5.1 Altamira Farms Risk/Hazard Assessment

Altamira Farms is located in west Lander County in Antelope Valley, adjacent to State Route 305. See Figure 5-1 for a detail of the community boundary. Altamira Farms is a rural ranch community composed of widely spaced residences interspersed with large tracts of agricultural or public lands. The rural ranch community type does not lend itself to standard community assessment procedures. Defensible space, suppression resources, and fuel hazard conditions are described qualitatively for the community.

5.1.1 Community Design

Twenty-two residences were observed in Altamira Farms, all on parcels greater than ten acres in size.

5.1.2 Construction Materials

All of the observed homes were constructed of non-combustible, highly ignition resistant material such as medium density fiberboard. All but one residence had non-combustible roofing material such as tile, metal, or composition.

5.1.3 Defensible Space

Rural homes are generally surrounded by landscaped yards, corrals, or agricultural pastures with no wildland vegetation in close proximity to structures. These characteristics usually contribute to a low risk of damage or direct loss of property due to wildfires. Hay and alfalfa fields, haystacks, livestock feed yards, farming equipment storage areas, and fuels tanks require special attention when establishing defensible space for protection during a wildfire. Many such areas may not meet recommendations intended to minimize the potential for damage or loss during a wildfire.

5.1.4 Suppression Capabilities

Wildfire Suppression Resources

Altamira Farms receives fire protection from the Battle Mountain Volunteer Fire Department approximately fifty miles away. The Battle Mountain VFD is an all-volunteer department reported to be staffed by 25 volunteers at the time that interviews were conducted for this report. Federal and state resources are available from the BLM Battle Mountain and Winnemucca Field Offices, the US Forest Service Austin Ranger District, and the Nevada Division of Forestry. Table 5-1 provides a summary of fire suppression resources potentially available for initial attack of a wildland fire in the vicinity of Altamira Farms. It is important to note that the actual number and type of suppression resources available to respond from neighboring fire departments and agencies is dependent upon the resources on hand at the time of the wildland fire call.

Table 5-1. Altamira Farms Wildfire Suppression Resources

Type of Equipment	Amount of Equipment	Cooperating Partner (Resource Location)
Type 3 Engine Type 1 Engine Water Tender Command Officer	2 1 1 1	Battle Mountain Volunteer Fire Department (Battle Mountain)
Type 3 Engine Water Tender	1 1	US Forest Service / BLM Interagency (Austin)
Type 3 Engine Type 4 Engine	1 1	Bureau of Land Management Battle Mountain Field Office (Battle Mountain)
Hand Crew (Type 2- Trained)	3	Nevada Division of Forestry Conservation Camp (Carlin, Winnemucca)
Source: Bart Negro, Battle Mountain VFD Fire Chief; Chad Lewis, Donovan Walker, and Dave Davis, BLM Battle Mountain Field Office; Mike Pattison, Interagency FMO Austin; Kacey KC, NDF State Office; Butch Hayes, BLM Nevada State Office.

Water Sources and Infrastructure

The only sources of water for fire suppression at Altamira Farms are domestic and irrigation wells. There is no hydrant or other water delivery system, and no water sources designated for fire suppression.

Detection and Communication

In the Altamira Farms area, fires are reported through 911 calls to the Lander County Sheriff’s Office. The Lander County Sheriff’s Office uses pagers and radios to communicate fires to local fire response personnel and by the Central Nevada Interagency Dispatch Center who dispatches the federal fire personnel. The NDF Carlin Conservation Camp is dispatched by either the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center in Minden, or the Elko Interagency Dispatch Center in Elko, Nevada.

Fire Protection Personnel Qualifications

All Battle Mountain VFD firefighters receive training to meet minimum State Fire Marshal standards for Firefighter I and II. Some members of the Battle Mountain VFD have had training for Red Card certification. The Red Card certification system is part of a fire qualifications management system used by many state and all federal wildland fire management agencies. This certification indicates at what level an individual is qualified to fight wildland fires.

5.1.5 Factors That Affect Fire Behavior

The terrain around the Altamira Farms community is flat in aspect and the predominant wind is from the south/southwest in the late afternoon. Much of the agricultural land in the Altamira Farms area is irrigated and is considered to represent a low fuel hazard. The Reese River flows through the farmlands on the east, where willows and other associated riparian vegetation line the river corridor. Burned areas south, east, and west of the community currently represent a low fuel hazard. Fuel density on unburned rangeland is light, estimated at one ton per acre or less. Fuels consist primarily of sagebrush, greasewood, or shadscale with some cheatgrass. Cheatgrass growth and continuity in the fuel bed is dependent on annual moisture levels. In wet years, cheatgrass production can increase the fuel hazard and increase the potential for hazardous fire behavior.

5.1.6 Worst-Case Wildfire Scenario

Wildfires in remote rural areas can cover immense areas before suppression crews are able to reach and contain them. The worst-case scenario of a major wildland fire in the Altamira Farms area would occur as a wind-driven fire in a wet year through dense cheatgrass and other fine fuels that surround the community. If the fire began during normal working hours, the response by volunteer firefighters would be limited or delayed, which would allow the fire to spread before fire suppression resources could respond. However, the agricultural land provides a buffer that would cause the fire to slow once it reached the farmland-wildland interface. Ranch improvements located near wildland fuels would be at risk of damage or loss.

5.2 Hazard Reduction Recommendations

Despite the reduced risk of damage or loss to structural properties, residences of Altamira Farms exhibit unique conditions because of their remote location and relative isolation. Recommendations for Altamira Farms include defensible space measures for outbuildings and farm infrastructure, improved water availability for fire suppression, and training local residents for initial response to small lightning strikes.

5.2.1 Defensible Space Treatments

Hay and alfalfa fields, stockpiled bales, livestock, ranching and farming equipment, fences, and fuel tanks are assets that require special protection because of their value to ranchers and farmers. Not only can stockpiled hay combust or ignite easily, but smoke can make the hay unpalatable and unusable for livestock feed.

Property Owner Recommendations

• Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes, outbuildings, and hay and equipment 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 material, including woodpiles.
  • Green: Existing plants are healthy and green during the fire season.
• Immediately remove cleared vegetation to an approved disposal site. This material dries quickly and presents a fire hazard if left on site.
• Keep the area beneath unenclosed porches and decks free of accumulated vegetation or other flammable debris. Screen or enclose these areas where possible.
• Create a firebreak of bare ground or gravel for 100 feet around hay storage areas. Because it is dried plant material, stacked or baled hay is vulnerable to ignitions, as much from internal combustion as from outside sources.
• Cheatgrass or other annual grasses that have become dominant within the defensible space zone should be mowed or treated with an application of pre-emergent herbicide prior to seed set.[2] Treatments may need to be repeated the following year to ensure that the seed bank of unwanted grasses has been depleted. Refer to Appendix E for approved seed mixes and planting guidelines that can be used in conjunction with removal of this annual grass.
• Plant fire-resistant vegetation in the defensible space area around residential structures and outbuildings. This will enhance fire abatement, which is especially important in rural areas where water sources are limited or distant.
• Clear a minimum ten-foot area around fuel tanks.
• Maintain defensible space areas annually.

5.2.2 Suppression Resources and Training

Property Owner Recommendations

• Establish backup power systems to assure that functional water sources are available for fire suppression.
• Develop water storage for fire protection and install water outlets with fire department threads on new and existing water developments for filling water tenders and engines. Pursue grant funding to assist with financing these improvements.

Lander County

• Identify a minimum of four people from Altamira Farms who would be likely to provide the initial response to a nearby ignition. Coordinate with the Bureau of Land Management or the Nevada Division of Forestry to provide them with Basic Wildland Firefighter Training.
• Pursue grant funding and station a pick-up truck and a one-piece, slip-on, 100 to 200-gallon tank and pump unit with hose and hose reel in Altamira Farms during the fire season. This equipment, fitted properly for the size and weight limitations of the truck, can be used to provide initial attack of small ignitions.

5.2.3 Public Education and Community Coordination

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Recommendations

• 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.

Table 5-2. Altamira Farms Risk/Hazard Reduction Priority Recommendations

Involved Party	Recommended Treatment	Recommendation Description
Property Owners	Defensible Space	Develop and maintain defensible space around structures and storage areas according to guidelines in Appendix E. Mow and/or treat cheatgrass to deplete the seed bank.
	Equipment and Training	Establish back-up power sources to assure water supply during a power outage. Develop water storage with compatible outlets for filling fire engines and water tenders.
Lander County	Equipment and Training	Identify at least four people who would be likely to provide the initial response to a nearby ignition and coordinate with the fire agencies to provide Basic Wildland Firefighter training. Pursue grant funding and station a pick-up truck fitted with a 100 to 200 gallon tank, pump, and hose in Altamira Farms during the fire season.
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 5-1 Altamira Farms Fire History small | large | x-large