9.1 Carico Valley Risk/Hazard Assessment

Carico Valley is located in eastern Lander County, isolated from any major transportation routes or other communities. See Figure 9-1 for a detail of the community boundary. Carico Valley 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 the standard community assessment procedures. Defensible space, suppression resources, and fuel hazard conditions are described qualitatively for the community.

9.1.1 Community Design

Four widely scattered ranches were noted in the Carico Valley community area.

9.1.2 Construction Materials

This element of the risk/hazard assessment was not completed for residences in Carico Valley. Because agricultural fields abut all of the residential properties, there is no risk of a wildland fire spreading to residences. Construction materials are not a primary factor in determining wildfire risks and hazards in Carico Valley.

9.1.3 Defensible Space

Agricultural fields surround all of the residential properties and fulfill the objectives for defensible space.

9.1.4 Suppression Capabilities

Wildfire Suppression Resources

The closest resources potentially available to Carico Valley in the event of a wildfire are at least one to two hours away and include the BLM Battle Mountain and Winnemucca Field Offices, the US Forest Service Austin Ranger District, and the Nevada Division of Forestry Carlin Station. Table 9-1 lists wildfire suppression resources potentially available for initial attack to a wildland fire call in Carico Valley. 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 9-1. Wildfire Suppression Resources Available for Initial Response to a Wildland Fire Call in Carico Valley

Type of Equipment	Amount of Equipment	Cooperating Partner (Resource Location)
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 Camp (Carlin, Winnemucca)
Source: 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

Water sources for fire suppression in Carico Valley are limited to irrigation wells and ranch ponds.

Detection and Communication

In Carico Valley fires are reported through 911 calls to the Lander County Sheriff’s Office. Fires are communicated to local volunteer fire departments by the Lander County Sheriff’s Office using radios and pagers. Fires are communicated to federal agency fire personnel by the Central Nevada Interagency Dispatch Center. Nevada Division of Forestry fire crews are dispatched from the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center or the Elko Interagency Dispatch Center.

9.1.5 Factors That Affect Fire Behavior

The predominant wind is from the south/southwest in the late afternoon. The terrain in the vicinity of the residences is predominantly flat. The fuel types in Carico Valley are either agricultural fields or native shrub in the interface areas. The shrub type fuel loading was estimated at two to three tons per acre. The primary fuels of concern include sagebrush, greasewood, shadscale, and cheatgrass. The overall fuel hazard rating was low to moderate. However, during a wet year, increased cheatgrass production would increase the fuel hazard and create conditions that could carry a more hazardous fire through the shrub layer.

9.1.6 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 Carico Valley would occur as a wind-driven fire in a wet year through dense cheatgrass and other fine fuels that surround the individual ranches. 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.

9.1.7 Ignition Risk

Ignitions around Carico Valley have mostly been recorded in the adjacent Shoshone and Toiyabe Mountain Ranges with a lower occurrence of ignitions around the community. There is a low potential for ignition from lightning in Carico Valley, although human caused ignitions can occur at any time. As fire history maps show, wildfires in nearby Eureka County can cover immense acreages before suppression resources are able to reach and contain them.

9.2 Hazard Reduction Recommendations

Despite the reduced risk of damage or loss to structural properties, residences in Carico Valley exhibit unique conditions because of their remote location and relative isolation. Hay and alfalfa fields, stockpiled bales, livestock, ranching and farming equipment, and fuel tanks are assets that require special protection because of their considerable 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.

9.2.1 Defensible Space Treatments

Property Owner Recommendations

• Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes 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.
• 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.
• Plant fire-resistant vegetation in the defensible space area around residential structures and outbuildings. This will enhance fire abatement, 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

9.2.2 Fire Suppression 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 as it becomes available to assist with financing these improvements.

Lander County

• Identify a minimum of four people from Carico Valley who would be likely to provide the initial response to a nearby ignition and coordinate with the Bureau of Land Management, the Nevada Fire Marshall, 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 Carico Valley 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 wildfires.

Bureau of Land Management

• Continue to plan and implement greenstrip projects to slow the spread of a wildfire and allow more time for the arrival of suppression resources.

9.2.3 Public Education and Community Coordination

University of Nevada Cooperative Education

• 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, water storage adaptations for filling fire engines and water tenders, and suggested site plans.

Table 9-2. Carico Valley Risk/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 defensible space as needed to keep the space lean, clean, and green.
	Suppression Resources	Provide back-up power systems to assure water availability for fire suppression. Develop water storage for fire protection and adapt new and existing water developments for filling water tenders and engines.
Lander County	Suppression Resources	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 Carico Valley during the fire season.
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension	Public Education	Develop a rural version of “Living With Fire” tailored to the needs of rural ranch communities.
Bureau of Land Management	Fire Suppression	Continue to plan and implement greenstrip projects to slow the spread of a wildfire and allow more time for the arrival of suppression resources.

Figure 9-1 Carico Valley Fire History small | large | x-large