4.0 County-Wide Assessment Results
4.1 County-wide Risk and Hazard Assessment Overview
During January of 2004, assessment teams evaluated the six communities described in this report. Their evaluations of community design aspects (roads, signage, utility infrastructure), defensible space characteristics, construction materials and architectural features, wildland-urban interface qualities, and fuel densities resulted in an overall hazard rating for each community. The key quantifiable components of these assessments are summarized in Table 4-1.
| Community | Interface Condition | Overall Fuel Density | Ignition Risk | Fire Suppression | Hazard Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorne | Classic | Light | Low | 24-member Fire Dept. 1 |
Low (26 points) |
| Luning | Intermix | Light | Low | 8-member VFD |
Moderate (46 points) |
| Marietta | Rural | Light to Medium | High | None | High (73 points) |
| Mina | Intermix | Light | Low | 7-member VFD | Moderate (46 points) |
| Schurz | Intermix | Moderate | Moderate | 18-member VFD | Moderate (56 points) |
| Walker Lake | Intermix | Light | Low | 8-member VFD | Moderate (45 points) |
| 1 4 paid, 20 volunteer members | |||||
4.1.1 Wildfire Protection Resources
Wildland firefighting suppression resources are available throughout Mineral County through the Mineral County Fire Department. State and federal agency firefighting resources (NDF, USFS, BLM, BIA), when needed, are allocated through the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center in Minden, Nevada. Tables 4-2 and 4-3 summarize the types of wildfire suppression resources, cooperating partners and equipment available to respond to wildland fires to the communities in Mineral County. The availability of the listed resources may vary depending on time of year and resource needs in other areas.
| Type of Resources | Amount of Equipment | Cooperating Partner (Resource Location) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Rescue/Brush Truck Water Tender (3,000 gal) Water Tender (5,000 gal) |
1 1 1 1 |
Mineral County Fire Department (Hawthorne) |
| Brush Truck Water Tender |
2 1 |
DZHC Fire and Emergency Services. (Hawthorne Army Depot) |
| Engine | 1 | Luning VFD (Luning Fire Station) |
| Engine | 1 | Mina VFD (Mina) |
| Engine (750 gal. Type 2) Engine (1000 gal.) IC Vehicle |
1 1 1 |
Walker River VFD (Schurz) |
| Engine Rescue Vehicle (w/ 250 gal. water tank) |
1 1 |
Walker Lake VFD (Walker) |
| Type of Resources | Amount of Equipment | Cooperating Partner (Resource Location) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | Yerington FD (Yerington) |
| Engine Air Tanker Hand Crew |
1 1 2 |
BLM (Interagency Dispatch, Minden) |
| Air Tanker Water Tender Helicopter IC Commander Hand Crews |
1 1 1 1 1 |
BIA (Interagency Dispatch, Minden) |
| Source: Personal Communication with Chief Craig Nixon, Mineral County FD, Chief Tad Williams, Walker River VFD | ||
4.1.2 Detection and Communication
Fires are reported in Mineral County through:
- 911 calls.
- Calls to Mineral County Sheriff’s Office.
Fires are communicated to fire response personnel through:
- Emergency Dispatch through the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office in Fallon.
- Radios with the following frequencies: primary - 155.0555.
- Pagers and telephones where volunteer fire departments exist.
The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office has access to the state mutual aid frequencies (NDF 158.89500, BLM 170.02500 and 155.47500). The radio system is compatible with neighboring agencies. The Mineral County Fire Department has recently upgraded their radio equipment and now has access to the state mutual aid frequencies as well.