8.1 Battle Mountain Colony Community Risk/Hazard Assessment

The Battle Mountain Colony is a tribal community located in northern Lander County, at the Junction of US Interstate 80 and State Route 305. The community encompasses two separate parcels totaling 688 acres. The Colony was established in 1917. Risk assessment classified the Battle Mountain Colony in the Low Hazard Category (32 points). A summary of factors that are incorporated in the hazard rating is included in Table 8-3. Primary factors that contributed to the low hazard rating were adequate defensible space, construction materials, good address and street signage, good access through the community, and low density fuels in the interface areas.

8.1.1 Community Design

The urban interface surrounding the Battle Mountain Colony represents a classic interface condition. There is a clear line of demarcation between the community and the surrounding wildland fuels. All 65 of the homes assessed were on lots of less than one acre, indicating high density housing.

• Roads: State Route 305 and Allen Road are the major transportation routes into and out of the Battle Mountain Colony. These roadways are paved, two lane roads of typical 24-foot width, adequate for two-vehicle passage and fire suppression equipment to maneuver. All secondary roads were paved and provide adequate room for fire suppression equipment maneuverability.
• Signage: Street signs were present and visible on all of the streets. Residential addresses were visible on 92 percent of the homes surveyed. Clear and visible street signage is important in locating homes during low visibility conditions that occur during a wildland fire.
• Utilities: Utilities are all above ground. Power lines have been properly maintained minimizing the possibility that arcing may start fires in nearby vegetation.

8.1.2 Construction Materials

All of the homes in the interface were built with non-combustible or highly fire-resistant siding such as medium density fiberboard, and 98 percent of the homes were constructed with non-combustible roofing materials such as tile, metal, or composition. Thirty-two percent of the homes assessed had unenclosed balconies, porches, decks or other architectural features that can create drafts and provide areas where sparks and embers can be trapped, smolder, and ignite, rapidly spreading fire to the home.

8.1.3 Defensible Space

Eighty-two percent of the homes assessed in the Battle Mountain Colony met the minimum standard for defensible space.

8.1.4 Suppression Capabilities

Wildfire Suppression Resources

Fire protection in the Battle Mountain Colony is provided by the Battle Mountain Volunteer Fire Department. At the time the interviews were conducted for this report, the Battle Mountain Volunteer Fire Department consisted of 25 members. Additional resources are available from the BLM Field Offices in Battle Mountain and Winnemucca, the Nevada Division of Forestry Carlin Conservation Camp, and the US Forest Service Austin Ranger District. Table 8-1 lists the types of wildfire resources, cooperating partners and equipment potentially available to the Battle Mountain Colony to respond to a reported wildland fire. 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 8-1. Battle Mountain Colony 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	BLM Battle Mountain Field Office (Battle Mountain)
Hand Crew (Type 2- Trained)	3	Nevada Division of Forestry Conservation Camps (Carlin, Winnemucca)
Source: Bart Negro and Dan Baldini Battle Mountain VFD; 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.

Fire Protection Personnel Qualifications

The Battle Mountain VFD volunteers receive structure firefighting training to meet the State Fire Marshal Firefighter I and II standards. Some staff members have completed the 40-hour BLM Wildland Fire Training course and the Department utilizes the Red Card System for individual qualifications. Red Card certification is part of a fire qualifications management system used by many states and all federal wildland fire management agencies. This certification indicates that an individual is qualified to fight wildland fires. Federal agency fire suppression personnel receive training to meet National Wildfire Coordinating Group standards.

Work Load

The Battle Mountain VFD emergency call log averages 170 calls per year. Twenty of these are wildland/brush fires. The Battle Mountain VFD does not respond to emergency medical calls.

Financial Support

Funding for the Battle Mountain VFD comes from the Lander County General Fund.

Water Sources and Infrastructure

Water availability for fire suppression in the Battle Mountain Colony includes:

• 500 gpm hydrants within 500 feet of structures.
• Community wells.
• Two 1-million gallon water storage tanks.

The community water system operates on gravity and electric pumps. Other sources of water for fire suppression include dip spots in the Humboldt River and ranch ponds.

Detection and Communication

There is a community siren to notify Battle Mountain Colony residents of an emergency. Fires are reported through 911 calls to the Lander County Sheriff’s Office. Fires are communicated to local fire response personnel by the Lander County Sheriff’s Office using radios and pagers. Fires are communicated to state and federal fire response personnel by the Central Nevada Interagency Dispatch Center. The Battle Mountain VFD has access to the state mutual aid frequencies and compatibility with neighboring agencies. There are no gaps in radio coverage.

8.1.5 Factors That Affect Fire Behavior

The vegetative fuel density in the Battle Mountain Colony interface area is light, estimated at one ton or less per acre. Greasewood is the dominant shrub type with various components of shadscale, Wyoming big sagebrush, budsage, halogeton, squirreltail and cheatgrass contributing to the fuel loading. Overall, the fuel hazard was considered low. However during a wet year, increased cheatgrass production would increase the fuel hazard and create conditions that could carry fire through the shrub layer.

8.1.6 Worst-Case Wildfire Scenario

The worst-case scenario for the Battle Mountain Colony would occur during a wet year with increased cheatgrass production and hazardous fuel conditions. A dry lightning ignition southwest of the community with winds from the south, southwest, or west could drive the fire into the community.

8.1.7 Ignition Risk Assessment

There is some ignition history around the Battle Mountain Colony community with historic fires nearby to the northeast and east. The interface area around the Battle Mountain Colony is considered a low ignition risk area due to sparse, low brush in and around the community.

8.2 Hazard Reduction Recommendations

Recommendations for the Battle Mountain Colony to reduce wildfire risks and hazards focus on maintaining good defensible space and public education to promote annual fire safety maintenance.

8.2.1 Defensible Space Treatments

Vegetation density, type of fuel, and slope gradient around a home affect the potential fire exposure levels to the home. The goals of defensible space are to reduce the risk of property loss from wildfire by eliminating flammable vegetation near the home; thereby, lowering the potential to burn and providing firefighters a safer working area to defend the home or outbuilding during a wildland fire. Guidelines for improving defensible space around residences and structures in the community are given below and are described in detail in Appendix E.

Property Owner Recommendations

• Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes, businesses, and outbuildings according to guidelines provided 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. Irrigate all trees and large shrubs in close proximity to structures to increase their fire resiliency. This is especially important during drought conditions.
• Immediately remove cleared vegetation to an approved disposal site. This material dries quickly and poses a fire risk 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.
• Where cheatgrass has become dominant within the defensible space zone, the plants should be mowed, raked, and removed prior to seed maturity or treated with an application of pre-emergent herbicide prior to initiation of the growing season. Treatments may need to be repeated for several years to ensure that the seed bank of unwanted annual grass seed has been depleted. Refer to Appendix E for seeding recommendations and planting guidelines that can be used in conjunction with cheatgrass removal.
• Clear all vegetation and combustible materials around propane tanks for a minimum distance of ten feet.
• Remove or board up abandoned mobile homes and other structures to prevent sparks entering and igniting the structure.
• Maintain defensible space annually.

8.2.2 Public Education

Battle Mountain Volunteer Fire Department Recommendations

• Conduct courtesy inspections of home defensible space measures.
• Distribute copies of the publication “Living With Fire” to all property owners. This publication can be obtained free of charge from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.
• Contact the Battle Mountain Field Office for assistance with public education.

Table 8-2. Battle Mountain Colony Risk/Hazard Reduction Priority Recommendations

Involved Party	Recommended Treatment	Recommendation Description
Property Owners	Defensible Space Treatments	Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes according to the defensible space guidelines in Appendix E. Remove or board-up windows and doors of abandoned structures and skirt all trailers.
Battle Mountain Volunteer Fire Department	Public Education	Conduct courtesy inspections of home defensible space. Distribute copies of the publication “Living With Fire” to all residents. Contact the BLM Battle Mountain Field Office for assistance with public education.

Figure 8-1 Battle Mountain Colony Fire History small | large | x-large

Table 8-3 Battle Mountain Colony Wildfire Hazard Rating Summary