Oct. 10—Local officials are seeking a grant that provides resources to help communities protect against wildfires.
Together with the Kansas Forest Service, the Riley County Emergency Management and Fire Department applied for a Community Fire Defense Grant.
“That protection plan is a guide for public entities and citizens on practices, techniques, things to keep in mind on how to prepare for or protect your property for a wildfire,” said Russel Stukey, Riley County emergency management director.
Wildfires can happen anytime in the year, but Stukey said April is the fire department’s busiest month for fires. It depends on how much precipitation there has been because wood and brush is more flammable when dry.
“When we’re getting plenty of rain and everything is moist and green and growing good, it’s not as likely to burn,” Stukey said. “But it’s when we get into dry times like we are now, we haven’t had rain for a while, things are getting pretty dry, it’s more likely.”
Stukey said evergreen trees and shrubs are more prone to catching on fire than deciduous trees because of their natural oils. Part of protecting a home against wildfire involves creating a defensible space by clearing flammable debris and vegetation 30 feet from the house.
“The other reason to write this plan is that it’s a prerequisite to apply for CWDG,” Stukey said. “Those are grants that we can apply for to do some of the work.”
Funding from this grant would go toward implementing efficient wildfire management responses, developing fire resilient landscapes and preparing the infrastructure.
The grant will enable the county to hire contractors to cut back any overgrown branches that are hanging over the side of the road, to make the road more accessible for fire trucks or evacuation routes.
“Whether it’s people trying to evacuate out along those roads or firetrucks trying to get in to fight the fire, we have a safety path to get to,” Stukey said.
Stukey said citizens can do their part in protecting their homes from wildfires by cleaning and maintaining their yards, trimming the grasses, raking dead leaves away from the houses and cutting the lower branches of evergreen trees on the premises.
“A well-maintained lawn is good defensible space,” Stukey said. “It’s when people want a lot of shrubbery right up to their houses, especially the evergreen trees. The deciduous trees aren’t quite as bad. It’s those evergreen trees that make a good wind breaks but you want to make sure that windbreak is at least 100 feet away, preferably more, away from the house.”
Stukey also advises maintaining driveways for firetruck accessibility and keeping wood chips on flowerbeds near homes wet so they are less likely to catch a spark or ember. Other more costly prevention methods include installing metal roofing and stone siding, especially in building homes in the rural areas.
People can dispose of their yard waste like wood and leaves free of charge at the Riley County transfer station, 1881 Henton Road.
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