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Thursday, July 03, 2008

Editorial: Residents Must Protect Homes



      Three major fires in the past seven months have the nerves of East Mountains residents a little frayed.
    The fires together left more than 40 square miles burned and destroyed nearly 70 homes.
    The latest, the Big Spring Fire, was sparked by lightning and fed by lots of fuel. In the end, fewer than 5,500 acres burned, thanks in part of the quick response of firefighters. But it was the weather that was to thank for the fire's halt. Cool temperatures, high humidity and a little bit of rain limited the fire to taking out six homes, instead of the whole village of Tajique.
    And while we all heave a collective sigh of relief, the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association is keeping our attention focused on fire.
    The association points out that fires have been focused south of Interstate 40 in the Manzano Mountains, but the Sandia Mountains also are at risk of catching fire. That they haven't is close to a miracle.
    And a fire in the Sandias would be much more devastating because of denser population.
    “Fire is a part of the ecology,” said Sandia District Ranger Cid Morgan.
    Morgan says 90 percent of the homes in the Sandia Mountains are not defensible. That means there are trees too close to structures and there's too much underbrush and other fuel close to homes.
    You can hear the frustration in the voices of fire officials when they talk about defensible space. Homes in the path of the Trigo Fire in May where the owners took precautions came through in relative safety.
    But fire preparedness meetings go unattended and few people take the steps to protect their property.
    As Smokey Bear says, “Only you can prevent wildfires.” Another maxim could be added:
    “Only you can prevent your home from going up in flames.”
   

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