Garden center displays fire-safe plants

Nevada's third annual Wildland Fire Awareness Week, May 17-24, is being held to promote awareness, understanding, and action concerning Nevada's wildland fire issues through a coordinated, multi-organizational effort, according to Janice Roberts of the Holbrook Fire Safe Chapter of the Nevada Fire Safe Council.

"This year, our goal is to build awareness concerning the threat of accidental fire starts from outdoor activities, such as off-road vehicle use, construction activities, unattended campfires, discarded lit cigarettes and matches, target shooting and others," Roberts said.

According to Roberts the Holbrook chapter and Carson Valley Garden & Ranch Center of Gardnerville are promoting the week with a display that will assist homeowners in choosing plants for Northern Nevada's high fire hazard areas.

"We all know that in Nevada, it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when wildfire will threaten our communities," said Ed Smith, natural resources specialist with University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, who is helping to spearhead the effort. "As Nevadans, we all need to work together and be proactive to reduce the threat of wildfire to our homes and neighborhoods."

Roberts pointed out that the wildfire threat is not the same to every home, but varies according to the characteristics of the fuel, weather, and topography.

"These three components of the fire environment determine the ease of fire ignition, speed and direction a fire will travel, and the intensity at which a fire will burn," she said.

For instance, a home located at the top of a steep, south-facing slope that is covered with dense sagebrush and dried grass on a dry, hot, windy day constitutes a high fire hazard. On the other hand, a home located on flat terrain, surrounded by a well-maintained and irrigated landscape on a cool, calm, humid day represents a much lower degree of wildfire threat.

"Since weather and topography cannot be altered, the only opportunity to reduce the fire hazard lies in changing the characteristics of the fuel," Roberts said. "Wildfire fuels include naturally occurring plants such as sagebrush, ornamental plants in the residential landscape, and wood building materials. Unlike roofs and other building materials, plants are not rated according to their fire resistance based on standardized laboratory tests."

There are many fire-retardant and fire-wise plants available to the homeowner.

Roberts urged residents to visit the display at Carson Valley Garden & Ranch Center.