04/17/2024
Here is a summary of the Wildland Fire Community Preparedness meeting, held yesterday. Notes taken and prepared by Sandy Beder-Miller.
Emergency Response Community Meeting
Yaak Community Hall
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 6 pm
Code Red System was tested at 5:24pm. If community members had signed up for this system, they would have received an email or automated phone call. The Upper Yaak Fire Department sounded their siren alarm at 5:30. The siren could not be heard inside the home. Some residents did not have their phone ring, but a message went straight to voice mail. This appears to be a problem if the resident has a Voice Over Internet phone system in their home.
Remarks from Craig Johnson: It is at least 90 minutes until help arrives through mutual aid (other local fire departments, Forest Service) during an emergency. You are responsible for making your property defensible in case of wildfire. That means reducing fuels close to your house. Upper Yaak fire will not defend any one structure and will not ask you to evacuate. That request will come from the Sheriff’s department. According to Lincoln County Forester, Jennifer Nelson, you should not have vegetation within 5ft around your home. Trees should be 30 ft away from your home. Trees should have a 10-foot crown spacing. Upper Yaak Fire has limited equipment that is very old, so homeowners need to take a very active role in protecting their home from wildfire.
Remarks from Sam Martin, Forest Service Three Rivers District Ranger: Local Forest conditions are warmer and dryer. Our local snowpack is at 72%. There are 39 employees in the Troy office. Their fire mission does not include structure protection, only putting out wildland fires. A question was asked about the Black Ram and Knotty Pine thinning Projects. The Black Ram has been stopped by a Judge in Missoula and will need to go through the courts again. This project would have greatly reduced the fuels to help protect the Yaak from fire. The Knotty Pine Project is down near McCormick. This area has lots of WUI (wildland, urban interface). There is an injunction to stop this project and we are waiting for the court to hear the merits of the case. There is a third project called the “Pleasant Pheasant” which is between the Black Ram and Knotty Pine projects. This 3000-acre area is a mix of Stimpson land, Forest Service, and private land.
Remarks from Jennifer Nelson, Lincoln County Forester: Jennifer presented the results of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) which was updated in 2023. Lincoln County is divided into 5 geographic areas. Our Yaak area is quite large and covers an area from Troy (Kootenai Vista), McCormick, and the Upper Yaak. Our area has a very large WUI. The plan can be viewed on-line https://dnrc.mt.gov/Forestry/Community-Local-Government/CWPP_Final_04_21_23-signed1.pdf. The plan describes the wildfire danger in our area based on factors, such as vegetation density, Number of homes, infrastructure. Jennifer encouraged homeowners to have an assessment done on their property to evaluate how fire ready they are. Upper Yaak Firefighters will be trained to perform these assessments.
Remarks from Boyd White, Lincoln County Emergency Services: Boyd is new to the job after years working in the Sheriff’s Department. His advice “Prepare NOW!!!!” and sign up for “CODE RED” Alerts. https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BFD8675274C8 Figure out what you need to do if you are asked to leave your home. This includes making arrangements for livestock, gathering important documents, etc. You will usually receive advanced warning. This is a pre-evacuation warning, and you should start parking. Deputies will come door to door and please be polite and cooperative when they knock on your door. If you are asked to evacuate, you may not return to your home until the Sheriff’s department allows. It is important to leave a contact number when you are away from home, so the Sheriff can contact you. The Sheriff’s department will patrol the evacuated area to be sure there is no looting or damage to the evacuated properties. They will also set up security checkpoints in the evacuated area.
