Forget floods, prepare for fire

Heavy rain in the first days of June caused the North Fork River to rise, and it was definitely muddy. Even so, I think the worrywarts can stop thinking about any kind of flooding.

Snowpack in the mountains of the Whitefish Divide and the Continental Divide is pretty well depleted, and dry weather in May allows fuels in the valley to absorb and hold at least a portion of the early June rain.

That means we can concentrate on worrying about the severity of the fire season. Official estimates point to a fire season with a higher risk than normal. These estimates are based on current moisture, with the long-range weather forecast factored in.

We need to remember that the agencies try to prepare for the worst possible scenario while hoping for the best. Thus, they will gear up for a moderate to severe fire season while hoping for periodic rain that reduces fire risk.

We should all do the same thing. June is the last chance to prepare for July, August and September.

Start with clearing around your buildings. How far depends on the fuels on your land. If you are in or next to an overage forest of lodgepole pine, you need much more than the usual 30 feet cleared around buildings, since that type of forest could create a fire with flame lengths in excess of 100 feet.

If you don't know how to evaluate this for yourself, talk to neighbors or call Bill Swope at 892-3866. He will arrange for a free assessment of your property and inform you about grants to help protect your buildings.

Second, make sure you can get out if fire is close to you. Again, Bill Swope can help assess your escape route. Again, you might be eligible for a grant.

Those are the big things. If you have water, consider a line of sprinklers on the peak and/or lawn sprinklers on your deck or close to the house. A water sprinkler on the back porch saved the Costello home during the Red Bench Fire.

You might also make a list of treasures you want to take with you in case of an evacuation. You may have only minutes to escape, and a clear head is a good idea.

Do not be like the lady whose house caught on fire. She threw valuable dishes out the window, breaking them all. Then she ran upstairs and carried her down pillows out into the yard.

The real bottom line is we will always have wildfire on the North Fork. Most importantly, it is up to us to protect our own property. Firefighters will not be there for hours, and for their own safety, they will only go to homes with a safe road and room to turn their trucks around.

If you are too lazy to "firewise" your property, don't expect someone else to risk their lives for your house.