It's been almost two years since a small wildland fire exploded into what would become the Little Bear Fire that would ravage more than 280 structures and become the most destructive blaze in the history of New Mexico.
Since then there have been meetings of various groups and agencies as well as a series of presentations on how best we can protect our communities in Lincoln County.
We want to congratulate the residents of the Black Forest subdivision in the Upper Canyon for taking the initiative to make their neighborhood "Firewise." While Ruidoso has been recognized as a Firwise community, individual neighborhoods should be taking steps to make sure their homes can be better defended from wildland fire.
Since 2002, the Firewise program grew from 12 pilot sites to more than 850 communities in 41 states. The local investment in Firewise activity exceeds $77 million since 2003, according to literature from Firewise Communities USA. The program capitalizes on community spirit, resolve and property owners' willingness to take on the responsibility for wildlife ignition potential. A flexible template is provided for subdivision and towns to improve their wildfire readiness.
The process tends to increase a sense of community and safety, with neighbors working together using advice from fire forestry staff. Motivations for continuing include predictions of potential fire risk and recent fires in the area, something to which Ruidoso residents can relate with the White Fire, the Donaldson Fire and the Little Bear Fire all within a three-year period.
Firewise homes and communities allow firefighters to concentrate on fighting the wildfire, which ultimately saves more homes and lives, according to the pamphlet. Within wildland urban interfaces such as Ruidoso, firefighters lack the resources to defend every home that is threatened during extreme wildfires. But those communities whose residents take steps to reduce their vulnerability have a greater chance of surviving a wildfire. Recognized Firewise Communities USA sites may be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation grants.
Steps recommended to create defensible space include clearing gutters of leaves and debris, creating a three-foot, fire-free area on all sides of a structure, clearing any build-up of pine needles and leaves from the base of a house and any connecting structures that could ignite the homes's siding, trim limbs on trees hanging over the house, and those lower than 10 feet from the ground.
Perhaps the Black Forest subdivision can serve as a model for other area neighborhoods in promoting Firewise concepts and defensible space recommendations.
We live in wildland and not all fires are preventable. Doing some prevention up front, however, could spare heart ache later.