Firewise project lowers risk for Bemidji homes

By Kelly Custer
Pioneer Staff Writer
<mailto:kcuster@bemidjipioneer.com> kcuster@bemidjipioneer.com

The Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District has identified Bemidji
areas most vulnerable to fire.

A federally funded grant - administered through the Department of Natural Resources state forester - will enable a fire assessment of 1,500 homes in the Bemidji Fire District.

The Firewise grant provides risk assessment of homes, distribution of educational materials, and a co-payment to help the highest-risk homes pay
for improvements.

 

Bemidji and 15 surrounding townships have suffered a major outbreak of jack
pine budworm, causing defoliation of jack pines: a major fire hazard.

On Thursday, Bemidji volunteer firefighters gathered at the Fire Hall for
some Firewise assessment training offered by Jerry Stensing of SWCD and
Charles Krysel of the DNR Forestry Division.

A wide swath of land and accompanying houses are at risk in the event of a
wildfire, Stensing said. "It's a nightmare waiting to happen."

The purpose of the Firewise project is to make homeowners in the jack pine
belt aware of potential fire risks around their homes.

The volunteer assessors have a 28-point checklist to determine whether a
home's risk is low, moderate, high or extreme.

The SWCD sent letters to homeowners in targeted areas in advance, notifying
them of the project. Assessors will be outfitted with ID badges and Firewise
educational materials. Homeowners will get a copy of their risk assessment
and suggested safety improvements.

Before spring, they hope to have 1,500 assessments completed, Stensing said.

One area of assessment includes 30 homes west of County Road 11 and north of
15th Street Southwest, including Thomas Road Southwest, Timberlane Way
Southwest and Towering Pines Court Southwest.

Stensing and Krysel's training dealt primarily with the "defensible space"
surrounding a home, radiating 30 feet from all sides.

"The risk assessment is to help homeowners understand to save your house
during a wildfire, you need to create a defensible space around your home,"
Stensing said.

Assessors are searching for hazards dealing with access to the site, the
site itself, any structures and finally fire-use practices, explained
Krysel.

Access hazards include a narrow driveway, a gated fence, poor signage or no
turnaround - all of which would make it difficult for firefighters to
respond to a wildfire.

Site hazards include pine and other evergreens within 30 feet of the house,
dense brush or shrubs under trees or woodpiles stacked too close to the
house.

Cedar shingles, wood siding, open soffits (the undersides of eaves) and
exposed foundations are some of the structure hazards, Krysel said.

Burn barrels or fire pits can also pose a problem on property. "Almost all
fires around here are started by people . and mostly by burning," he said.

Homes that are deemed high or extreme risk are eligible for a 50 percent
cost-share rebate, up to $450 per home, to lower their risk, Stensing said.

High or extreme risk homeowners will be provided with a list of contractors
who can perform whatever needs to be done to lower risk, whether tree
clearing or re-shingling a roof.

More information about the Firewise project and ways to protect homes is
available online at www.beltramiswdc.org and www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewise.