Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week starts

CLOVIS — It would seem it’s never the wrong time to have fire safety on the mind. Even so, today marks the start of Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week, lasting through April 1.

Curry County Fire Marshal David Kube is using the occasion to remind residents of the importance of taking fire safety precautions and having a plan in place should things go up in smoke.

“Because it’s springtime now, we’re trying to remind citizens that it’s very dry and to be careful,” he said.

Most of the area’s recent wildfires originated from simple bad luck, he added, as was the case with 80 acres burnt Friday near Grady after the wind blew two power lines together.

But that’s no reason not to stay alert and proactive.

According to the Southwest Prevention and Information Committee, the motto for this year’s awareness week is “Wildfire doesn’t have to be a disaster. Little things you do now will make a big difference.”

Those “little things” include fortification of defensible spaces around homes and outbuildings. Kube recommends mowing grasses in a 35-foot area and clearing tumbleweeds from windbreak tree rows.

“What we have in the county — in the east — is that grassland grows up next to the windbreaks, but the windbreak catches all the tumbleweed; therefore it’s a major hazard,” he said, “That’s just a heavy fuel load.”

A windbreak is typically marked by trees, usually evergreens, planted 10 feet apart and double rowed. Part of their purpose is to break the wind and keep it from doing more damage elsewhere — but if they’re not maintained and kept clear of dry debris, they can create a whole new liability.

Should a fire occur, citizens are encouraged to err on the side of safety.

“The first thing (witnesses) need to do is call the authorities and report it,” said Kube. “We have a lot of people that start burning things out in the county. There is no burn ban right now but the county has a fairly strict ordinance. People are supposed to call in if they’re going to burn anything. Fire departments are okay with responding to something like that even if it’s a controlled burn. It’s better to get somebody on the way and have them turn around if necessary.”

Property owners with livestock or pets are advised to consider their animals now before an emergency breaks out. They should be prepared to load livestock in trailers or pets in carriers, and keep water and food ready should they evacuate.

Apart from common-sense precautions, Kube said car owners should be aware of unexpected fire hazards from their vehicles. Catalytic converters underneath the vehicle get hot enough to ignite dry grass, so operators need to be wary of driving through tall grass or parking on the shoulder of the road. Chains left to drag can also create sparks.

Kube identified Melrose and Grady as high and moderate priorities, respectively, in the county’s wildfire protection plan. Yet any homes in grassland area can be considered high priority, he added, as well as city residences on larger lots with an abundance of native or dry grass.

Overall, Curry County’s wildfire danger is considered “very high” due to “lack of rain, low humidity, high winds and a heavy fuel load of dry grass and weeds,” said Kube.

Home assessments, planning materials, and more information are available for those interested. Inquiries may be sent to Kube at [email protected] or by phone at 575-763-6016, ext. 117.