Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
A Return to Tradition
Narrator: “Fire has been one of nature’s most important forces throughout human history.
It is a force that can bring harm, destruction, and loss of life and property. However, when
harnessed and used responsibly, fire has brought us the ability to secure energy sources for
heating and lighting, power for machinery in industry and homes, and above all utilizing
fire has brought mankind the ability to manage their natural world.
A Return to Tradition”
Sheldon: “I’m Sheldon Sankey, Fuels Technician with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Eastern
Oklahoma Regional Office. The goal of this video is to promote the pre-historical use
of fire while introducing local fire ecology as well as the contemporary fire use of Native
Americans. Our focus is to introduce you to the concept of a “fire adapted community”.
A fire-adapted community is a community that understands fire is part of our natural world,
and together, takes steps to reduce the risk to their homes and property before a wildfire
occurs. “
Narrator: “Modern use of fire through prescribed burns such as those conducted by the Bureau
of Indian Affairs fire management teams provides a return to tradition for many tribal lands
throughout Oklahoma. Oklahoma is often at risk for wild fires ten months out of the
year. Prescribed burns benefit these tribal lands and communities by reducing risk to
communities, restoring and maintaining healthy ecosystems, removing dense vegetation accumulations
that can fuel explosive wildfires, and protecting our cultural and natural resources. For example,
the removal of the invasive eastern red cedar from prairies, pastures, and forest helps
to restore the function of these ecosystems as well as reduces the hazard as a potential
fuel for wildfires. Methods to reduce the hazardous fuels include hand thinning with
chainsaws or heavy equipment. Mechanical treatments are most often used in areas where
fire has been excluded for long periods of time. Once the heavy accumulation of fuels
is reduced a prescribed burn will follow. Burning decreases potential damage from wildfires.
As a homeowner, business, or school in fire prone location or high-risk area, you have
the opportunity and responsibility to take part in implementing the same type of practices
through becoming fire adapted. “
Sheldon: “In our pre-historical use of fire, the landscape was less settled. Native villages
and towns were naturally fire resistant, and fire was allowed to burn over large areas
without concern. Today, cities are becoming larger including a growth in urban zones.
This zone, called the wild land urban interface, is where fire comes into conflict with people.
In addition to urbanization droughts are becoming more frequent and intense. Their impact makes
wild land fuels extremely dry, causing fuels to behave explosively in a wildfire. With
extreme wild fire events on national news, it’s easy to understand the public perception
regarding fire as bad and as something to be feared. However, fire has many benefits.
“
Narrator: “An important aspect of fire ecology is the understanding that some ecosystems
require fire to maintain a natural balance with nature. Several species of plants require
fire for germination, reproduction, and to become established. Everything from animals
to the plants and trees, and soil in these ecosystems are affected, dependent upon, and
are linked to fire. Removing all fire in fire adapted ecosystems can lead to eliminating
plant species such as those used for traditional healing and cultural medicinal purposes. Full
suppression can also eliminate plants that animals depend on, taking away a cultural
and traditional food source for some. Continued suppression will eventually cause the build
up of debris leading to larger more destructive forest and wild land fires that can ultimately
affect you and your property. “
Sheldon: “It is important to maintain your land and establish protection zones around
your home. Remember that we live as a community, so anything that risk your property increases
your neighbors risk. The most important goal of a fire adapted landscape is to decrease
a fires fuel source that is connected on, to, or around your home. To establish defensive
landscaping, create a map of your home and place it into these three zones. Zone one
includes a perimeter of at least 5 feet out from each side of your home.
The focus for this zone is to reduce the potential for flames to come into direct contact with
the home.”
Narrator: “The following are things to consider when selecting fire resistant vegetation next
to your home in zone 1. Select plants that are lean, clean and green meaning that they
exhibit these characteristics:
a. Moist and adaptable leaves, use plants with a high moisture content
b. Plants that leave little to no dead material accumulating around or within the plant
c. Look for deciduous trees and shrubs that have a low sap or resin material or have water
like sap with little to no odor. d. Green stem plants as well as drought tolerant
plants e. Low growing plants, avoid low growing conifers.”
Sheldon: “Keep in mind that fire resistant plants are not fire proof, but they do have
a higher tolerance and decreased ability to ignite and serve as a fuel source.”
Narrator: “Within zone 1, keep plants well pruned and thinned out, as well as irrigated.
Keep lawns mowed low and weed eat tall grasses around your home. If you have overhanging
trees within the 5 feet zone of your home, prune the branches overhead and cut branches
6 to 10 feet up from the ground as well as removing leaf clutter. Use just enough mulch
to keep the weeds suppressed and the soil damp. In a drought, excessively deep mulch
can cause fire to smolder and complicate suppression efforts. Use hard landscape items for fuel
breaks such as paver stones, rock retainers, and concrete walk ways and driveways to minimize
continuous fuels in this zone and to give added protection.”
Sheldon: “Zone 1 also includes several areas connected to the outside structure of your
home. Research has shown that most homes burn in wildfires after the front has passed. Occasionally,
homes will burn well in advance of the flaming front. In both cases, it is usually wind blown
embers that carry the ignition right into the home. “
Narrator: “Porches, floors, attic and eave openings should be screened off as well as
crawl spaces and ground vents with a wire mesh screen. Burning embers can travel as
far as a mile ahead of a wild fire, posing great risk to these areas if not protected.
Keeping roofs and rain gutters free of debris as well as utilizing a low combustible roofing
material such as Class A shingles, terra cotta, or metal will help decrease ignition. Any
exposed wood surfaces exposed should be properly treated.
Fire resistant construction including brick, cement, concrete, stucco and plaster can resist
heat and flame. Windows that are tempered and double paned also help protect your home
against heat and flame during a wild fire. Maintain any attached structures on your home
such as decking or fencing as they are also combustible. Some communities have taken proactive
measures in fire codes by not allowing wood fences to connect to homes. “
Sheldon: “Zone two can begin 5 feet to 30 feet out from your homes perimeter. The goal
in this zone is to maintain landscaping so that fire is only able to consume light amounts
of surface fuels.”
Narrator: “Trees and shrubs in this perimeter of your property should be spaced adequately
enough so that if introduced to flame or ignition, the flames cannot easily jump from one tree
or shrub to the next. Maintaining this zone is important. Ladder fuels, which are vines,
shrubs, and other growth upwards or under a tree trunk, should be avoided and removed.
This prevents a surface fire from climbing up the tree towards branches and leaves preventing
increasing flame size and intensity.
Prune trees in this area 6 to 10 feet up from the ground level, or a better rule of thumb
is to keep trees pruned 1/3rd of its height. The layout of shrubs, vegetation, and trees
in this zone should be made in a manner that if ignited by embers, the resulting flame
or heat will not touch your home’s exterior surface and will not be a threat. If you have
firewood at or near your home, this zone is a good place to store this combustible fuel
source. Firewood should be stored off the ground, and at least 30 feet away from the
home. Remember to keep this area around wood storage piles, or any other structures such
as sheds, clean and clear of debris and leaf litter.
Keep lawns irrigated. Also, keep weeds mowed and grass cut low in this zone to help create
another barrier for rapidly spreading fires. “
Sheldon: “The first line of defense during a wildfire is to work and maintain extended
property boundaries from 30 feet of your home’s perimeter outwards. The goal is to reduce
both the speed and the energy of an approaching wildfire before it reaches your home. “
Narrator: “Vegetation in this zone is furthest from the home structure and blends into the
natural area. Take steps to clear brush and thin the trees in this area so that fire is
forced down towards the ground, resulting in progressively smaller flames. Vegetation
in this area can be mechanically removed with a chainsaw or small tractor. Once the trees
and brush are cut, they should be piled in small piles and burned or chipped. A permit
may be needed to burn brush piles or small controlled burns on your land. Your local
fire department may be able to assist with controlled burns. If possible, maintain a
10-15 ft wide strip or path around the outside of zone three. This strip serves as a fuel
break for wildfires approaching the home. It can be planted with cool, seasonal grasses
for winter fire protection, and can be disked or tilled during periods of very high or extreme
danger. Consider returning to tradition by safely using fire to promote the historical
ecology. Managed landscapes and forest provide some of the best defenses against wildfires,
and they help your community become more fire adapted.”
Sheldon: “Our Native Ancestors worked together as a community when a threat approached. Today,
we are tasked with working together to develop adequate fire suppression resources through
these actions…promote fire safe landscaping and building materials, establish codes and
ordinances, reduce hazardous fuels in common or public areas, designate evacuation routes
and safety zones, and develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. A disaster plan
is best planned before the actual fire occurs as time is precious and a good disaster plan
and emergency access procedures can save lives.”
Narrator: “As an individual you’ll need to take on the responsibility to develop a
disaster plan. It starts by knowing your area, the evacuation routes, and discussing what
actions you will take with family, neighbors, and your community. Have more than one evacuation
route if possible. Having emergency supplies such as shovels, rakes, axes, chainsaws, a
water supply and source in an evacuation situation is important. Practicing family/neighborhood
fire drills will help your area succeed in saving time and lives.
To protect your family and home in case of a wild fire in your area, close all the entrances
to your home including the garage and windows to prevent interior flammables from igniting.
Dress for protection by wearing cotton/wool clothing including long pants and shirts as
well as by wearing gloves, and face protection. If you use natural gas or propane, turn it
off at the meter or source. If time allows, wet your roof and immediate area around your
home with water. Remember to obey all rules of fire personnel in the area and never drive
into a grass or wild land fire scene.
Work together with your community and individually to insure that there are clearly marked legible
street names, street signs, and home numbers for emergency responders. If possible try
to provide at least a 12-foot wide driveway with a 15-foot vertical clearance for emergency
vehicles.”
Sheldon: “Fire adapted communities take time, effort, and maintenance from everyone
in your area. Understanding the information in this video will help create a safe, aware,
and protected community. More importantly, fire-adapted communities can save property
and lives in the long run. Do your part by being prepared and becoming fire adapted.
It all begins with you.”
Narrator: “For further information please visit the following websites, your local fire
departments, and your local forestry departments.”