Fuel Reduction and Defensible Space – Your Spring Checklist By Norma Kline from Summer 2019

Last summer’s stories of wildfires impacting communities and destroying homes throughout the west inspired many small woodland owners on the south coast to learn more about reducing fuels around their homes and woodlands.  Some woodland owners have already implemented defensible space strategies and are now in maintenance mode, if this is you, pat yourself on the back, and then check over the Spring Checklist (located at the end of this article). For others, creating the recommended defensible space might seem overwhelming or even impossible.  Like everything else, breaking a big project into smaller chunks and creating task lists will help make it more manageable.  Another important aspect to consider is that creating defensible space does not mean removing all the vegetation on your property.  Fire behavior research has given us a practical approach with defined distances, zones and actions. 

Defensible space is broken into three zones around your home. A simple way to start thinking about your next tasks is to step outside with a tape measure, measure out the zones and get a sense of the areas needing attention.  Zone 1 is your home (and any attachments such as decks or fences) plus 30 feet.  There is a good chance you have already accomplished some defensible space actions in this zone if you have a lawn, walkways, or driveway in this area.  This is the lean, clean and green area near your home.

Zone 2 starts at 30 feet and continues out 100- 200 feet depending on topography and the surrounding landscape.  For example, if your home sits above a slope maintaining a greater distance on the downhill side of your home is advisable as fire tends to travel rapidly uphill by pre-heating the vegetation in front of the flames.  Actions in Zone 2 involve removing accumulations of dead vegetation, thinning, pruning branches, and removing invasive plants like gorse, blackberry and Scotch broom (you always wanted to get rid of those anyway, right?).

Zone 3 continues out past 200 feet into your woodlands. Fuels reduction does not need to be as intensive as in Zones 1 and 2 and might include some strategic thinning, reducing ladder fuels, and slash management from logging. Refer to Keeping Your Home and Property Safe from Wildfire EM9184 for step by step actions and checklists for each zone.

https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/em9184.pdf

Now that you have a good idea of where the zones fall on your property, it might still seem like a big task; prioritize your work by zone and break it into work seasons will help.  Remember, some of the work will be more suitable in the winter and spring due to fire restrictions on chainsaw and motorized equipment. Also, approach any pile burning with caution, consult your local fire officials for restrictions and requirements. 

Here is your Spring Checklist (from page 12 of EM9184):

❏ Have leaves or pine needles accumulated on your roof, in gutters, on or under decks, or on the ground right next to your home? Time to get out the ladder, leaf blower, or rake!

❏ Have you moved firewood piles left over from winter at least 30 feet from your home? Cover them if possible.

❏ Have you replaced flammable groundcover near your home with fire-resistant landscaping?

❏ Have grasses and weeds grown up tall over the spring? Keep them mowed to 4 inches or less.

❏ Have weeds or grass grown up around electrical fences? Clear all flammable material away from the fence to prevent a ground fire from igniting.

❏ Is your line tester functioning on your electric fence? Help avoid a grass fire by inspecting the tester and all fence connections often for shorts in the line.

❏ Are flammable household items such as patio furniture pads, door mats, and mops sitting out on your deck or elsewhere near the home? Cover or move these items inside when your home is unattended or if a wildfire is near.

❏ Will you be prepared if a fire comes? Make sure you have a family emergency preparedness plan and emergency evacuation kit. Discuss home evacuation plans and routes with all family members. Include pets and livestock in the plan. Practice the plan with all family members.

Exploring Woodland Wildlife for Your Management Plan

By Norma Kline (from Spring 2020)

Small woodland owners in Oregon have many reasons for owning woodlands. Whether ownership objectives are driven primarily by economic goals or the desire for beauty, privacy and recreation, most of us value and appreciate our native wildlife. Did you know that the Oregon Forest Management Plan Template (see link below) has a Fish and Wildlife Section used to describe the different wildlife species and habitats that are present on your property and desired in the future? The first step in the Fish and Wildlife Section is to describe wildlife (or signs of wildlife) you currently observe on your property. Are you unsure what you have? This might become a wonderful way to explore your property and increase your knowledge and appreciation of your woodlands. Consider grabbing a pair of binoculars and scanning your treetops for migratory songbirds or carefully lift up a rotten log to see if you can find an amphibian living underneath. Another idea is to install a game camera in your woods in an area you suspect wildlife is frequenting, you might be surprised with what you see! Are you considering different types of wildlife? Don’t forget potential fish in streams, amphibians, migratory songbirds and bats. Remember, one of the benefits of developing a management plan is the process of learning about your forest and deciding what you want to do, it’s your plan!

Here are a few aspects to consider in your investigation

• Streams and Riparian areas. Do you have streams and riparian areas? Check out the new extension publication, EM 9244, Streams and Riparian Areas: Clean Water, Diverse Habitat here) here to help you learn more about this topic,
• Hardwoods and shrubs. Do you have hardwood and shrub vegetation cover on your property?  Oak woodlands, patches of alder, myrtle, tanoak or openings with shrubs provide habitat for many species including songbirds.
• Snags (dead trees) and down logs. Leaving a few dead trees on the landscape (away from homes and improvements) can benefit cavity dwelling bird and bats. Decaying logs are great habitat for amphibians and reptiles
• Tree density. Do you have areas on your property in dense conifer? If your management objective is economic, you might have a timber harvest planned soon, but if not, you might consider thinning your forest for tree health and diversity.

Additional reading and resources:

Watch great videos here about wildlife habitat in the Know Your Forest website:

To learn more check out the Oregon Forest Resource Institute series on Wildlife in Managed Forests here.  Titles include, Early Seral Associated Songbirds, Fisher and Humbolt Marten, American Beaver, Fish Habitat and Passage, Deer and Elk, stream-associated amphibians.

Thinning: An Important Timber Management Tool. William Emmingham. PNW 184 August 1983. PNW can be viewed here

Management Planning for Woodland Owners: A visual Guide, Amy Grotta, EM 9065 May 2014 can be viewed here.

The Oregon Forest Management Plan Template can be found here