Program aims to lower risk of fire danger

SANDPOINT — While North Idaho was spared a particular harsh forest fire season, the rest of the country wasn’t so fortunate.

All around the nation, expansive wildfires have burned through 8.8 million acres of land, according to U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Pam Leschak. While this fire season has been particularly devastating on a large scale, that wasn’t the case from a regional perspective.

“Compared to the rest of the country, we’ve been very lucky here in North Idaho,” Idaho Panhandle National Forests spokesperson Jay Kirchner said, later adding, “Nationally, this has been one of the worst years in terms of acres burned.”

According to Kirchner’s data, there have only been just over 50 wildfires throughout the region — a fairly small number compared to other years. To put that number in greater perspective, forestry authorities only sent about 150 wildfire fighters, about half of available personnel, to handle regional threats at the height of demand. In addition, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality kept Bonner County’s air quality status at consistently acceptable levels.

“I attribute that to our residents taking responsibility for their actions,” Kirchner said. “They really saw the danger from the rest of the country and were careful with their campfires and that sort of thing.”

However, just because there weren’t as many local threats this year didn’t mean local forestry workers weren’t busy. North Idaho wildfire fighters traveled to all corners of the country this year in the effort to contain more serious threats.

“If you saw a major fire in the news, chances are one of our guys was out working on it,” Kirchner said.

The enormity of the national wildfire threat has prompted the U.S. Forest Service to present a educational campaign called Fire Adapted Communities. The campaign offers safety and prevention tips to fortify homes against the threat of wildfire. Authorities suggest creating a buffer zone around property using fire-resistant plants, shrubs and accessories, designing homes with materials that contain rather than spread fire, using noncombustible materials for roofing and exteriors and keeping roofs and gutters clean.

“It’s really important that people prepare themselves in their own backyards,” Leschak said.

Kirchner also cautioned local residents to maintain caution even as the temperature drops. The seasons might be changing, but the forests still contain plenty of dry material ready to flare up at a moment’s notice.

“Fire season isn’t over yet,” he said. “We still have extreme fire danger and need everyone to stay safe and responsible.”      

Information: www.fireadapted.org