and the next year, and the next We ate breakfast on our deck, sipping with their pilots and planes had ended for year. coffee and reading the Sunday paper. the season, but one pilot who happened Certainly, homes in the hills are most We had been remodeling our kitchen, to be around flew down from Santa Rosa at risk, but inland towns aren’t safe, and were taking a break from the to drop retardant on the fire. But then he either. A massive fire in the hills will clutter. had to make the round trip back to reload, sweep down and take homes like mine, so the effect was minimal. and will rain hot embers on homes and Bonnie saw a black smoke cloud schools and businesses in the flat areas coming up behind us on the ridge My wife had more sense than I, an of towns. There will never be enough line. She and our 10-year-old, Daniel, experience that many couples repeated. resources to prevent disaster. Only rain jumped in the car and drove to Lake She packed armfuls of clothes into the car or a change in wind direction will save Temescal to investigate. Ten minutes and corralled the animals — our dog, a us. later she called, telling me to get the cat and a rabbit. One cat, my Himalayan video camera and come to the parking named Fudge, was never seen again. Or good prevention and preparation. lot. I grabbed my still camera as well. She grabbed a new computer and a few The fire will eventually happen. The scene was overwhelming. Fire family photo albums, and we packed over My experience in 1991 led me to get swept like orange liquid down the to her sister’s house, thinking we might be involved in the Mendocino County Fire slopes north of Highway 24. Houses gone overnight. We tried to get back into Safe Council. Now, I find it difficult to exploded one by one. As we stood our neighborhood that evening, but police get my friends and neighbors interested transfixed, a bush 50 feet away burst had it blocked off. We couldn’t get within in doing what they could to save their into flames. It was a bright sunny day a mile. homes in case of fire. They are in denial. and we could not see the firebrands The next day, Monday, we returned by So were we. floating down from the sky. police van to our smoldering ruin. We Homes will burn. Family photos and found a few warm pieces of ceramic that treasures will be lost. Pets and livestock In California, when the Santa Ana (or crumbled to the touch, and an 1890s- will die. People, especially the old and Diablo) winds are blowing from the vintage cast iron bank that had been my infirm, will be trapped and die. Count east and a fire occurs in a susceptible grandmother’s as a child. The 150-foot on it. area, there is very little that any fire redwood tree in the front yard was naked It’s hard to think the unthinkable, but suppression forces or technologies can of foliage, charred from bottom to top. do to resist the spread of the fire. The please try. results will depend mainly on the fuel I lost thousands of books and a huge Robert Bruce is a freelance writer and that is downwind from the fire and the collection of jazz records. My mother board member of the Mendocino County length of time that the wind continues asked for years if the bronze baby shoes Fire Safe Council. You can reach him at to push the fire in that direction. survived. [email protected].

Wildfires: Mendocino County natives

Fire and nature Mendocino County forest facts Wildfires have been around our county a long time.In Our county’s forests are like orchards. To be healthy and centuries past, wildfires burned unhindered across our productive, they need some attention. In the past, “good” landscape. These fires consumed dead brush and fallen wildfires and Native Americans did this work for us. But without trees, and opened up travel routes for wild animals. Their those good fires, forests need our help. heat caused dormant seeds to germinate, and their ashes Many of Mendocino County’s forests haven’t received proper nourished them. Gorgeous wildflowers and fresh green attention for years. By keeping good fires out, humans have shoots appeared after each fire, providing premium food and essentially stopped pruning and mowing the orchard. The trees habitat for wild animals and birds. have grown wild and tangled. This may seem like a wonderful Because these fires happened thing. But, just like an unattended orchard, their “fruit” is wild frequently, they burned and small, and many of the trees are not truly healthy. “cool” and didn’t damage the Left: an environment. They were good untended forest. fires. They kept our forests Right: a “pruned and mowed” and grasslands healthy, and forest. Photos prevented the devastating by Lauren fires we see today. Native Robertson, Pine Mountain Fire Americans and ranchers knew Safe Council. This good, cool fire is burning only this. They often set small fires What is a healthy forest? One in which each tree has room to ground litter, grass, and brush. It to help nature out, and to flourish. One in which each tree’s branches get all the sunlight is helping to prevent a severe fire improve their food sources, that burns the entire forest. they need. One in which each tree has plenty to drink. One in rangeland, and hunting. which a wildfire would cause relatively little damage.

But in recent decades we have interrupted Mendocino The basic problem with our untended forests is this: the trees this natural cycle of fire. We have built so are too crowded. They are competing with each other, and County many homes in wildland areas that fires are none of them is winning. Their branches can’t reach the sun, no longer free to do their job. Wildfires have has a huge and their roots can’t get enough water. been vigorously fought to protect these buildup of The result is small-diameter trees that are susceptible to disease homes. Increasing population in wildland flammable and pests and have many dead branches. This makes their areas has made doing “controlled burns” so vegetation. timber less valuable and the trees less beautiful. And it makes difficult they are rarely attempted. our forests more likely to experience catastrophic fires. This means The consequence? Our county has a that future The 2007 fire season is expected huge buildup of flammable vegetation. wildfires to be disastrous. The Governor Most areas have missed several cycles of has issued an emergency order to normal wildfires. The quantity of brush and will burn ramp up resources in preparation. unhealthy trees is unprecedented. This much more In Mendocino County, our air means that wildfires in the future will burn intensely tankers and command plane arrived 24 days earlier than usual. much more intensely and do much more and do We must be especially alert this damage than they did in the past. much more summer and fall -- starting now. So we must learn to live with wildfires damage than -- and take action to protect ourselves and they did in DID YOU KNOW...? our natural resources from their unwanted the past. Fire season in our state is now 78 days longer than it was in consequences. 1970. In southern California it essentially lasts all year. This severe fire has climbed An “average” large wildfire now takes 37.1 days to put out, into the treetops and become compared with 7.5 days in the 1970’s. unmanageable. A cool fire, A report by the USDA Inspector General says we are likely to or good preparation by soon see intense fires “beyond any scale yet witnessed.” the landowner, could have prevented this. Climate change? You be the judge. Why be concerned about wildfires? Because they can destroy many things that can’t be replaced firefighters ... your pets ... your family photos ... your view of the mountains ... the fragrance of nature ... the wildlife you enjoy ... the wind in the trees ... the dream house you built ... the car you restored ... your gun collection ... your grandma’s antiques ... the trees you planted ... the garden you love ... and you!

Will a fire engine come to and can be saved, and which are too Why do some homes burn, your house? dangerous to try to defend. while others survive? If they see a wide driveway, a clearing Firefighters are passionate about saving around the house, and a place to turn We’ve all seen wildfire photos showing homes. They know the heartache a fire around, they will attempt to protect some houses still standing and others can bring. But in a major wildfire, every your home. burned to the ground. The outcome blaze can’t be tackled right away. And If they see a water supply with a fire depends largely on these factors: not every house can be saved. department connection, they will be 1) how your house is built (page 6) even happier. Why? Because firefighting resources will 2) what plants surrounds it (page 7) be stretched too thin. And it may be too 3) the access to reach it (pages 8-9) dangerous to try to save each home. Whether or not a fire engine 4) if water is available that can be Many people assume that during a stops at your house depends tapped by fire engines (page 12) wildfire a fire engine will be parked at mostly on your preparation. every house. Not so. More likely, one Fuel for the fire engine will be assigned to an entire road, and it might stop at your house If they see a narrow driveway crowded Fire can’t burn without fuel. What is for a few minutes. by brush, they will probably pass it by “fuel” for a wildfire? Anything that can -- and leave your home to its fate. burn. Trees, brush, graass, crops, wood Whether or not that engine visits piles, sheds--even your home. The main your house depends mostly on your Many firefighters have lost their key to saving your property and natural preparation. In a large fire, firefighters lives defending homes that weren’t resources is depriving a wildfire of the must “triage” homes. They will survey an prepared. Let’s do our part to make area to see which homes are prepared their job easier and safer. fuel it needs. Read on to find out how. Home preparedness checklist

FLYING EMBERS are the most common DIRECT FLAME Contact caused this Radiant heat melted this house’s way wildfires spread to homes. building to be lost. vinyl siding and window frames.

Many homes burn down from wildfires ❏ DECKS. Burning embers love to hide under The “don’ts” of after firefighters leave, because smoldering decks and porches -- and then catch homes on fire. fire insurance embers were hiding under decks, in gutters, Prevent this by enclosing the undersides of your under roof tiles, and inside vents. Because so many deck with non-flammable material or a fine wire homes are being lost mesh. Clear everything flammable out from under it. Most wildfires start in windy conditions, and to wildfires, many ❏ CHIMNEYS. Chimney and stovepipe openings create more wind of their own. Burning embers insurance companies should be covered with wire mesh 1/4 inch or are looking for reasons or “firebrands” carried by wind can travel a mile smaller, and an approved spark arrestor cap. Be to drop customers in from the main fire. And the wind will drive those sure to clean out your chimney every fall! wildland areas. So... embers into every nook and cranny they can find. ❏ VENTS. To keep burning embers out, all vent If you live more than Fact #1: Burning embers will start new fires only ten minutes from a openings should be covered with 1/4-inch metal where there’s fuel for them to burn -- like trellises, fire station and have wire mesh, or smaller. pine needles, dead weeds, deck furniture, planter insurance, be grateful. ❏ WINDOWS. Radiant heat from a wildfire can boxes, baskets, wood piles, and shake roofs. Pay your bills on cause windows to shatter. It can also melt window time. Don’t try to find frames. Then burning embers can blow straight Fact #2: They will try with all their might to cheaper coverage. Don’t inside and start new fires. Large windows, including invade your buildings and burn them down. ask about increasing glass doors, are very vulnerable. Your best choice is Fact #3: They won’t succeed if you prepare to your home’s value. double-paned or tempered glass, with small panes stop them! Don’t file unnecessary and metal frames. claims. Don’t expect a ❏ PROPANE AND OTHER TANKS. Tanks should price break because you Wood shake roofs are be at least 30 feet from your house. Clear all installed a water tank. prime receivers of burning flammables 10 feet away from tanks. A fire near embers -- and prime This is the reality of life a fuel tank can cause it to heat up and vent or reasons that houses burn in Mendocino County. even explode. Firefighters will steer clear of such down in wildfires. dangers, and leave your home to its fate! ❏ ROOF. A wood shake roof is your home’s worst enemy! ❏ DRIVEWAY. A driveway all the way around your house is ideal. Replace your shake roof with one made of composition, metal, It provides easy access for firefighters, a place for them to work cement, or tile as soon as you can. Make sure all little openings are -- and serves as a fire break between your home and the wildlands. sealed, to prevent burning embers from invading. Whatever shape your driveway, keep brush and branches trimmed ❏ GUTTERS. Gutters and places where roof angles meet can trap back from it, up to 15 feet high, for fire engines’ access. burning embers. Keep your roof free of leaves, needles, and other debris, to help prevent a fire on your roof. If more than 1/4 of your roof is on fire, firefighters willnot try to save your home! ❏ SIDING. Wood siding is fuel for a wildfire. But walls made of stucco, brick, or cement/Hardie board will resist heat and flames. A wood fence can carry a fire right ❏ EAVES. With wind rushing against your house, hot air and to your deck and house. Separate burning embers can get trapped under its eaves. Boxing in the Enclosing the underside of your a wood fence from your house by a undersides of your eaves will reduce this serious risk. deck will keep burning embers out. metal gate or an open space. Make your home “defensible” or “survivable”!

Almost all vegetation will burn in It’s not just common sense . . . It’s all about flames. Keeping your house and other buildings safe means severe conditions. But if you take it’s the law! wise actions about the plants around keeping flames away from them. your home, you will greatly improve Because so many homes, and lives, As we’ve seen before, those flames can your property’s chances of surviving. have been lost to wildfires in recent either (1) rush to your house in a raging years, California law (Public Resources firefront, or (2) drop in from the sky as Does this mean cutting down all the trees Code section 4291) requires that all burning embers. The state laws in the and bushes near your house? No, No, No! residents of wildland areas take these previous column deal with both situations. actions to protect their homes: It means carefully selecting and maintain- If you properly plant AND maintain the ing your vegetation to reduce the flames - Clear all flammable vegetation other than area within 30 feet of your home, any and heat that come near your buildings. trees, ornamental shrubs, and green grass flames that do drop in will cause only a low or ground cover out to 30 feet from your intensity fire -- one that’s easy to fight. Remember, everything that can burn is fuel home, or to your property line, whichever for a fire. So the less flammable vegetation is closer. Reduce the amount of native This beautifully near your home, the better. vegetation in the 30-100 foot zone. landscaped home is But plants are also necessary to keep hill- - Remove all dead branches from trees next protected by a sides stable and prevent soil erosion. And, to, or hanging over, any building. driveway around of course, they are beautiful and provide - Remove all tree branches within 10 feet of three sides of it. privacy! You can find a balance. See pages a chimney or stovepipe. 10-15 for help with these decisions. - Keep all leaves, needles, and other dead This home is Wildfire safety does not vegetation off the roof and out of gutters. completely surrounded require a moonscape or by flammable desert! Read on. These requirements may seem harsh, but vegetation, making they exist for our sake. Fire engines and air Firefighters call the cleared area around it impossible for tankers won’t always be nearby to help, firefighters to defend it. your home “Defensible Space.” This means so we must prepare to help ourselves. vegetation is cleared back from your home enough that your home is “defensible” -- Around which buildings should we clear? Remove, reduce, and replace All of those we want to save! able to be defended -- in a wildfire. Remove dead trees, dead bushes, and A key action to prevent spread of a fire dead branches. These will burn like torches. is separating plants from each other. Fire will run uphill anywhere water Also remove dry grass, twigs, needles, and This will prevent a fire from jumping runs down -- and hot and fast! dead leaves on the ground, so burning from grass to brush to trees, or If you live on a hillside, or at the top embers won’t have the fuel they crave. from bush to bush or tree to tree. of a canyon, draw, or gulley, your Trim trees and bushes back from decks. Clear under your deck to bare soil. home is in special danger, and your 1. Vertical separation. Most Reduce flammable wildland trees and fires start near the ground. If they clearing distance downhill should be shrubs such as manzanitas and tan oaks. stay low, they are much easier to doubled or even tripled. You may leave a few, but separate them fight than if they get into treetops. from each other and keep them trimmed. But heat rises, so fires like to climb Replace flammable plants with less -- from grasses to bushes to trees! 2. Horizontal separation. Fires also spread sideways, of course. This can flammable, ornamental native plants. How to prevent this? Keep grass, happen from direct flame contact or Small plants can be very attractive and bushes, and trees separated: radiant heat. To prevent this, separate trees will produce much smaller flames. And... - Remove grass and weeds below and bushes from each other horizontally. sometimes bare can be beautiful! and near brush or shrubs Rows of trees or Your ultimate goal is a SURVIVABLE - Prune trees high enough that bushes, just like anything burning below them Vertical wood fences, can HOME -- one that will survive without won’t catch the trees on fire. separation carry fire a long firefighters’ help! If you implement distance very the suggestions in this paper, your Firefighters request that mature trees’ fast. Breaking up home will have a very good chance branches be pruned up 10 feet from the rows into sections ground, for the above reasons -- and so will slow down of surviving on its own. See pages 8-9 they can work beneath them. (continued) a fire’s spread. Horizontal separation for more details. Access to your home ROAD AND DRIVEWAY CLEARANCE TURNOUTS In a wildfire, fire equipment will be entering Fire engines are big and tall. To give them HOUSE ADDRESS SIGN Your while you may be trying to access, remove tree branches up to 15 FEET Will emergency responders be able to find your home? house number sign must be visible leave. Build frequent turnouts above the road surface. To give them safe Will they be able to get there? from the road from 100 feet in both along any roads less than 20 passage during a wildfire, remove brush directions in a fire engine’s headlights. feet wide, so vehicles can pass and branches 10 FEET from both sides of all When your loved one is having a heart attack or your It should be metal and have reflective, each other and get to safety. roads, wherever possible. home is on fire is no time to start thinking about this. contrasting numbers at least 3 inches tall. If there are several driveways off The requirements on this diagram may seem strict. your road, use arrows to make it obvi- But they all exist for one purpose: ous which one is yours. See page 11. BRIDGES AND CULVERTS Fire WATER SUPPLY Helping emergency personnel engines can weigh 40,000 pounds. If See page 12 about making your bridge or culvert can’t support to find and help you! your rural water supply this weight, ask a civil engineer about available for firefighting! strengthening or replacing it. Placard ROAD WIDTH AND GRADE DID YOU KNOW? A fire All roads and driveways must be at your bridge with its weight allowance. TURNAROUNDS All driveways bulldozer on a lowboy least 10 feet wide -- 18 feet wide in and dead-end roads must have transport is 10 feet wide most situations. The grade should places where large fire vehicles can and up to 60 feet long! be less than16%. The radius of turn around. These can be cul-de- turns must be at least 50 feet, so sacs with at least a 40-foot radius, or fire equipment can navigate them. places for a 3-point turn. Fire chiefs ROAD SIGNS Make sure there will not send their engines to places are road name signs at every where they cannot turn around. intersection leading to your DEAD END ROADS home. Signs should be made of Mark such roads at their metal and have reflective letters beginning with signs at least 4 inches tall. If there is that say “Dead End” or any possibility whatsoever of “No Outlet.” confusion, use arrows to indicate Zones for wildfire safety which road goes which direction.

This diagram shows three levels or zones of fire safe clearing. OUT TO 100 FEET (OR PROPERTY LINE) The purpose of these This extended area, now required by state law, zones is to progressively WITHIN 3 FEET OF YOUR HOUSE can provide a crucial buffer between you and a wildfire. Reduce the amount of flammable starve the fire of the fuel Clearing this area will help prevent flames vegetation here by 30% or so. This will reduce the from touching your home. it needs to burn as it WITHIN 30 FEET (OR TO YOUR PROPERTY LINE) flames and heat coming near your home. Remove EVERYTHING flammable: leaves, pine approaches your home. Firefighters call this the “Lean, Clean, and Green” Zone. The better If you do your “homework” in this area, the flames needles, weeds, and wood chips! See page 7 for more details. you maintain it, the better the chance your home will survive! of an oncoming fire will drop down from the trees Irrigated or native flowers, concrete pavers, Remove most flammable vegetation -- make it Lean. to the ground and never reach your house. Also see www.fire.ca.gov bricks, decorative gravel, or rock mulch are good here -- and can be very attractive. Clear out dead vegetation and flammable debris -- make it Clean. and www.firewise.org. Irrigate the plants that are there -- make it Green!

Access to your home ROAD AND DRIVEWAY CLEARANCE TURNOUTS In a wildfire, fire equipment will be entering Fire engines are big and tall. To give them HOUSE ADDRESS SIGN Your while you may be trying to access, remove tree branches up to 15 FEET Will emergency responders be able to find your home? house number sign must be visible leave. Build frequent turnouts above the road surface. To give them safe Will they be able to get there? from the road from 100 feet in both along any roads less than 20 passage during a wildfire, remove brush directions in a fire engine’s headlights. feet wide, so vehicles can pass and branches 10 FEET from both sides of all When your loved one is having a heart attack or your It should be metal and have reflective, each other and get to safety. roads, wherever possible. home is on fire is no time to start thinking about this. contrasting numbers at least 3 inches tall. If there are several driveways off The requirements on this diagram may seem strict. your road, use arrows to make it obvi- But they all exist for one purpose: ous which one is yours. See page 11. BRIDGES AND CULVERTS Fire WATER SUPPLY Helping emergency personnel engines can weigh 40,000 pounds. If See page 12 about making your bridge or culvert can’t support to find and help you! your rural water supply this weight, ask a civil engineer about available for firefighting! strengthening or replacing it. Placard ROAD WIDTH AND GRADE DID YOU KNOW? A fire All roads and driveways must be at your bridge with its weight allowance. TURNAROUNDS All driveways bulldozer on a lowboy least 10 feet wide -- 18 feet wide in and dead-end roads must have transport is 10 feet wide most situations. The grade should places where large fire vehicles can and up to 60 feet long! be less than16%. The radius of turn around. These can be cul-de- turns must be at least 50 feet, so sacs with at least a 40-foot radius, or fire equipment can navigate them. places for a 3-point turn. Fire chiefs ROAD SIGNS Make sure there will not send their engines to places are road name signs at every where they cannot turn around. intersection leading to your DEAD END ROADS home. Signs should be made of Mark such roads at their metal and have reflective letters beginning with signs at least 4 inches tall. If there is that say “Dead End” or any possibility whatsoever of “No Outlet.” confusion, use arrows to indicate Zones for wildfire safety which road goes which direction.

Outdoor fire safety

Equipment causes wildfires Toss a cigarette, pay a price When and how to mow CAL FIRE (CDF) reports that the largest Cigarette butts tossed from vehicles cause When, how, and if you mow can make a big cause of wildfires in Mendocino County most roadside fires.Think about it: a lit difference in the health of your fields -- and is outdoor equipment. Mowers, welders, butt rolling into dry grass can’t help but your fire safety. Mowing too early promotes chain saws, weedeaters, and splitters all start a fire -- and it could be a deadly one. late-blooming weeds. Mowing too late have caused thousands of acres to burn. California law forbids tossing out anything spreads non-native grasses. Not mowing at - Do your clearing before 10:00 a.m., never on fire. If it’s careless, it’s a misdemeanor. all is best if the area will stay moist and green all summer. Mowing can also cause wildfires! in the heat of the day or when it’s windy! If it’s intentional, you’ll end up in prison. To discourage annual weeds, mow when - Always keep water and a shovel close by Either way, you are ALSO legally liable to they are in flower or before seed heads are when using equipment outdoors. pay the huge costs of fighting the fire. fully mature. Be sure to burn or thoroughly - Never use a lawn mower on dry grass. Think. Be smart. Use your ashtray. compost clippings with seed heads. - Never drive a vehicle into tall dry grass. To suppress Harding grass, mow when it is - Install spark arresters on all equipment, Native plants, saving water green but seasonal moisture is almost gone. including tractors, quads, and dirt bikes. To suppress star thistle, mow when the first - Maintain and clean your equipment to Mendocino County’s native plants are those flowers appear and again six weeks later. prevent a buildup of flammable materials. our first residents knew and depended on Second mowing will usually be in July. Mow before European settlers arrived. They have carefully to avoid starting a fire. - Be sure trailer hitches are secure and co-evolved with animals, fungi, and microbes A mower, splitter, chains don’t drag. Last summer one loose to form a complex network of relationships. hitch caused eight fires south of Willits. weedeater, welder, Landowners with knowledge of local native chain saw, or - Always, always be aware of fire danger! plants can help their land by: cigarette butt can start a grass fire that – Promoting water conservation. Once native quickly climbs into Fire safe growing practices plants are established, they can survive with brush and trees. Gardening causes a third of the structure only seasonal rainfall. Within a few minutes fires in our county. Most growers know - Recognizing non-native invasive species acres can be burned and lives in danger. their situation is hazardous but take no such as star thistle, distaff thistle, French and Be careful. actions to prevent costly fires. Scotch broom, and gorse -- and eradicating Use your ashtray. • In Navarro, a fire last winter destroyed them before they take over. Use your brain! an indoor garden and the adjacent home. What do native plants have to do with fire Photo by Peter Armstrong Volunteer firefighters worked all night. safety? Native plant landscapes consume To encourage desirable annuals such as • On the coast, an overloaded circuit fire much less water, which means more water is valley lupine or common madia, mow only destroyed a drying shed and its contents. available for firefighting. This will be crucial before it has produced a flower stalk or after as we continue in a drought. And many seeds are mature. If you must mow when • In Brooktrails, a fire started in haybales natives are less flammable than non-natives. placed around a generator to muffle it. desirable annuals are in bloom, mow around Learn more from the California Native Plant them and return after their seeds have To increase your fire safety: Society (www.CNPS.org) and its Sanhedrin matured, usually several weeks later. • Have a licensed electrician do your wiring (cnps-sanhedrin.org) and Dorothy King Perennials such as California oat grass and • Regularly inspect all equipment that Young Chapters (dkycnps.org). See page 15 native irises and lilies can be encouraged by could produce dangerous heat or fire for a list of local native plant specialists. suppressing competing annuals that grow • Put smoke detectors in every building Contributed by Geri Hulse-Stephens, botanical earlier and faster. Perennial grasses offer • Put two fire extinguishers at each exit consultant, 25-year CNPS member, and currently another advantage: they reduce fire hazard • Many fertilizers and chemicals produce vice president of CNPS’ Sanhedrin chapter. because they stay green longer. explosive vapors and should not be inside. When you mow, set your blade at least 4 Take these precautions, indoor or out: Don’t be a lookie-loo! inches high, to reduce the risks of hitting • Fit all vehicles with spark arresters rocks and starting fires, or disturbing the soil, Fire engines are often slowed down or • Keep flammables away from generators thereby creating habitat for invading weeds. blocked by “lookie-loos,” people who • Keep a fire hose and high pressure water come to look and get in the way. Don’t For more information,see http://cal-ipc.org supply at all gardening locations enter a wildfire area unless you are and http://www.alt2is.com/imcwma. Contributed by Colin Wilson, Chief, Anderson authorized. Always give fire engines Contributed by Tara Athan, Coordinator of the Valley Fire Department, and President of the FIre the right of way. Don’t be part of the Safe Council, and Lauren Robertson, President of Mendocino County Weed Management Areas. problem -- be part of the solution! the Pine Mountain (Willits) Fire Safe Council. She may be reached at [email protected]. 10 11 “Please help us find you!” Evacuating your horses Resource Conservation District Our county’s firefighters and medics say Ensuring the safety of horses in a wildfire Mendocino County Resource Conservation the most frustrating part of their job is requires preparation. Most emergency District supports conservation of natural resources, especially along rivers and being unable to find YOUR EMERGENCY. responders are not trained to handle large streams. To date it has leveraged millions of When your loved one is having a heart animals, so the responsibility is yours. dollars of grant funds for projects including attack, will they be able to find you? • Develop a plan with your area’s horse Navarro Watershed Restoration; the Proper address signs are crucial (see p. 9). owners and firefighters. Choose evacuation Russian River’s Forsythe, McNab, and Feliz Make sure every intersection leading to routes and holding areas. Creeks; and control of the weed Arundo, a your home -- on roads or driveways -- is • Everyone should have a family radio, and huge fire hazard. The MCRCD creates and marked with a reflective sign, with letters some should be ham radio operators. distributes valuable publications for rural and numbers at least 3” high, and visible • Make sure your pickup has full fuel. property owners, including a Handbook for from both directions. • Secure dogs with leashes and put all pets Forest and Ranch Roads, and has launched in your vehicle. No pet stays behind! If several homes branch off one driveway, a creative streamlined permitting program. • Load your horses and let them sit. place arrows and signs at every branch so Call 468-9223 or visit www.mcrcd.org. • Don’t go to the evacuation area until you drivers can find you quickly in the dark. Contributed by Patty Madigan, Navarro are told by the Sheriff or fire department. Watershed Restoration Coordinator For only $45, these persons will make an • Call or radio your route out, and also call attractive sign AND install it at your home: or radio when you reach your destination. For more complete articles about the Willits area: Pine Mtn. Fire Safe Council • When you reach the evacuation area, face subjects in this paper, visit 459-3475 or [email protected] your trailer to the exit. www.firesafemendocino.org. Rest of county: Leighton Nelsen, So. Coast • When you reach your destination, sit. Fire Chief, 884-4700, [email protected] • Wear your helmet if you unload your Natural Resources Conservation horses. Use extreme caution. Most hardware stores have “911 Address Service (a branch of the USDA) Plate” packets to make your own sign. Take with you: The NRCS helps owners and managers of • Wire fence cutters, crow bar, and knife A hint: Firefighters prefer horizontal numbers! private working lands to conserve their • Several halters and ropes soil, water, and other natural resources. • Whip and stud chain They provide technical advice and financial • Towels to cover horses’ eyes assistance suited to each property’s needs. • Buckets, feed, and water: offer water if District Conservationist Stephen Smith you’re sitting over two hours may be reached at 405 South Orchard • First aid kit and horse disaster kit, Avenue in Ukiah, 468-9223 x112. including ID sheets for each animal • Flashlights and batteries resident who teaches CERT, Pet First Aid, • Gloves, boots, coat, goggles, N-95 masks and Horse Awareness & Safety. Purchase One of these number signs can be yours, installed, for • Phone numbers, including vets only $45. Be sure all intersections are clearly marked. her authoritative book “Save Your Horse! • Money. You could be gone a long time. A Horse Owner’s Guide to Large Animal For more information visit www.cthorse Rescue” at www.saveyourhorse.com or CERT: being prepared council.org. This article was contributed by www.redjeansink.com. She may be reached at Michelle Staples, a South Coast (continued) [email protected]. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) of average citizens all over our county are learning how to take care of themselves in disasters. They know this will free firefighters and Mendocino County Fire Safe Council medics to help others in need. Membership/Contribution Slip CERT training takes place on weekends or weeknights YES! I’ve enjoyed this publication and would like to help the Fire Safe Council. and covers Disaster Medical Operations, Search and Please sign me up as an MCFSC member: __$ for 2007 __$ for 2007-2008 Rescue, Fire Safety, Disaster Psychology, and more. 20 40 This valuable training is free. For information, contact: I want to help match a grant from the Allen-Heath Memorial Foundation with a contribution of $______. (Our goal is $20,000 to provide chipping services.) South Coast: Ken Reynoldson 884-4155 [email protected] North Coast: Stacey Weil-Dye 937-4179 [email protected] Name* ______Affiliation ______www.northcoastcert.org Address ______Town ______Zip _____ Rest of Mendocino County: Christine Dektor, Americorps VISTA member, 462-2596 x101, [email protected] E-mail ______Phone ______THE LOCAL RED CROSS CHAPTER also provides pre- Mail to PO Box 1488, Ukiah 95482. The FIre Safe Council is a nonprofit corpo- disaster training, as well as post-disaster assistance, ration, EIN 83-0395685. We will mail you a receipt. We accept cash. THANK YOU! and is seeking volunteers. Contact Coordinator Kristy * Your contact information will be used only for US to be in touch with you. Monti at [email protected] or 894-0754. 10 11 Outdoor burning and air quality - Burn only between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, unless directed otherwise on your permit. As residents of Mendocino County, Permit requirements - Have adequate water available for putting we pride ourselves on our beautiful out any fire that escapes. A written Air Quality / Burn Permit is surroundings, our diverse community, and required year round for all residential burn How to avoid Air Quality penalties our clean air. The Mendocino County Air piles, agricultural burning, and control - Do not burn anything except clean, dry Quality Management District is the agency burns. responsible for protecting our air quality. vegetation. We accomplish this through state law and Follow these simple rules - Do not burn poison oak or oleander. local regulations, including regulations - If it didn’t grow on your property, you Exposure to their smoke can cause severe for open outdoor burning. The following can’t burn it. health problems. is an overview of the Open Outdoor Burn - Vegetation must be dry and free of dirt. - Do not use a Burn Barrel. Burn Barrels are Program in Mendocino County. illegal in California. - Burn only on Permissive Burn Days. - Do not burn on a “No-Burn Day.” Permissive Burn Days vs. No Burn Before you burn Days - Be considerate of your neighbors. - Find out which fire agency is responsible Consider alternatives such as composting, Burn Day determinations are based on for your area. Call the Air Quality office at chipping, and green waste pickup. meteorological data collected by the state 463-4354 if you don’t know. Air Resources Board. On Permissive Burn For more information on air quality and - Obtain a burn permit from CDF, your local Days, smoke from your fire is more likely to open outdoor burning, please call us fire agency, or Air Quality (see page 13). rise and be carried away. On No-Burn Days, at 707/463-4354 or visit our web site at the air is very still and may be accompanied - Call 463-4391 or 1-800-992-5441 ext. 4391 www.co.mendocino.ca.us/aqmd. by a low inversion. (The word “permissive” to find out if it is a “Burn Day.” This article was contributed by Donna Roberts means it is permitted to burn that day.) - Follow instructions on your burn permit. of the Mendocino County Air Quality District.

Most of us can’t provide this perfect system, where fire engines can park, and build your Your fire water supply of course. But there are ways to modify your standpipe or hydrant there. In rural parts of our county, water for system to make it helpful. If your tank doesn’t have a large enough firefighting can be hard to find. Many If your system can deliver at least 40-50 discharge port, you can build a siphon by homes have thousands of gallons stored, gallons per minute, it can provide “fire putting a PVC pipe into your tank from the but it can’t be tapped by firefighters water” by simply installing a 1½ or 2½-inch top (as in the photo below ). because the needed fittings are missing. male National Hose pipe thread fitting in If your existing system isn’t sufficient or a place a fire engine can reach. Most tanks The ideal firefighting system is a tank or adaptable, consider purchasing a tank just can be made accessible by: pond located 100-250 feet uphill, with a for fire protection. Use at least a 1½-inch 2½ or 3-inch water line down to your home 1) If an engine can park within 12 feet, put water line, more if you can. Run the line to a and a 2½-inch valve and National Hose fire the fitting at the base of your tank. place about 50 feet away from your house thread fitting. This can provide 250 gallons 2) If a fire engine can’t get this close, lay that is accessible to a fire engine, and build per minute without a pump. a 2½-inch pipe from the tank to a place your connection there. Fire engines can pump from your pond or pool IF they can get within 12 feet. Clear a way for them. The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council Paint all fire water fittings red, and mark the location . . . is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to save lives, property, and of your water with a blue reflector on the road or natural resources from being devastated by wildfires. Its activities include: a “fire water” sign pointing to the tank, pond, or • Conducting awareness and educational events. Please call 462-3662 if hydrant. Firefighters will love you for it! you would like one for your road association, neighborhood, or other group. For detailed instructions about creating a siphon • Obtaining federal grant funding and performing projects to reduce or installing a hydrant, call 462-3662 or visit www. wildfire risks. So far the Council has completed $242,000 of such projects. firesafemendocino.org. • Creating improved maps of rural subdivisions for use by firefighters Firefighters’ delight: a • Supporting local volunteer fire departments, especially those struggling 10,000-gallon water tank the most to make ends meet (see page 13 - contribute to them!) with a valve and 2-1/2” National Hose male • Creating wildfire preparedness plans for the county and local communities fitting, located where • Promoting properly located, easy-to-read road and house number signs a fire engine can easily • Helping start local Fire Safe Councils in areas like yours; please contact us! connect to it, full of water and ready to protect your For ways you can contribute, please see the other side of this page. home and property! 12 13 Westport Mendocino County Fire Departments Chief Beck Regalia 964-4646 Box 2, Westport 95488 The other half receives Volunteer firefighters Did you know...? Whale Gulch emergency services but spend huge amounts of Chief Blu Graham Our county has 21 local doesn’t pay for them. time in training. fire departments. 986-7266 -- whalegulch The County government Training is expensive. [email protected] Only 7 have a paid chief. has provided only limited Volunteer firefighters are 76850B Usal Road All 21 rely on volunteers. help to fire departments usually the first at scene Whitethorn 95589 and ambulance services. of medical emergencies Willits/Little Lake 14 have ONLY volunteers. Elk firefighters on a mission Most departments rely and traffic accidents. Chief Jeff Smith 459-6271 19 are special districts on federal grants and Your life could depend Piercy [email protected] and receive tax income. fundraisers to survive. on how well your fire Chief Tim Kloiber 74 E. Commercial 95490 2 receive no taxes at all: Basic firefighting gear department is equipped Box 206, Piercy 95587 Westport & Whale Gulch. costs $1,200 per person. CDF ARSON HOTLINE and its firefighters trained. Potter Valley 1-800-468-4408 Only half of Mendocino A new fire engine costs Chief Bill Pauli 743-1415 County is in a fire district. $250,000 or more. Contribute today 10521 Main Street, 95469 AIR QUALITY 463-4354 to your local Redwood Coast/ BURN DAY MESSAGE Comptche Fire Department! Point Arena 707-463-4391 or Chief Larry Tunzi Chief Mike Suddith 1-800-992-5441 x4391 937-0728 Anderson 882-1833 [email protected] Valley Box 245, Pt. Arena 95468 Box 164, Comptche 95427 firefighters head home Redwood Valley-Calpella Covelo Chief Tom Hession Chief Bill Baker 485-8121 Potter Valley firefighters Hopland [email protected] 983-6719 Chief Hoss Milone Albion-Little River [email protected] 744-1222 Box 385, RV 95470 Chief Oliver Seeler Box 36, Covelo 95428 [email protected] South Coast/Gualala CAL FIRE (CDF) 937-0888 Elk Chief Jeff Roy Box 463, Hopland 95449 Chief Leighton Nelsen [email protected] Headquarters 459-7414 PO Box 151, Elk 95432 Laytonville/Long Valley 884-4700 Box 101, Albion 95410 Unit Chief Marc Romero Fort Bragg Chief Jim Little 984-6055 [email protected] Anderson Valley Chief Steve Orsi [email protected] 39215 Church, 95445 Boonville 895-3323 Chief Colin Wilson 961-2831 Box 89, Laytonville 95454 Ukiah City Covelo 983-6499 895-2020 [email protected] Fort Bragg 964-5673 Leggett Chief Tony Clarabut [email protected] 141 N. Main, FB 95437 Chief Ely Reighter 463-6274 -- firedept@ Hopland 744-1111 Box 398, Boonville 95415 Many of [email protected] cityofukiah.com Willits 459-7413 Brooktrails our Box 191, Leggett 95585 300 Seminary, Uk 95482 Laytonville 984-6777 county’s Chief Daryl Schoeppner Mendocino Ukiah Valley Leggett 925-6414 459-4441 firefighters Chief Danny Hervilla Chief Dan Grebil 462-7921 Mendocino 937-5765 [email protected] are 937-0131 [email protected] [email protected] Point Arena 882-2151 24860 Birch, Willits 95490 women! 44700 Little Lake, 95460 1500 S. State, Uk 95482 Ukiah 462-7448

Some excuses for not preparing. What’s yours?

It’s not my responsibility. Yes, it is. State It’s too expensive. Some preparations It will look ugly. Not unless you want it to! law requires residents of wildlands to take cost little or no money. Do what you can. If Fire safety actions can make your property action to protect their property. Firefighters you are elderly or disabled and have a low much more attractive, like a park, and can will do all they can, but preparing to survive income, contact the Fire Safe Council at improve its dollar value and wildlife habitat. a wildfire is your responsibility. 462-3662 or [email protected] to be put I’ll lose my privacy. Again, this is up to I’ve got insurance. Insurance can help on a waiting list to receive assistance. you. There are many ways to keep a privacy rebuild a house, but it can’t heal your It won’t happen to me. Many people screen between your home and your road blackened forest or bring back your dead whose property was destroyed by wildfires or neighbors while still making your home pets. And most insurance will not cover have thought the same thing (see page 3). safer. Moving your screen farther away your home’s replacement value (see p. 6). I refuse to cut down trees. You don’t have from your home is often a good option. I don’t have the time. In our county, to cut down trees to make your home safer. My neighbors don’t clear, so why should I? wildfire safetymust be a priority. The lives of Often pruning them up and back from your Because the more YOU clear the safer YOU you and your family could depend on it. roof is all that’s needed. will be. Report your neighbors to CDF. 12 13 Vendors for fire safety

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Brush clearing - Weed eating - Tree trimming

14 15 Cow Mountain Kiko Goats Mendocino County Farm Bureau The Farm Bureau represents rural residents and agriculture, doing Fuel load reduction • Habitation enhancement • Weed abatement with them what individuals cannot do alone. Membership in the Farm Gary Gregory Bureau gives a wide range of P.O. Box 51 Lakeport CA 95453 services and benefits. Call 462-6664 Ph. (707) 262-1577 or email [email protected] to join Cell (707) 349-5827 Fax (707) 263-4433 This ad placed courtesy of the Fire Safe Council [email protected]

A layer of Thermo-Gel can protect K.C. Johnson your home from wildfire for Johnson’s Quality Tree Care hours! Give specializing in us a call. Mobile Fire Suppression Tree trimming and stump removal Gel Plants for Excavation of brush and high ladder fuels Structure Protection Custom milling Free estimates ~ 20 years experience Gregg Smith, President/Owner 467-9291 or 391-4539 462-4185 ~ 621-2505 ~ 1-888-545-8733 Located next to ReTech Contractor’s license #698591 LTO license #A9682 north of Hopland

REMEMBER... The responsibility for saving GOTGOT BRUSH? your home from wildfire is yours! Each action you take will make your home, outbuildings, property, and natural resources more resistant to fire. The task may seem overwhelming, but start somewhere and do what you can. Planting the RRoadsoads Native plant specialists Mario Abreu 964-4352 Right Tree in the WWaterater FeaturesFeatures [email protected] Mendocino Coast Botanical Right Place Gardens The best way to ensure that trees and overhead power lines don’t get Ken Montgomery 895-3853 tangled up in the future is to plant wisely now. Anderson Valley Nursery See ad on page 14 If you’re planning to landscape an area near poles and power lines, here are some factors to consider: Peter Warner 964-8242 • The maximum mature tree height should be no closer than 10 feet [email protected] from high-voltage wires • No trees should be planted within 10 feet of a power pole Chuck Williams 462-8984 • Trees should be planted at least six feet to the side of underground Sanhedrin Chapter, CNPS facilities

Jim Xerogeanes 468-3148 For more information on smart landscaping, such as a list of power- Mendocino College Nursery line-friendly trees, visit www.safetree.net or www.pge.com/trees Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah and click on education. Also, call Underground Service Alert at (70707)7) 459-86459-864747 [email protected] 1.800.227.2600 at least two working days before you plant to have (70(707)7) 35354-02824-0282 underground utilities location. Teri Jo Barber and Karen Youngblood Ridge to River 357-0857 14 15 If a wildfire is heading your way This publication was made possible by ... The Allen-Heath Memorial SHOULD YOU STAY OR LEAVE? ❏ Medications and eyeglasses ❏ Family photos, videos, heirlooms Foundation (with special thanks to Plan to leave promptly unless you ❏ Computer or computer backup files Chuck and Liz Phillips Heath) have prepared yourselves and your ❏ Phone numbers Mendocino County Air Quality house to deal with the heat, flames, ❏ Clothing and toiletries for a week Management District (see p. 12) wind, and noise a wildfire can bring. ❏ Nonperishable food, drinking water Be aware that evacuating may be extremely PREPARING -- INDOORS Pacific Gas & Electric Company (see page 15 re: trees and power lines) difficult if your only road is barely wide ❏ Take down lightweight curtains. These enough for fire engines to enter, with no could catch fire due to radiant heat. All Terrain Fire Support turnouts for vehicles trying to leave. If you ❏ Move stuffed furniture away from live in such a place, you should prepare Services (see ad on page 15) ahead to “shelter in place” in your home windows, for the same reason. Mendocino County Resource while the fire passes, or go to a pre-desig- ❏ Close heavy drapes, shutters, and blinds nated “safety zone.” Both of these involve -- these will help keep the heat out. Conservation District (see p. 11) risks. For details see firesafemendocino.org. ❏ Fill bathtubs and sinks with water. . . . and the vendors on pages 14 &15. ❏ Close all windows and exterior doors, to Please support them! ❏ EARLY ON, if possible, evacuate children prevent sparks from blowing inside. and elderly or disabled persons. Having ❏ Close doors between rooms. If a fire Acknowledgements them safe will make decisions easier. starts in one room, this will slow it down. Parts of this publication were adapted from Living with Fire: A Guide for the Homeowner, written by Ed Smith, University ❏ Relay your plans -- to leave or stay, a ❏ Leave a light on in each room and porch, of Nevada Cooperative Extension, with assistance from meeting place, who will go where -- to a so firefighters can see your home. Sonya Sistare, Living With Fire program assistant. Graphic contact person outside the area. Be sure design was provided by Lucy Walker, Office of Marketing and PREPARING -- OUTDOORS Communications, University of Nevada, Reno; illustration all family members can reach that person. services were provided by Kirah Van Sickle and Animania, ❏ Put patio furniture, planter boxes, wood LLC. Funding for the original publication was provided by a GETTING READY TO LEAVE piles -- everything flammable -- either National Fire Plan grant from the USDA Forest Service/Nevada indoors or at least 30 feet from the house. Division of Forestry. Cover photo courtesy of Candice Towell ❏ Decide on only ONE evacuation vehicle. and the Reno Gazette-Journal. ❏ Shut off propane at the tank or natural All roads will be dangerously crowded. Adaptations and all additions to the Nevada material, including ❏ Tune to a local radio station for news. gas at the meter. Leave electricity on. photos, were made by Mendocino County Fire Safe Council ❏ Close exterior vents, to keep out embers. staff, except as noted. Special thanks to Suzanne Guido, ❏ Wear only cotton or wool clothes (jeans, Robert Bruce, and Julie Rogers, the project’s main contributors. long-sleeved shirt) and sturdy shoes. ❏ Prop a tall ladder against your house to Do not wear any synthetic clothing give firefighters access to the roof. Living with Wildfire in Mendocino County (polyester, nylon, etc.) -- it can melt onto ❏ Connect all garden hoses to faucets, with was published in June 2007 by the your skin and cause horrible burns. nozzles set to spray. Mendocino County Fire Safe Council, a ❏ Prepare to evacuate pets and large ❏ Fill trash cans and buckets with water and nonprofit corporation (FEIN 83-0395685). animals. (See page 11 for horses.) Put place them around your house. See pages 11-12 to support their work. pets, in carriers, in your vehicle. Pack their ❏ If you have water with a fire department food and water for several days. connector (see p. 12), post a large sign at Mendocino County Fire Safe Council ❏ Put your evacuation vehicle in your your driveway pointing to it. garage or driveway, facing out, ready to Box 1488, Ukiah CA 95482 ❏ If you can, cover windows, attic openings, CAR-RT PRESORT go, with keys in the ignition. (707) 462-3662 and vents with heavy plywood. U S POSTAGE PAID ❏ Disconnect any electric door openers so [email protected] ❏ If time permits, clean off your roof. the door can be operated manually. autoZIP ❏ Leave all exterior doors unlocked so www.firesafemendocino.org ❏ Carry gloves, goggles, and a moist firefighters can enter if necessary. handkerchief to cover nose and mouth. Resident Customer ❏ Close your garage door behind you. WHAT TO TAKE (PUT IN VEHICLE) Finally, hope and pray that no one ❏ Flashlight and battery-operated radio is hurt: you, your neighbors, ❏ Insurance policies, birth certificates, passports; medical, tax, and bank records or your firefighters. ❏ Inventory of your home’s contents, for And remember, most people who insurance purposes (see ad on page 14) die in wildfires were trying to ❏ Bank/credit cards, drivers’ licenses, cash evacuate -- too late. 16