But Why?
Justifying the Idea of an Applegate Fire Plan

Why do we need this project? Why do we want another fire plan? In a nutshell, people don't like to have their loved ones, homes, livestock, or property burned up in a wildfire. Despite these concerns, however, the potential for a catastrophic fire that will result in these effects is dramatically increasing in the Applegate because of increasing human-caused wildfire ignitions, increased vegetation density (fuel for fire), and greater numbers of people and homes. To lower the risk and hazard of wildfire - to prevent catastrophic fire - we need an effective, coordinated effort by all neighbors.

Primarily, we have a significant opportunity to address four aspects of this problem: human-caused wildfires, hazardous fuels, access for fire suppression, and emergency communications. As indicated below, each of these plays a role in the overall problem.

(1) People start the majority of the wildfires occurring within the Applegate watershed. Reducing the number of such ignitions will reduce the potential for a catastrophic wildfire.

(2) Years of successful fire suppression have resulted in thousands upon thousands of acres of overly dense brush and forest areas that are 'ripe' to burn if an ignition occurs. In many of these areas, a wildfire would be difficult or impossible to stop under extreme conditions.

(3) Hundreds of homes have been built in the rural interface. Many have narrow or steep access roads or driveways with dense encroaching or overhanging vegetation, inadequate clearances for fire engines, and a lack of suitable turnaround sites. Many homes are located in densely vegetated areas with such vegetation literally coming up to the front door. In a wildfire situation, most fire fighters would be reluctant to drive up such roads with a fire engine or attempt to save such a home for fear of being overrun by the wildfire. Their efforts to save a home are often futile if the landowner has not provided space for them to work safely. Lost homes and lives (of residents, fire fighters, pets, or livestock) could be the result.

(4) Finally, many homes have been built in areas with no capacity for alternative electronic communication, particularly if power were interrupted in an emergency. Nevertheless, at such times only an established process of good communication will allow us to participate in sharing vital information.

Because of the large number of individuals and organizations that own or manage land within this watershed, cooperation and coordination of individual efforts addressing one or more of these problems are essential. With cooperation, coordination, and sharing of information, individual and group efforts to reduce the potential for a catastrophic wildfire can be significantly more effective.

In order to accomplish this, a 'road map' - a strategic Applegate Fire Plan - is necessary. Such a document will identify both broad-scale and site-specific goals and objectives, identify areas with similar levels of risk of catastrophic fire, describe techniques and tools available to help resolve these issues, and identify resources that can provide advice or financial or technical assistance. It will provide the information, guidance, and coordination necessary to ensure that our efforts to reduce the potential for a catastrophic fire within this watershed are successful.