36.1 Risk and Hazard Assessment

Jackpot is located northeast of Elko on the Nevada-Idaho state line along US Highway 93. The town is located at an elevation of 5,213 feet on the banks of the Salmon River. The results of the community hazard assessment classified Jackpot in the Low Hazard category (38 points). A summary of the factors that contribute to this hazard rating is included in Table 36-3. The low rating is attributed to adequate access and defensible space and the predominant use of fire resistant construction materials. The community boundary identified for this report is shown in Figure 36-1.

36.1.1 Community Design

The wildland-urban interface in Jackpot is a classic interface condition: a clear line of demarcation exists where developed areas abut wildland fuels. Roads and back fences characteristically mark this type of interface, and wildland fuels do not typically continue into residential areas. Seventy-four homes were included in this assessment. All of the homes are on parcels of one acre or less in size.

• Access: US Highway 93 is the primary transportation route through Jackpot, and there are numerous secondary roads. The highway and community roads are at least 24 feet wide, paved, and have adequate turnaround space for fire suppression equipment to maneuver
• Signage: All but one of the streets observed are clearly signed. Eighty-six percent of the homes observed have visible addresses. Clear and visible street signs and residential addresses are important in locating homes during low visibility conditions that occur during a wildfire.
• Utilities: Utilities are both above and below ground. Power line corridors have been properly maintained to minimize wildfire damage to electric utilities and reduce the possibility that sparks could start a fire in adjacent vegetation.

36.1.2 Construction Materials

Eighty-five percent of the homes observed in the interface area are built with non-combustible or highly fire resistant siding materials such as medium density fiberboard. They also have fire resistant roofing made of composition material, metal, or tile. Less than ten percent of the homes have unenclosed porches, decks, or balconies that create drafts and provide areas where sparks and embers can be trapped, smolder, ignite, and rapidly spread fire to the house.

36.1.3 Defensible Space

All but three of the homes observed meet the minimum defensible space requirement recommended to help protect the home from damage or loss during a wildfire.

36.1.4 Suppression Capabilities

Wildfire Protection Resources

Fire protection in Jackpot is provided by the Jackpot Fire Department, a combination career and volunteer fire department with by one paid firefighter and 21 volunteer firefighters. Table 36-1 lists the types of local wildfire resources and equipment available for initial response to Jackpot in the event of a reported wildfire. Additional resources are available from local, state, and federal agencies through mutual aid agreements as described in Section 4.1.1. The Salmon Tract Fire District in Idaho, twenty miles to the north, also provides mutual aid to Jackpot.

Table 36-1. Jackpot Wildfire Suppression Resources

Type of Equipment	Amount of Equipment	Cooperating Partner (Resource Location)
Type 3 Engine Type 2 Engine Type 1 Engine Type 6 Engine	2 1 1 1	Jackpot FD (Jackpot)
Type 6 Engine	1	Nevada Division of Forestry (Wells-Seasonal)
Type 4 Engine	1	Bureau of Land Management (Wells)
Source: Sam Hicks, Nevada Division of Forestry Elko County Prevention Captain; Verl Jarvie, Jackpot Fire Department Chief

The Jackpot Fire Department recently acquired a 1990’s model fire engine, but still may need additional equipment upgrades.

Water Sources and Infrastructure

Water available for fire suppression in Jackpot includes fire hydrants within 500 feet of structures with 1,500 gpm flow capacity. The community water system includes five community capable of producing 4,300 gpm and storage tanks totaling 1.4 million gallons. The water system operates on gravity and electrical pumps. There is a backup emergency generator to run one of the pumps on a four-inch well in the event of an electrical power outage.

Fire Protection Personnel Qualifications

Approximately half of the Jackpot Fire Department firefighters have received Fire Fighter I and/or EMT training. Half of the Jackpot volunteers have received training from the Nevada Division of Forestry and cooperating agencies to meet the minimum National Wildfire Coordinating Group basic wildland standards.

Work Load

The Jackpot Fire Department responded to over 250 calls in 2003:

• 240 emergency medical calls.
• 4 wildland/brush fire calls.
• 36 other calls.

Financial Support

Funding for the Jackpot Fire Department is provided through the Elko County General Fund and the Nevada Division of Forestry as authorized under NRS 473. The Nevada Division of Forestry pays the Jackpot Fire Department per run in the County where NDF has fire protection responsibility as outlined in the agreement.

Community Preparedness

Elko County has an active Local Emergency Planning Committee and has adopted an emergency plan that includes a hazardous materials response plan and an all-risk disaster response plan, which is updated annually. Jackpot is included in the County plans.

36.1.5 Factors Affecting Fire Behavior

Fuels in the community consist of sagebrush and rabbitbrush that are two to three foot tall with an understory of cheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, halogeton, and Russian thistle in disturbed areas. Cheatgrass growth is dependent on annual moisture and will produce increased fuel volumes and elevated fuel hazard conditions in years of higher than average precipitation. The area east of Highway 93 has been successfully seeded with crested wheatgrass as some time in the past. Crested wheatgrass is a fire resistant species often used in burned area rehabilitation. The fuel load was estimated at between two to three tons per acre and was considered a moderate fuel hazard.

The terrain within the community boundary is mostly flat. The community lies in a north-south valley along both sides of Highway 93. Slopes along the west side of the community are moderate and on the east side, the terrain is gently rolling. The prevailing wind direction is from the south/southwest.

36.1.6 Fire Behavior Worst Case Scenario

The worst-case scenario for a wildfire in the area surrounding Jackpot would start from a dry lightning storm on a summer day in a year with normal to above normal precipitation and high annual grass and forb production. Multiple fire ignitions and strong erratic winds, greater than twenty miles per hour could push fires into the community from any direction. The golf course, sewer ponds, and crested wheatgrass seedings should slow the spread of a fire.

36.1.7 Ignition Risk Assessment

Jackpot has a moderate ignition risk based on fire history and moderate fuel loading. The primary risk of ignition in Jackpot is lightning, although human caused ignitions are unpredictable and can occur at any time.

36.2 Risk and Hazard Reduction Recommendations

The responsibility to keep a community fire safe falls not only on the local fire protection district but also on the residents, businesses, and local governments. The recommendations for the Jackpot area focus primarily on the ongoing and additional efforts to create and maintain defensible space and on the community coordination and public education efforts that could be undertaken to enhance fire safety.

36.2.1 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 minimum recommended defensible space area). Defensible space reduces the fire intensity and improves firefighter and homeowner chances for successfully defending a structure against an oncoming wildfire.

Property Owners Recommendations

• 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.
• Store firewood a minimum distance of thirty feet from structures.
• Clear all vegetation and combustible materials around propane tanks for a minimum distance of ten feet.
• Mow or remove brush growing against fences in the community. The minimum distance for clearance should be ten feet in grass and 25 feet in brush.
• Immediately dispose of cleared vegetation when implementing defensible space treatments. This material dries quickly and poses a fire hazard if left on site.
• Where cheatgrass has become dominant within the defensible space zone, areas should be mowed prior to seed maturity or treated with an application of a pre-emergent herbicide.[28] Treatments may need to be repeated for several years to ensure that the seed bank of unwanted annual grass seeds has been depleted. Refer to Appendix E for a recommended seed mixture and planting guidelines that can be used in conjunction with cheatgrass removal.
• Maintain the defensible space as needed.

36.2.2 Fire Suppression Resources

Jackpot Fire Department

• Construct a fire access road (which will also serve as a firebreak) west of structures in the town from the Rodeo Grounds to Highway 93 north of the community as shown in Figure 36-1. The access road should be twelve to fifteen feet wide to provide fire engine access.

Jackpot Fire Department

• Provide structure firefighting training to all volunteers to bring them up to minimum State of Nevada Fire Marshal standards.
• 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.
• Upgrade the radio system to narrow band technology to ensure proper communication compatibility.
• Upgrade fire suppression apparatus.

36.2.3 Community Coordination

Property Owners

• Form a local community-based organization to take responsibility and provide leadership for community-wide fuels reduction and community fire safety. The Nevada Fire Safe Council is one option for community organization. Through the establishment of a local Nevada Fire Safe Council Chapter, local communities will become part of a large network for sharing information, including notification of programs and funding opportunities for fire mitigation projects such as those listed in this report. The Nevada Fire Safe Council will accept and manage grants and contracts on the Chapter’s behalf through its non-profit status. The Nevada Fire Safe Council will provide assistance and support to communities to complete fire safe plans, set priorities, educate and train community members, and promote success stories of its members. To form a local chapter of for more information contact the:
  

  Nevada Fire Safe Council
  210 South Roop Street Suite 101
  Carson City, NV 89701
  www.nvfsc.org

• Ensure residential addresses are easily visible from the road. Address characters should be at least four inches high, reflective on a dark background, and made of non-flammable material. Improving visibility of addresses will make it easier for those unfamiliar with the area to navigate under smoky conditions during a wildfire.

36.3 Summary of Recommendations

Table 36-2. Jackpot Risk and Hazard Reduction Priority Recommendations

Involved Party	Recommended Treatment	Recommendation Description
Property Owners	Defensible Space	Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes according to the guidelines in Appendix E. Maintain the defensible space as needed.
	Community Coordination	Form a local community-based organization to provide leadership and be responsible for community-wide fuels reduction and community fire safety. Ensure residential addresses are easily visible from the road.
Jackpot Fire Department	Fire Suppression Resources	Construct a fire access road west of structures in town from the Rodeo Grounds to Highway 93 north of the community. The road should be twelve to fifteen feet wide to provide fire engine access.
	Fire Suppression Resources	Provide structure firefighting training to all volunteers to bring them up to minimum State of Nevada Fire Marshal standards. 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. Upgrade radios with narrow band technology for compatibility with cooperating agencies. Upgrade fire suppression apparatus.

Table 36-3 Jackpot Wildfire Hazard Rating Summary

Figure 36-1 Jackpot Fire History, Suppression Resources, Critical Features, and Proposed Mitigation Projects small | large | x-large