10.0 Middlegate
10.1 Risk and Hazard Assessment
Middlegate is located in the southeastern corner of Churchill County at the junction of U.S. Highway 50 and State Route 361. Nine residences were included in the risk and hazard assessment. The hazard assessment classified Middlegate in the Moderate Hazard category (58 points). A summary of the factors that contributed to the hazard rating is included in Table 10-4. The primary factors that contributed to the rating were the lack of fire suppression and protection resources, lack of water resources, and the isolated location of the community.
10.1.1 Community Design
Middlegate is an intermix interface community. Most of the structures assessed were older mobile homes clustered behind the Middlegate Store and Cafe; however, there were a few structures scattered throughout the wildland area with no clear line of demarcation between wildland fuels and the residences.
- Roads: U.S. Highway 50 and SR 361 are the major transportation routes through Middlegate. Both roads are paved two-lane highways at least 24 feet in width. There were no secondary roads in the community.
- Signage: Street sign visibility and residential addresses were considered Not Applicable in Middlegate. All residences were easily visible and could be located in the event of a wildfire.
- Utilities: Electric utilities were all above ground. In general, power line right-of-ways were adequately maintained and pose only a low ignition risk to the community.
10.1.2 Construction Materials
All of the homes were built with combustible siding and roofing materials. Most of the homes in the interface area were older mobile homes, and the remaining residences were constructed of old, weathered, wood siding with highly weathered roofs. Flying embers from a wildfire could ignite these homes quickly.
Over half of the homes observed had unenclosed balconies, porches, decks, or other architectural features that could create drafts and provide areas where sparks and embers can smolder and rapidly spread fire if ignited.
10.1.3 Defensible Space
About half of the homes in the interface met the minimum defensible space to protect the home from damage or loss during a wildfire.
10.1.4 Suppression Capabilities
Wildfire Protection Resources
There is no organized fire suppression in Middlegate. The community receives fire protection from the Fallon/Churchill Volunteer Fire Department and the Fallon NAS Fire Department (by request). Additional resources are available through the Bureau of Land Management, dispatched from the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch, Minden, Nevada. For any of the fire protection agencies the response time to Middlegate is approximately thirty minutes up to ninety minutes depending upon resource availability. Tables 10-1 and 10-2 list the types of wildfire resources, cooperating partners and equipment available to Middlegate in the event of a reported wildland fire.
| Type of Equipment | Amount | Cooperating Partner |
|---|---|---|
| Water Tender (dump truck with slip-in tanks) | 2 | Cold Springs Nevada Department of Transportation Maintenance Station |
| Type 1 Engine Type 3 Engine Type 1 Water Tender (4,000 gal.) Command Officer |
6 2 3 1 |
Fallon/Churchill VFD |
| Type 1 Engine Type 3 Engine (1) Type 6 Engine Type 1 Water Tender |
1 1 1 1 |
Fallon Naval Air Station |
| (1) The Type 3 engine listed under the Fallon Naval Air Station was in a state of disrepair at the time of the assessment. | ||
| Type of Equipment | Amount of Equipment | Cooperating Partner (Resource Location) |
|---|---|---|
| Type 3 Engine Water Tender Incident Command Type 1 Air Tanker Air Attack |
1 1 1 1 1 |
The closest available Bureau of Land Management resources dispatched by the Sierra Interagency Dispatch Center in Minden, Nevada |
| Source: Personal Communication with Leonard Waking Fire Management Officer BLM Carson City Field Office, Steven Edgar Fire Mitigation and Education Specialist BLM Carson City Field Office, Ed Harris Equipment Manager Fallon/Churchill VFD, Stuart Cook Fire Management Officer Fallon Naval Air Station, and Phil Cammarata Maintenance Manager Nevada Department of Transportation. | ||
Water Sources and Infrastructure
There were no hydrants in Middlegate. Water availability for fire suppression in Middlegate includes the following drafting sources that may be used with landowner permission:
- Community well at Middlegate Store/Cafe.
- One windmill/stock tank 1/4 mile west of Middlegate.
- One irrigation pump at ranch 1/4 mile east of Middlegate.
Detection and Communication
Fires are reported in the Middlegate area through 911 calls to the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office in Fallon. Fires are communicated to fire response personnel through dispatch from the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office in Fallon.
BLM resources are dispatched by the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center in Minden, Nevada.
Community Preparedness
Middlegate has no organized community preparation in place for emergencies. Since all residents live in close proximity to one another, phone or word-of-mouth is the primary warning method.
10.1.5 Factors That Affect Fire Behavior
Middlegate is located in a valley with prevailing winds from the west and flat terrain with less than five percent slopes. Fuel density was light in the area surrounding the structures, estimated at less than -1/2 ton per acre. Fuels consisted primarily of sagebrush, greasewood, Indian ricegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, and cheatgrass, an invasive annual grass. The light fuels around Middlegate were considered a low fuel hazard at the time of the assessment; however, annual cheatgrass production could dramatically increase in years of high precipitation and would pose a moderate fuel hazard to the community.
10.1.6 Worst Case Wildfire Scenario
The worst-case scenario for Middlegate would be a dry lightning ignition with winds from the west driving the fire through the community. Given the combustible nature of the residences in Middlegate, the close spacing of all the residences, and the distance that fire protection and suppression resources would have to travel to respond to a call, the community could be consumed by a fire before resources could respond.
10.1.7 Ignition Risk Assessment
The risk assessment, taken into consideration along with a record of numerous historical dry lightning ignitions, resulted in a moderate ignition risk classification for Middlegate. The vegetation composition of sparse low brush and grass significantly reduces ignition risk and potential fire behavior; however, the risk of losing structures is moderate, given the combustible nature of the most common building materials. The primary ignition risk factor in Middlegate is lightning. In years of increased moisture and cheatgrass growth, the ignition risk would be higher due to increased fuel loading.
10.2 Risk and Hazard Reduction Recommendations, Roles, and Responsibilities
The Middlegate risk and hazard reduction recommendations focus on defensible space. The recommendations are detailed below and summarized in the Table 10-3.
10.2.1 Property Owner Responsibilities
Defensible Space Treatments
Density and type of fuel around a home determines the potential fire exposure levels to the home. The goal of defensible space is to reduce the chances of a wildfire spreading into adjacent property, igniting homes, and reducing the risk of loss from a wildfire. General guidelines for creating defensible space around residences and structures in the community are given below, and illustrated in the Defensible Space Guidelines in Appendix D. See also the Homeowner’s Annual Checklist in Appendix D for additional information.
- Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes according to the guidelines in Appendix D. This area should be kept:
- Lean: There are only small amounts of flammable vegetation.
- Clean: There is no accumulation of dead vegetation or other flammable debris.
- Green: Existing plants are healthy and green during the fire season.
- Maintain defensible space annually.
- Immediately dispose of cleared vegetation when implementing defensible space treatments. This material dries quickly and poses a fire hazard if left on site.
- Clear all vegetation and combustible materials around above ground fuel tanks for a minimum distance of ten feet.
- Abandoned trailers and structures should be removed or boarded up to prevent flying embers entering and igniting the structure.
- Where cheatgrass has become dominant within the defensible space area it should be mowed prior to seed set, or an application of a pre-emergent herbicide can be used. Mowing may need to be repeated the following year to ensure that the seed bank of unwanted grasses has been depleted. Refer to Appendix E for approved seed mixes and planting guidelines that can be used in conjunction with removal of this annual grass.
Fuel Reduction Treatments
- Coordinate with Bureau of Land Management to construct a minimum 100-foot wide greenstrip around the community (Figure 10-1). Seed the greenstrip area with fire-resistant and low growing perennial grasses and forbs suited to the climate and soils in Middlegate (Appendix E). Use the community pick-up/water truck to provide temporary irrigation of seeded greenstrips during the first complete growing season to assure seeding success. The goal of the greenstrip is to create an area of perennial, fire-resistant, vegetation with lower cheatgrass density than the surrounding areas. The proposed project is approximately 1.1 miles long and a minimum of thirteen acres in size.
10.2.2 Churchill County Responsibilities
Fire Suppression Resources
- Install a 5,000-gallon water tank for fire suppression water supplies at the NDOT Maintenance Station.
- Station a pick-up truck and a one-piece, slip-on, 100 to 200-gallon pump and tank unit with hose and hose reel in the community of Middlegate. This equipment, fitted properly for the size and weight limitations of the truck, can be used to provide initial attack of wildfires threatening the community.
10.2.3 Fallon/Churchill VFD Responsibilities
Fire Suppression Resources
- Coordinate with residents of Middlegate to help provide wildland fire training and pursue grant funding for a 100 to 200-gallon slip-on pump and tank unit and truck.
10.2.4 Bureau of Land Management Responsibilities
Fuel Reduction Treatments
- Coordinate with residents of Middlegate to construct a minimum 100-foot wide greenstrip around the community (Figure 10-1). Seed the greenstrip area with fire-resistant and low growing perennial grasses and forbs suited to the climate and soils in Middlegate (Appendix E). Use the community pick-up/water truck to provide temporary irrigation of seeded greenstrips during the first complete growing season to assure seeding success. The goal of the greenstrip is to create an area of perennial, fire-resistant, vegetation with lower cheatgrass density than the surrounding areas. The proposed project is approximately 1.1 miles long and a minimum of thirteen acres in size.
Fire Suppression Resources
- Identify a minimum of four people from the community of Middlegate and train them using the Basin Wildland Firefighter Training course.
Public Education
- Distribute copies of the publication “Living With Fire”. This publication is free of charge. Copies can be requested from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, (775) 784-4848.
10.3 Summary of Recommendations
| Responsible Party |
Recommended Treatment | Recommendation description |
|---|---|---|
| Property Owners | Defensible Space Treatments | Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes according to the guidelines in Appendix D. Maintain defensible space as needed to keep the space lean, clean, and green. Clean up flammable debris around the community. |
| Fuel Reduction Treatments | Coordinate with Bureau of Land Management to construct a minimum 100-foot wide greenstrip around the community (Figure 10-1). | |
| Churchill County | Fire Suppression Resources | Install a 5,000-gallon water tank for fire suppression water supplies at the NDOT Maintenance Station. Station a pick-up truck and a one-piece, slip-on, 100 to 200-gallon pump and tank unit with hose and hose reel in the community of Middlegate. |
| Fallon/Churchill VFD | Fire Suppression Resources | Coordinate with residents of Middlegate to help provide wildland fire training and pursue grant funding for a 100 to 200-gallon slip-on pump and tank unit and truck. |
| Bureau of Land Management | Fuel Reduction Treatments | Coordinate with residents of Middlegate to construct a minimum 100-foot wide greenstrip around the community (Figure 10-1). |
| Fire Suppression Resources | Identify a minimum of four people from the community of Middlegate and train them using the Basin Wildland Firefighter Training course. | |
| Public Education | Distribute copies of the publication “Living With Fire”. This publication is free of charge. Copies can be requested from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, (775) 784-4848. |
Figure 10-1Middlegate Fire History and Proposed Mitigation Project |
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Table 10-4Middlegate Wildfire Hazard Assessment Rating Summary |
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