40.1 Risk and Hazard Assessment

Charleston is a rural ranch community that was once situated in a canyon along County Road 7461. The E. Prunty Ranch is currently the only residence in the area. Charleston is situated at an elevation of approximately 5,900 feet. The Bruneau River flows through the area. The community boundary identified for this report is shown in Figure 40-1.

The rural ranch community type does not lend itself to the standard community assessment procedures. Community design, suppression resources, and fuel hazard conditions are described qualitatively for the rural ranch communities. Within this community type, the homes are often surrounded by landscaped yards, corrals, or agricultural pastures with no wildland vegetation in close proximity to structures. These common characteristics usually contribute to a low risk of damage or direct loss of homes due to wildfires. Hay and alfalfa fields, stockpiled bales, livestock, ranching and farming equipment, and fuel tanks are assets that require special planning for protection during a wildfire because of their considerable value to ranchers and farmers.

40.1.1 Community Design, Construction Materials, and Defensible Space

The topography in Charleston is generally flat. There are seven ranch buildings on the E. Prunty Ranch. All of the buildings have metal roofing. Defensible space improvements are needed around some of the structures. However, all of the structures are surrounded by irrigated fields or pastures.

40.1.2 Suppression Capabilities

Wildfire Protection Resources

Charleston has no organized fire department or suppression resources Table 40-1 lists the types of wildfire resources and equipment available for initial response to Charleston 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.

Table 40-1. Wildfire Suppression Resources Available to Charleston

Type of Equipment	Amount of Equipment	Cooperating Partner (Resource Location)
Type 6 Engine Type 2 Engine	1 1	Jarbidge VFD (Jarbidge)
Type 6 Engine	1	Nevada Division of Forestry (Wells - seasonal)
Type 4 Engine	1	Bureau of Land Management (Wells)
Type 2 Engine Water Tender	1 1	Nevada Division of Forestry (Elko)
Type 6 Engine	1	US Forest Service (Mountain City)
Source: Sam Hicks, Nevada Division of Forestry Elko County Prevention Captain; Kenny Heil, Jarbidge VFD Chief; Tom Turk, Nevada Division of Forestry Northern Region Battalion Chief; Joe Freeland, Bureau of Land Management Elko Field Office FMO; Melody Asher, US Forest Service Zone FMO.

Water Sources and Infrastructure

There is no local water system in the area. Water for fire suppression in the Charleston area includes ranch ponds and small creeks or rivers.

40.1.3 Factors Affecting Fire Behavior

The vegetative fuel density on the west side of the Charleston interface area is generally low, estimated at less than one ton per acre, which was considered a low fuel hazard. Fuels consist primarily of meadow grass, rabbitbrush, and sagebrush. On the north and east side fuels are estimated at four to six tons per acre and consists of cheatgrass, basin wildrye, sagebrush, bitterbrush, and rabbitbrush. These were considered a high fuel hazard. The terrain is generally flat and winds blow from the south and southwest.

40.1.4 Fire Behavior Worst Case Scenario

The worst-case scenario for a wildfire in the Charleston area 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 could push fires from any direction toward residences or hay and equipment storage areas with inadequate defensible space.

40.1.5 Ignition Risk Assessment

There is a high potential for fire ignition but it is somewhat mitigated by surrounding agricultural fields. The primary risk of ignition in Charleston is lightning, although human caused ignitions are unpredictable and can occur at any time. Hay storage areas, without defensible space, in close proximity to wildland fuels pose an additional ignition risk.

40.2 Risk and Hazard Reduction Recommendations

The risk and hazard reduction recommendations for Charleston address the primary concern for maintaining defensible space and assuring water availability for fire suppression.

40.2.1 Defensible Space Treatments

Despite the reduced risk of damage or loss to structural properties, Charleston has other unique conditions due to the remote location and relative isolation. Hay and alfalfa fields, stockpiled bales, livestock, ranching and farming equipment, and fuel tanks are assets that require special planning for protection against wildfire because of their considerable value to ranchers and farmers.

Property Owners Recommendations

• Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes, equipment, and hay storage areas 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.
• Clear all vegetation and combustible materials around propane tanks or other fuel storage tanks for a minimum distance of ten feet.
• Immediately dispose of cleared vegetation when implementing defensible space treatments. This material dries quickly and poses a fire hazard if left on site.
• Maintain the defensible space as needed.
• Create a fuelbreak of bare ground or gravel for 100 feet around stockpiled commodities such as hay or alfalfa. Because it is dried plant material, stacked or baled hay is vulnerable to ignitions, as much from internal combustion as from outside sources.
• Seed a mixture of fire resistant species around residential structures and ranch outbuildings. This will enhance fire safety, especially important in these rural areas where water sources are limited or distant.

40.2.2 Fire Suppression Resources

Property Owners

• Develop a system for backup power in the case of a large wildland fire.
• Develop water sources for fire protection and coordinate with Nevada Division of Forestry for developing or adapting water sources to fill fire apparatus.

40.2.3 Public Education

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

• Develop a version of the “Living With Fire” publication tailored to the concerns of rural Nevada ranchers. The publication should include solutions for power back up, foam and other fire retardant products, fire resistant seeding, suggested site plans, and water storage adapted for filling fire engines and water tenders.

40.3 Summary of Recommendations

Table 40-2. Charleston Risk and Hazard Reduction Priority Recommendations

Involved Party	Recommended Treatment	Recommendation Description
Property Owners	Defensible Space	Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes, equipment, and hay storage areas according to the guidelines in Appendix E. Maintain the defensible space as needed. Create a fuelbreak of bare ground or gravel for 100 feet around stockpiled commodities such as hay or alfalfa. Seed a mixture of fire resistant species around residential structures and ranch outbuildings.
	Fire Suppression Resources	Develop a system for backup power in the case of a large wildland fire. Develop water sources for fire protection and coordinate with Nevada Division of Forestry to develop or adapt sources to fill fire apparatus.
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension	Public Education	Develop a rural Nevada version of the “Living With Fire” publication tailored to the concerns of rural Nevada ranchers and farmers.

Figure 40-1 Charleston Community small | large | x-large