10.0 Esmeralda County Risk/Hazard Assessment Conclusions

The RCI Project Team developed the recommendations in this report based on site-specific conditions observed during the wildfire risk and hazard assessments and information provided by local fire departments and agencies. General and specific recommendations provide a starting point for each community to take a proactive approach in formulating projects to reduce the risks of loss of life, property, and natural resources from a wildfire.

The communities in Esmeralda County are generally at a low risk of catastrophic fire in the wildland-urban interface areas. Wildfire hazards in most communities are mitigated by sparse vegetation (with the exception of Lida), flat terrain, and other natural fire barriers such as alkali flats. The community hazard most often encountered in Esmeralda County concerns the build up of fuels and combustible debris within the communities. To remedy many of the identified hazards and provide a greater level of fire safety to residents, excess vegetation and debris should be removed according to defensible guidelines provided in Appendix E.

Lida is at a greater risk than other communities in Esmeralda County based upon more hazardous fuel conditions and the lack of local fire protection services. Bureau of Land Management recommendations for fuel reduction in conjunction with improvement and maintenance of defensible space on private property will reduce to potential for wildfires within the community. Providing suppression resources and training the local residents in Lida will increase the opportunities for protection of the community and suppression of nearby ignitions.

To be most effective, fire safe practices need to be implemented on a community-wide basis. There is no way to completely eliminate the threat that wildfires present to communities at the wildland interface. However, the recommendations in this report are intended to increase public awareness and encourage concerned community members to be proactive in effectively reducing the risk of wildfire ignitions near their communities. Defensible space, fuel reduction treatments, community coordination, and public education about fire safety will help to mitigate the hazards inherent in wildland interface areas.