It’s time to get fire wise
Even with recent snow in the mountains, Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark urges all Washingtonians to be prepared before the fire season starts to heat up.
“We are encouraging people to take action now to protect their homes and property from a wildfire,” said Commissioner Goldmark. “The steps homeowners take now to create defensible space around their property will pay dividends this summer by reducing the wildfire risk.”
Defensible space is the area around homes that minimizes common fire hazards typically found around homes, such as flammable vegetation, and it creates a safe zone for firefighters to defend those homes. Local landscape and nursery professionals are a great source for landscaping tips. Also, log on to www.firewise.org for more information on fire behavior and ways to reduce the risk of wildfire to your home and property.
Fifteen forest fires have already been reported this year on lands protected by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Last year, there were a total of 1,044 fires that burned approximately 17,000 acres. Ninety-six percent of the wildfires that burned on DNR-protected lands in 2009 were contained to less than 10 acres in size.
Dry and unhealthy forests are continually a fire hazard and will be for many years. It only takes a spark to start a fire that can have catastrophic results. Fire prevention can help reduce the risk of expensive, disruptive wildfires that damage habitat for birds, fish and wildlife. These fires also destroy homes and threaten the safety of the public and the firefighters who protect these forests and communities.
Washington’s summer
fire rules
Washington’s “summer fire rules” are in effect April 15 through October 15. These rules apply to the 12.7 million acres of private and state forestlands protected from wildfire by DNR.
These regulations affect loggers, firewood cutters, land clearers, road builders, bulldozer operators, off-road motorcyclists, and others. During fire season, people using motorized equipment in the woods must have approved spark arresters and follow fire safety precautions. In addition, those working in the woods must have fire prevention and extinguishing equipment at the job site, in good working order, with staff trained in its proper use.
The rules are intended to prevent forest fires and to extinguish small fires before they spread. Those same rules restrict cigarette smoking in forested areas to roads, gravels pits, or other clearings. They also prohibit lighting fireworks on forestland.
Daily fire risk ratings available by phone and Internet
Woods workers and industrial forest users also must observe Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, which may change daily and which classify varying levels of fire danger in different parts of the state. More information is available from the following sources:
• DNR’s website at http://www.dnr.wa.gov. Click on Fire & Burning Regulations to review regional precaution levels, a map of current shutdown zones, and a copy of DNR’s Industrial Fire Precaution Level Bulletin.
• DNR’s toll-free business line at 1-800-527-3305 plays a message identifying daily industrial fire precaution levels, which are listed by geographical region. The hearing impaired can phone Telephone Device for the Deaf at 1-800-833-6388.
• DNR e-mail at RPD@dnr.wa.gov.
New DNR program may compensate landowners
A program administered by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) seeks to compensate landowners who are prohibited by state rules from harvesting trees along rivers or streams that tend to migrate or abruptly change channels.
The Riparian Open Space Program, funded last year by the Washington State Legislature, is designed to pay landowners for trees on lands that have become, essentially, islands of timber within rivers or streams that are avulsing (changing their channels).
Washington State’s Forest Practices Rules prohibit timber harvesting in zones along rivers and streams based on the waterway’s size and type. The rules are intended to protect water quality and restore habitat for salmon.
The Riparian Open Space Program will consider applications from all owners of forestland with riparian areas that the state rules define as “channel migration zones.” The applicants’ land also must be classified as forestland by their county’s assessor’s office.
Landowners have until 5 p.m., June 7, to apply to the program. They can either donate or sell a permanent conservation easement on the land to DNR. The easement can cover the affected land and trees, or just the trees on the land affected by the riparian rules.
Applicants will be chosen by DNR based on consideration of their economic need for the funds, the ecological value of the trees and land affected by the state’s no-harvest rules, and the order in which applications are received.
To apply or find out more, visit www.dnr.wa.gov and search for the Riparian Open Space Program web page, or call 360-902-1427.
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