21.0 CalNevAri
21.1 Risk and Hazard Assessment
CalNevAri is located in southern Clark County on Interstate 95, approximately ten miles south of Searchlight. Approximately 110 homes were observed in the CalNevAri community. The community hazard assessment resulted in classifying CalNevAri in the Low Hazard category (36 points). The rating is primarily attributed to good access, good defensible space, and non-combustible construction materials. Table 21-3 at the end of this section presents a summary of the fire hazard rating values for the community. See Figure 21-1 for a detail of the community boundary.
21.1.1 Community Design
The area surrounding the community of CalNevAri is a classic wildland-urban interface condition, with a clear line of demarcation between building structures and wildland fuels. Wildland vegetation typically does not continue into residential areas. Most lots are on parcels of less than one acre in size.
- Access: The primary road into CalNevAri is Interstate-95. The primary access road is paved and more than 24 feet wide. The road grade is less than five percent. There are several secondary roads and all roads are either loop roads or have adequate turnaround space for fire suppression equipment to maneuver.
- Signage: Street signs were visible on all but two of the roads in the community. Residential addresses were visible on over eighty percent of the homes in the community.
- Utilities: Utilities include overhead power lines and propane tanks. These utilities pose a low ignition risk due to the sparse fuels.
21.1.2 Construction Materials
All of the homes in the interface are built with non-combustible roofing materials, and approximately 98 percent of the homes have fire resistant siding materials.
Approximately fourteen percent of the homes assessed in the community have unenclosed balconies, porches, decks, or other architectural features that create drafts and provide areas where sparks and embers can be trapped, smolder, ignite, and rapidly spread fire to the home.
21.1.3 Defensible Space
Approximately 93 percent of the homes within the CalNevAri community meet the defensible space landscaping requirement to reduce the risk of property damage or loss of a home during a wildfire.
21.1.4 Suppression Capabilities
Wildfire Protection Resources
Clark County Rural Fire Station 84 in CalNevAri is a volunteer fire department. The fire station recently burned down and is in the process of being rebuilt. At the time that information was acquired for this report, the Clark County Rural Fire Department had supplied or replaced the equipment listed below. Clark County Rural Fire Station 75 in Searchlight and the Boulder City Fire Department provide additional fire protection for CalNevAri. Table 21-1 lists the types of wildfire resources, cooperating partners and equipment available to CalNevAri to respond to a reported wildland fire.
| Type of Resource | Amount of Equipment | Cooperating Partner (Resource Location) |
|---|---|---|
| Water Tender Type 1 Structure Engine Type 6 Quick Attack Engine ILS Rescue |
2 2 2 2 |
Clark County Rural Fire Station 84 (CalNevAri) Clark County Rural Fire Station 75 (Searchlight) |
| Type 3 Engine 4x4 Rescue/Squad |
1 | Boulder City Fire Department |
| Type 3 Brush Engine | 1 | Bureau of Land Management (Nearest available) |
| Type 3 Brush Engine | 1 | National Park Service (Boulder City) |
| Source: Steve McClintock, pers. comm., March 2004. | ||
Mutual aid can be requested from the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management through the Las Vegas Interagency Communications Center. The Nevada Division of Forestry also provides mutual aid dispatched from the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center in Minden, Nevada, which locates the nearest available fire suppression resource according to incident command and computer aided dispatch protocols. It is important to note that these resources can be assigned to other emergency incidents during the fire season.
Water Sources and Infrastructure
The community of CalNevAri has municipal fire hydrants for fire suppression.
Fire Protection Personnel Qualifications
The volunteer firefighters have a minimum of NFPA Firefighter I and II training and a limited number of volunteer firefighters have some wildland firefighting training (National Wildfire Coordinating Group 310-1).
Work Load
The CCFD station in Searchlight responded to 274 emergency medical calls and one wildland brush fire call in 2003.
Financial Support
Annual operating funds for the Clark County Fire Department comes from the County General Fund, which is generated through the collection of property taxes.
Community Preparedness
Clark County has an active Local Emergency Planning Committee and has adopted an all-risk, multi-agency emergency plan. The plan is reviewed annually and updated as needed.
21.1.5 Factors Affecting Fire Behavior
The vegetative fuel hazard in and around the CalNevAri community ranges from low to high. The high hazard areas are confined to the drainages around the community dominated by fourwing saltbush that is four to six feet tall. The majority of the interface area is characterized by sparse Mojave Desert Scrub including creosote bush and bursage with some annual grasses. Dense accumulation of Russian thistle were noted along roadways.
21.1.6 Fire Behavior Worst-case Scenario
The worst-case scenario would be a wind driven fire southwest of town pushing the fire northeast into the south and west side of the community along the dry wash. Structures in the southwest part of the community with poor defensible space could be ignited by a wind driven fire.
21.1.7 Ignition Risk Assessment
CalNevAri has a low ignition risk rating. There is no history of large wildfires or ignitions in the area around CalNevAri.
21.2 Risk and Hazard Reduction Recommendations
Primary recommendations for CalNevAri are defensible space and a fuel break along the south and west perimeter of the community. Due to the remote location and the limited fire resources in the area, defensible space is this community’s best line of defense from a wildland fire.
21.2.1 Defensible Space Treatments
Defensible space treatments are an essential first line of defense for residential structures. The goal of the treatments is to significantly reduce or remove flammable vegetation within a prescribed distance from structures. (Refer to Appendix E for the recommended defensible space area). Defensible space reduces the fire intensity and improves firefighter and homeowner chances for successfully defending a structure against oncoming wildfire.
Property Owners
- Remove debris and flammable materials from within the defensible space area.
- Immediately dispose of cleared vegetation when implementing defensible space treatments. This material dries quickly and poses a fire risk if left on site.
- Maintain thisdefensible space as needed to keep the space lean, clean, and green.
- Maintain the areas underneath decks, porches, etc. free of weeds and other flammable debris to prevent sparks lodging, smoldering, and spreading fire to the home.
- Clear vegetation and combustible materials around propane tanks for a minimum of ten feet.
- Ensure that residential addresses are visible from the road. Address characters should be at least four inches high, reflective, and posted where the road and driveway meet. Improving visibility of addresses will make it easier for those unfamiliar with the area to navigate during a wildland fire.
21.2.2 Fuel Reduction Treatments
Clark County
- Clear brush and weeds within twenty feet of the pavement along both sides of road right-of-ways.
Bureau of Land Management
- Create a 100-foot wide fuel break along the south and west perimeter line of the community as illustrated by Figure 21-1. Shrubs should be thinned to a spacing equal to twice their height. Remaining shrubs should be trimmed to a maximum height of three feet.
21.2.3 Fire Suppression Resources
Clark County Fire Department CalNevAri Station
- Provide all firefighters with basic wildland fire training and equipment as described in the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification System Guide (PMS 310-1). Provide annual wildland firefighting refresher training and fire shelter training.
21.2.4 Public Education
Clark County Fire Department CalNevAri Station
- Distribute copies of the publication “Living With Fire” to all property owners. This publication is free of charge. Copies can be requested from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.
21.3 Summary of Recommendations
| Involved Party | Recommended Treatment | Recommendation Description |
|---|---|---|
| Property Owners |
Defensible Space | Maintain defensible space around residences and outbuildings as needed to keep the space lean, clean, and green. Ensure that addresses are visible from the road. |
| Clark County Fire Department | Fire Suppression Resources | Provide all firefighters with basic wildland fire training and equipment. |
| Public Education | Distribute copies of the publication “Living With Fire” to all property owners. | |
| Clark County | Fuels Reduction | Clear vegetation along county roads for a width of twenty feet on both sides of the pavement. |
| BLM | Fuels Reduction | Create a 100-foot wide fuelbreak along the south and west perimeter line of the community as shown in Figure 21-1. |
Table 21-3. CalNevAri Wildfire Hazard Rating Summary |
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Figure 21-1 CalNevAri Suppression Resources, and Proposed Mitigation Projects |
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