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1. There is no doubt that defensible space was one reason why all the homes survived the fire. Both homes that were directly in the line of the fire had mowed grass, minimal brush, and either gravel or dirt fire breaks around the perimeter of the structures. As one of the residents whose home was saved said, “We’ve worked over the course of 20 years to prepare for this day, and what turned out to be the most effective thing on Thursday was a swath of bare dirt around the perimeter of our property that we scraped out and keep maintained every summer. The fire just stopped right there."
2. Fire season is not over. There are a lot more hot, dry days to come. I’ve seen a several loads of firewood being hauled up the roads over the past couple of weeks. Please remember to store that wood well away from any structures—don’t put “gasoline” on your decks. Be extra careful with any tools that could generate sparks. Extinguish cigarettes/cigars in a safe container. (Tell that to your guests and contractors too.) Most of all, be vigilant. There is a burn ban on right now. If you see campfires at the swimming hole, call Boise County Sheriff and report it. If you see or smell smoke, call Boise County Sheriff. If you see flames, call 911. We have got to look out for one another.
3.  It’s not too late to get Firewise. If you don’t know what defensible space is all about, or you don’t know how to get started in creating it, you can call Carrie Wiss (384-1572) for a home evaluation, review the materials on the Fire Prevention page of this Web site, or visit the Idaho Firewise Web site (www.idfirewise.org) and read all the Homeowner Information pages there. It doesn’t happen over night, but every action you take brings you closer to having a home that could survive a wildfire.
4. It can happen to any of us. I spend a lot of time nagging all of you about creating defensible space. Well, I have a confession to make. The Firewise Lady’s house was not prepared this year, and my husband and I could have lost our beloved animals and our home because of that. We have wooden construction materials on our deck and stacked against the house. We’ve been so busy with said construction and other life events that we never cut the tall grasses in our yard. The place is a fire waiting to happen, and it got that way without my even noticing. So I have a newfound respect for all of you who tell me you can’t find the time/energy/resources to create defensible space. But you know what? We still have to do it. Another quote from a resident whose home was saved: “Each of us takes on the responsibility of protecting our homes from wildfire when we move up here. It is not reasonable to expect resources to be allocated to protect homes that have little or no chance of surviving a fire because the owners have not taken any preventive measures.”
5. Can I borrow someone's weed wacker?