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Wildand Urban Interface
 Today's
fire environment is changing. As more and more people move into
and near wildland areas, the risk of wildland fire increases. That
area where homes meet the wildlands is called the wildland urban
interface or WUI. Fires can start on either private land and move
onto forested lands or move from the forested areas to homes. This
bi-directional movement creates complexities and difficulties for
firefighters. Wildland firefighters are trained to fight wildland
fires. Their focus is on protecting the natural resources. They
do not carry the appropriate equipment nor are they trained to fight
structural fires. Structural firefighters are not trained to fight
wildfires nor are they equipped with the specialized equipment wildland
firefighters use. Structural firefighters focus on the immediate
structure burning. When homes ignite in the WUI, attentions are
diverted from the wildlands to saving structures and lives. The
role of Federal agencies in the wildland/urban interface includes
wildland fire fighting, hazard fuels reduction, cooperative prevention
and education and technical assistance. Structural fire protection
in the wildland/urban interface is the responsibility of Tribal,
State and local governments.
 There
are some things you, as a homeowner, can do to learn to live safely
in the fire environment of the Southwest. Although these recommendations
are no guarantee from the threat of wildfire, you may make your
home and property less susceptible to damage and loss and live more
safely in the fire environment of the Southwest. Listed below are
some simple precautions.
TO CREATE A DEFENSIBLE SPACE:
- Keep annual dry grass and brush removed from a radius of at
least 100 feet around structures. Remove dead and dying vegetation.
- Move woodpiles away to a cleared area 30 feet from structures.
- Clear down to dirt 10 feet around propane tanks.
- Remove combustible materials from under decks, stairs and eaves.
- Clear debris (pine needles, leaves) from roof tops and gutters.
Clear overhanging limbs 10' from the roof and chimney.
- Provide clear access to your home and make sure your home is
clearly marked so that fire service agencies can respond quickly.
- Trim trees from the ground up 6' - 10' and space trees 10' apart.
- If you have a continuous covering of pinyon/juniper or other
shrubs, consider creating islands of vegetation so that there
is a clearing between the vegetation. A good rule of thumb is
to measure the height of the shrub, double it and keep the horizontal
arrangement that distance from shrub grouping to shrub grouping.
- Fire resistant plants are good choices for replacing weeded
areas. Check with your local New Mexico Cooperative Extension
Service or nursery for plant choices.
- If shake shingles are present on a structure consider replacement
or have them treated with a fire retardant.
The roof and eaves are the most vulnerable
part of your home. Hot embers can travel miles ahead of the main fire
and move from roof top to roof top. This has been evidenced on fires
from the East coast to the West coast. One of the more notable fires,
the EAST BAY FIRE IN THE OAKLAND-BERKELEY HILLS in California in October
1991, ignited one building every 11 seconds for 10 hours that it burned.
Firefighters were overwhelmed by the firestorm conditions in the wildland
urban interface. Although this is a California example, homes have
been lost to wildfires in both New Mexico and Arizona.
If you live in or near the wildland,
you may want to visit the www.firewise.org website. This site will
provide you with the information and fire prevention methods which,
when implemented, can reduce the likelihood of property losses from
a wildland fire.
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