WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

By Shane Kiefer, CWB®, Senior Wildlife Biologist

With over $500 million in losses,the 2011 wildfire season was the most expensive in Texas history, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. The Bastrop Fire alone was more destructive than any single year in history with $325 million in losses. In the past year, wildfires statewide have destroyed nearly 4 million acres and more than 2,900 homes, killing 10 people.

You have probably heard many of these statistics before. While they are scary, it might seem difficult to determine how you, as a landowner, can have any impact. The natural inclination is to go out and do big things that you hope will solve the problem or protect you. The problem is that big things are not always the right choice.

When it comes to ecological issues one of my favorite mantras is: "The quicker the fix, the higher the risk, and the greater the cost."

The good news regarding wildfires is that they are really only a problem when they threaten our property or lives. Fire is an important part of the ecology of our state. We cannot, and should not, rid the landscape of fire. That policy was tested in the western U.S. in the 20th century and resulted in catastrophic fires including the famous Yellowstone Fires of 1988. What we should do is address fires at the point where they threaten property and lives: the wildland/urban interface. This term includes any area where human habitat (houses, barns, etc.) meet wildlife habitat, so it is not limited to those sprawling suburbs with greenbelts.

The place where that fire threatens your house, barn, livestock, or life is where your action needs to occur. More good news: that area is relatively small. This makes it easy to create what should be the focus of any rural landowner: defensible space. Defensible space is an area around a structure that is managed to reduce the threat of wildfire reaching the structure and one that can be protected in the event it is threatened by wildfire. This space does not have to be large. Even if you went to an extreme of 200 feet from your house, that's only 3 acres that needs management. Compare the cost of that to the cost of managing 300, 3,000, or 30,000 acres of the landscape.

How should this space be managed? That depends on each particular situation including vegetation, topography, surrounding landscape, etc. Plateau has Texas Forest Service certified "Citizen Wildlife Ecology Specialists" on staff to help you identify your particular risk level and to help you mitigate your risk in the event you are ever threatened by fire. Many of the steps to reduce your risk are inexpensive and simple to do. While nothing can guarantee protection from fire, you can reduce your risk and increase the chances your home will survive. And with the right advice, it is a whole lot easier than you might think.

With over $500 million in losses,the 2011 wildfire season was the most expensive in Texas history, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. Photo: Texas Forest Service.