31.0 Overton
31.1 Risk and Hazard Assessment
Overton is located in northeast Clark County on State Route 169 approximately eleven miles south of the intersection with Interstate 15. There are approximately 200 homes in the Overton area. The community hazard assessment resulted in classifying Overton in the Low Hazard category (36 points). The low rating is primarily attributed to sparse fuels, good access, adequate defensible space, and fire resistant building materials. A summary of the conditions that contributed to the hazard rating for Overton is included in Table 31-3 at the end of this section. The Overton community boundary is shown in Figure 31-1.
31.1.1 Community Design
The area surrounding Overton 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 the developed areas. Almost all homes were on lots of less than one acre in size; approximately ten percent were on parcels between one and ten acres in size.
- Access: Overton is accessed via State Route 169, a paved two-lane road greater than 24 feet in width. Secondary roads provide adequate room for fire suppression equipment to maneuver.
- Signage: Street signs are visible on all of the roads in the community. Residential addresses were visible on eighty percent of the homes in the interface areas.
- Utilities: Overton has both above and below ground utilities. The utilities pose a low ignition risk.
31.1.2 Construction Materials
Approximately 98 percent of the homes in the interface are built with non-combustible roofing materials and ninety percent have fire resistant siding materials.
Over half of the homes 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.
31.1.3 Defensible Space
Approximately three-quarters of the homes have landscaping that meets the defensible space requirement to minimize damage to the home or loss during a wildfire.
31.1.4 Suppression Capabilities
Wildfire Protection Resources
Fire protection is provided by the Clark County Rural Fire Station 74, a volunteer fire department that reported having 23 members at the time interviews were conducted for this report. Nearby Moapa and Logandale also provide fire protection services through the Clark County Rural Fire Departments. Equipment available for initial attack is listed in Table 31-1.
| Type of Resource | Amount of Equipment | Cooperating Partner (Resource Location) |
|---|---|---|
| Water Tender Type 1 Structure Engine Type 6 Quick Attack Engine Advanced Life Support (ALS) Rescue |
1 1 1 1 |
Clark County Rural Fire Station 74 (Overton) |
| Water Tender Type 1 Structure Engine Type 6 Quick Attack Engine Advanced Life Support (ALS) Rescue |
1 1 1 1 |
Clark County Rural Fire Station 73 (Logandale) |
| Type 3 Brush Engine | 1 | Bureau of Land Management (Logandale Station) |
| Source: Steve McClintock, Kurt Leavitt, pers. comm., 30 March 2004. | ||
Mutual aid can be requested from the US Forest Service, the National Park 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
Water sources available for fire suppression include fire hydrants with a flow capacity of 50 gpm, within 500 feet of structures community wells, and one 1.5 million gallon storage tank. The water system is operated by gravity. Overton also has access to the Muddy River as a drafting site or helicopter dip spot.
Fire Protection Personnel Qualifications
The 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 Overton Volunteer Fire Department responded to 278 emergency medical calls and fourteen wildland brush fire calls in 2003.
Financial Support
Annual operating funds for the Clark County Fire Department come from the County General Fund, which is generated through the collection of property taxes.
Detection and Communication
Wildland fires are reported by calls to 911. The Las Vegas Fire Alarm Office and local dispatch relay fires to local fire departments. There is no community siren.
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.
The CCFD reviews development plans to ensure compliance with the VFC 1997 fire code.
31.1.5 Factors Affecting Fire Behavior
Overton is an agricultural area surrounded by Mojave Desert scrub vegetation. The heaviest fuel concentrations are weeds along ditch banks, the Muddy River riparian corridor, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife Refuge southeast of the community. The Muddy River riparian area is characterized by tall and dense tamarisk, willow, and fourwing saltbush. The fuel density was estimated to be three tons per acre and considered a high fuel hazard. The fuel hazard in the upland areas surrounding the community and the agricultural fields as considered low. Native upland fuels consist of annual grass, creosote bush, bursage, and mesquite.
31.1.6 Fire Behavior Worst-case Scenario
The worst-case scenario would begin with a fire south of the community in the Muddy River corridor late in the afternoon on a hot summer day. Agricultural lands and defensible space around structures would confine the fire in the river bottom.
31.1.7 Ignition Risk Assessment
Overton has a low wildfire ignition risk potential. There is no widespread wildfire history in the area surrounding the community and the ignition history shows infrequent incidents. There is no fire history of accidental ignitions from ditch burning or fires in the dense tamarisk riparian area. The wildlife refuge has had escaped controlled burns in the past. The wildlife refuge now has a fuel break between the refuge and the town that consists of ponds, bare ground, and irrigated fields. Mechanical means are used to reduce brush fuel loading.
31.2 Risk and Hazard Reduction Recommendations
The hazard reduction recommendations for Overton focus on tamarisk reduction along the Muddy River.
31.2.1 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, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes according to the guidelines in Appendix E. 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.
- Immediately dispose of cleared vegetation when implementing defensible space treatments. This material dries quickly and poses a fire risk if left on site.
- Maintain this defensible space as needed.
- Maintain underneath porches and decks free of weeds and other flammable debris.
- 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 and reflective. Improving visibility of addresses will make it easier for those unfamiliar with the area to navigate during a wildland fire.
- Remove weeds along fences and irrigation ditches to reduce fuel loading and the potential for ignitions in these areas.
31.2.2 Fuel Reduction Treatments
Bureau of Land Management
- Initiate a fuel reduction to remove and replace tamarisk in the Muddy River riparian area.
Union Pacific Railroad
- Clear vegetation a minimum distance of fifteen feet on either side of railroad tracks.
Clark County
- Maintain road right-of-ways.
31.2.3 Fire Suppression Resources and Training
Clark County Fire Department
- 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 310-1. Provide annual wildland firefighting refresher training and fire shelter training.
31.3 Summary of Recommendations
| Involved Party | Recommended Treatment | Recommendation Description |
|---|---|---|
| Property Owners | Defensible Space | Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation and flammable debris from around homes according to the guidelines in Appendix E. Maintain this defensible space as needed. Ensure that residential addresses are visible from the road. Address characters should be at least four inches high and reflective. Remove weeds along fences and irrigation ditches. |
| Clark County | Fuels Reduction | Maintain right-of-ways. |
| Bureau of Land Management | Fuels Reduction | Initiate a fuel reduction project to remove and replace tamarisk in the Muddy River riparian corridor. |
| Union Pacific Railroad | Fuels Reduction | Clear vegetation from railroad right-of-way for a minimum width of fifteen feet. |
| Clark County Fire Department | Fire Suppression Resources and Training | Provide all firefighters with basic wildland fire training and equipment and conduct refresher training annually |
Table 31-3. Overton Wildfire Hazard Rating Summary |
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Figure 31-1 Overton Fire History and Suppression Resources |
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