November 2010 Articles

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Rural fire safety is important durning summer dry spells

Rural fire safety is important during summer dry spells
Hot, dry spells during summer could put homes and forests at risk of wildfires, and rural homes surrounded by forests are at the highest risks. “It is important for people to be aware of rural fire safety,” said LSU AgCenter forestry agent Keith Hawkins.
Hawkins suggests homeowners look around their property and homes for plants or other items that might encourage or fuel a fire.
“There are plants that are more flammable than others, so people need to look at their landscaping,” Hawkins said. Flammable plants contain resins, oils and waxes that make them burn more readily. A few plants considered more flammable include ornamental junipers, yaupon holly, red cedar and young pine. Homes near forested homes should have a “defensible space” around them. This is an area between the forest and the house where vegetation has been modified to reduce a wildfire threat. While no plants are fire-proof, deciduous trees and shrubs tend to be less flammable, Hawkins said. A few trees that have a low-flammability rating include baldcypress, red maple and sweet gum. Landscape maintenance also can help prevent a wildfire from spreading. Hawkins recommends carefully spacing trees and shrubs, keeping plants and lawns well-watered and pruning trees to 6 to 10 feet above the ground. Leaves and debris can be fuel for a fire, so keep yards raked and gutters, eaves and roofs clear of these materials, he added. Forest landowners also need to do their part to prevent wildfire. Regular thinning and conducting prescribed burns can keep a forest area from becoming vulnerable to a fire, Hawkins said. Landowners must provide 8-foot firebreaks around their property, but Hawkins, along with the Southwest Forestry Association board, thinks that may not be enough. “We’re going on record to say we think there need to be 20-foot firebreaks around properties,” Hawkins said. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture offer cost-share programs to help landowners construct firebreaks and to conduct prescribed burns. The LSU AgCenter provides training for prescribed burns. “This is so people can do it safely and legally and understand the science and the techniques behind it,” Hawkins said. For more information, visit firewise.org. Hawkins also is available to provide “Firewise” presentations to groups wanting more information. He can be contacted at 337-463-7006 or khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu.