19.1 Risk and Hazard Assessment

The Palomino Valley community is located approximately thirteen miles northeast of Sparks and northeast of Warm Springs Valley. The community is situated east of the Warm Springs Mountain and west of the Pah Rah Range. The community boundary is shown in Figure 19-1. The community hazard assessment resulted in classifying Palomino Valley in the Moderate Hazard Category (52 points). A summary of factors that contributed to the hazard rating is included in Table 19-3. Primary factors that determined the hazard rating in Palomino Valley included the lack of water sources for fire suppression, inadequate defensible space implementation, and inadequate street and address signage throughout the community.

19.1.1 Community Design

The wildland-urban interface area in Palomino Valley is characterized as an intermix condition. There is no clear line of demarcation between wildland fuels and the residential structures in the community. Most of the residences are located on lots greater than ten acres in size.

• Access: State Route 445, the Pyramid Highway, is the primary transportation route providing access to the community. The road is greater than 24 feet wide, which provides adequate space for two-way vehicular travel and for fire suppression equipment to maneuver. Several secondary roads such as Winnemucca Ranch Road and Rangeland Road provide one way in and one way out access to portions of the community. Secondary roads are steep and narrow with dead ends in the south portion of the community.
• Signage: Approximately 71 percent of streets are adequately signed and easily visible and 82 percent of residential addresses are easily visible from the road. Clear and visible street signs and residential addresses are important in locating homes during low visibility conditions that occur during a wildfire.
• Utilities: All utilities are above ground. Power lines have not been properly maintained in all areas of the community. Proper maintenance minimizes the possibility that arcing may start fires in nearby vegetation. In some cases the recommended ten feet of vegetation clearance does not exist around propane tanks.

19.1.2 Construction Materials

Most of the homes in the interface are built with non-combustible or ignition resistant siding such as medium density fiberboard, stucco, or brick. Almost all of the homes have roofs of non-combustible material such as tile, metal, or composition. Approximately seventeen percent of the homes observed have unenclosed balconies, porches, decks, or other architectural features that can create drafty areas where sparks and embers can be trapped, smolder, ignite, and rapidly spread fire to the house.

19.1.3 Defensible Space

Approximately seventy percent of the homes surveyed in Palomino Valley have landscaping that meets defensible space guidelines to protect the home from damage or loss during a wildfire.

19.1.4 Suppression Capabilities

Wildfire Protection Resources

The closed fire station to the Palomino Valley community is the Bureau of Land Management Palomino Valley Station on the east side of Highway 445. Fire suppression is provided by the closest available Reno/Truckee Meadows fire station that normally responds within fifteen minutes to most areas within the valley. The closest available resources to respond to a reported wildland fire near Palomino Valley are summarized in Table 19-1.

Table 19-1. Standard Reno Fire Department Wildland Fire Dispatch for Initial Attack Near Palomino Valley

Type of Resource	Amount of Equipment	Cooperating Partner (Resource Location)
Engine Type 3 Engine Type 1 Water Tender Battalion Chief Safety Officer	3 1 1 1 1	Reno Fire Department (Closest available career and volunteer resources)
Engine Type 3	2	Bureau of Land Management (Palomino Station)
Source: Roy Slate and Marty Scheuerman, Reno Fire Department; Capt. Robert Hilfer Bureau of Land Management

Detection and Communication

Fires are reported in Washoe County through the 911 system, which connects the call with the Washoe County 911 Center. Washoe County 911 notifies the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center of wildland fires. The Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center notifies the Volunteer Fire Departments, the Nevada Division of Forestry, the Bureau of Land Management, and the US Forest Service of fires through the use of pagers and radios.

Communication frequencies are currently compatible between agencies. When the federal agencies go to narrow band digital radios, the volunteers will no longer be able to communicate with the Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service.

Water Sources and Infrastructure

Water for fire suppression is limited to potential availability from private wells in the community. The estimated round trip time to additional water supplies to refill fire apparatus is more than 45 minutes away.

Community Preparedness

Palomino Valley is included in the Washoe County All-Risk Emergency Plan.

19.1.5 Factors Affecting Fire Behavior

The terrain in the wildland-urban interface area of the community is generally flat and adjacent to hills with slopes greater than thirty percent. The prevailing wind direction is from the west and southwest. High wind speeds are common, especially during summer afternoons. Erratic canyon winds that can create hazardous fire behavior are possible.

In the northeast portion of Palomino Valley, the dominant vegetation consists of greasewood, rabbitbrush, shadscale, Indian ricegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, cheatgrass, and annual weeds. The fuel load was estimated at two tons per acre and was considered a moderate fuel hazard.

On the south side of Palomino Valley the vegetative fuels consist of big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, Mormon tea, desert peach bitterbrush, Indian ricegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, basin wildrye, and cheatgrass. Moderate density juniper dominates the tree canopy. The fuel load in this area was estimated at six to eight tons per acre and was considered a high fuel hazard.

Several previously burned areas on the west side of the community are dominated by resprouted rabbitbrush, greasewood, big sagebrush, horsebrush, spiny hopsage, and desert peach. The grass layer consists of cheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, Indian ricegrass, and basin wildrye. Fuel loads were estimated to be less than two tons per acre and was considered a low fuel hazard.

19.1.6 Fire Behavior Worst-Case Scenario

The worst-case scenario would be a fire starting along the east side of State Route 445, north of Descanso Road, with strong winds, greater than twenty miles per hour, from the west-southwest on a high hazard day. The wind-driven fire would be pushed upslope through an area of dense brush and moderate juniper cover. There are many structures in this part of the community that would be severely threatened by the fire running upslope. Residents could quickly be trapped. This area has several dead-end roads with only one way in and out. Residents and firefighters could be forced to shelter-in-place inside homes until the main fire front passed through the area.

19.1.7 Ignition Risk Assessment

The Palomino Valley community has a high ignition risk. There is a significant history of wildfire and fire ignitions within and surrounding the community. High ignition rates are attributed to a tendency for heavy lightning activity in the area during the summer and moderate to high vehicular traffic.

19.2 Risk and Hazard Reduction Recommendations

The following hazard reduction recommendations for the Palomino Valley community focus on defensible space and fuels reduction and are summarized in Table 19-2.

19.2.1 Defensible Space Treatments

Property Owner Recommendations

• Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation to create defensible space around homes according to the guidelines in Appendix E. This area should be kept:
  • Lean: There are only small amount of flammable vegetation.
  • Clean: There is no accumulation of dead vegetation or other flammable debris.
  • Green: Existing plants are healthy and green during the fire season.
• Store firewood a minimum distance of thirty feet from structures.
• Clear all dead plant material and combustible materials a minimum of five feet from the exterior of all structures.
• Mow or remove brush growing against fences in the community. The minimum distance for clearance should be ten feet in grass and 25 feet in brush.
• Enclose areas under wood decks and porches when possible or maintain these areas to be free of weeds and other flammable debris. Box in eves and cover ventilation openings with very fine metal wire mesh to prevent embers from entering the attic and crawl spaces.
• Clear all vegetation and combustible materials around propane tanks for a minimum of ten feet.
• Clear weeds and brush to a width of ten feet along both sides of the driveways.
• Maintain a minimum clearance of thirty feet from the crown of trees that remain within the defensible space zone. Keep this area free of smaller trees, shrubs, and other ladder fuels.
• Trim and remove tree branches a minimum of four feet from the ground to reduce ladder fuels on all deciduous and coniferous trees within the defensible space zone. Prune all dead and diseased branches.
• Prune all tree branches to a minimum distance of fifteen feet from buildings, paying special attention around chimneys.
• Mow grass within the defensible space zone to maintain a maximum height of four inches.
• Thin sagebrush and other shrubs to a spacing between shrubs that is equal to twice the shrub height.
• Immediately dispose of cleared vegetation when implementing defensible space treatments. This material dries quickly and poses a fire hazard if left on site.
• Where possible, irrigate all trees and large shrubs that remain in close proximity to structures to increase their fire resiliency. This is especially important during drought conditions.
• Install spark arrestors on chimneys.
• Maintain the defensible space as needed.
• Remove or board up abandoned trailers and structures to prevent sparks from entering and igniting the structure.
• Treat areas to control the invasion of knapweed. Refer to Appendix E: Russian Knapweed Fact Sheet for more information about treating this noxious weed.

Reno Fire Department Recommendation

• Conduct courtesy inspections of home defensible space measures and assist with implementation of defensible space treatments.

19.2.2 Fuels Reduction Treatments

Fuel reduction treatments are applied on a larger scale than defensible space treatments. Permanently changing the fuel characteristics over large blocks of land to one of a lower volume and altered distribution reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire in the treated area. Reducing vegetation along roadways and driveways could reduce the likelihood of blocking access and escape routes, help contain the fire perimeter, and improve firefighter access and safety for protecting homes.

Utility Company Recommendation

• Reduce and remove vegetation to maintain clearance around power lines. Clear vegetation within fifteen feet of utility poles near the community. Remove all trees from beneath power lines.

Reno Fire Department Recommendation

• Develop and promote a program for cleaning weeds and debris from around structures and fences in the community and for biomass disposal. Continue to enforce the permit process for open burning.

Washoe County Recommendations

• Reduce vegetation and maintain roads by mowing all vegetation to a height of no more than four inches for a distance of fifty feet from the edge of the pavement on both sides of the road in the Axe Handle/Curnow Canyon area. Remove biomass and dispose at an appropriate site. Reseed treated areas with fire resistant species such as recommended in Appendix E to minimize cheatgrass and noxious weed invasion.
• Construct and maintain a fuelbreak along Bacon Rind Road south of Axe Handle Canyon Road. The fuelbreak should be constructed fifty feet wide on the upslope side and 100 feet wide on the downslope side. Remove all juniper for the first fifty feet and thin shrubs to a spacing not to exceed twice their height.

19.2.3 Fire Suppression Resources and Training

Property Owner Recommendation

• Consider purchasing a fire suppression product such as a fire blocking gel or other similar products. These gels/foams can be applied to structures and vegetation to create an added layer of flame resistance in the event of a fire.

Reno Fire Department Recommendation

• Meet annually with the Bureau of Land Management to review pre-attack plans and to coordinate firefighting resources and response procedures including testing radio compatibility and coverage. Upgrade radios to new narrowband/ digital technologies as needed to maintain communications with the federal agencies.

Washoe County Recommendations

• Install at least one 15,000 gallon water storage tank for fire suppression in the Palomino Valley community.

19.2.4 Community Coordination

Property Owner Recommendations

• Form a local chapter of the Nevada Fire Safe Council. The Nevada Fire Safe Council facilitates solutions to reduce the loss of lives and property from wildfire in Nevada’s communities. Through the establishment of a local Chapter, local communities will become part of a large network for sharing information including notification of programs and funding opportunities for fire mitigation projects such as those listed in this report. The Nevada Fire Safe Council will accept and manage grants and contracts on the Chapter’s behalf through its non-profit status. The Nevada Fire Safe Council will provide assistance and support to communities to complete fire safe plans, set priorities, educate and train community members, and promote success stories of its members. To form a local Chapter or for more information contact the:
  

  Nevada Fire Safe Council
  1187 Charles Drive
  Reno, Nevada 89509
  www.nvfsc.org

• Ensure that residential addresses are visible from the road. Address characters should be at least four inches high, reflective, and composed of non-flammable material. Improving visibility of addresses will make it easier for those unfamiliar with the area to navigate under smoky conditions caused by a wildland fire.

Reno Fire Department Recommendations

• Prepare an evacuation plan and post or otherwise distribute this plan to residents in the Ax Handle/Currow Canyon area. This plan should include information regarding evacuation routes, evacuation procedures, designated fire safe zones, and procedures for sheltering in place in case evacuation becomes infeasible during a fast moving firestorm. Identify non-ambulatory persons within this area for evacuation assistance.

Washoe County Recommendations

• Continue to require all future development in the County to meet the National Fire Codes with regard to community design, building construction and spacing, road construction and design, water supply, and emergency access. Refer to Appendix F for an example of fire safe recommendations for planning new developments.
• Facilitate coordinated and collaborative efforts at the County and State levels for consistency in fire safe community planning and enforcement of fire safe ordinances in a unified manner.
• Improve street sign visibility.

19.2.5 Public Education

A public education program that explains fire safe measures in clear and emphatic terms will have an impact on residents of the wildland-urban interface. Informed community members will be more inclined to make efforts to effectively reduce wildfire hazards around their homes and neighborhoods.

Reno Fire Department Recommendation

• Distribute copies of the publication “Living with Fire” to all property owners. This publication is free of charge. Copies can be requested from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

19.3 Summary of Recommendations

Table 19-2. Palomino Valley Priority Recommendations to Reduce Wildfire Risks and Hazards

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.
	Community Coordination	Form a local chapter of the Nevada Fire Safe Council. Ensure that residential addresses are visible from the road.
	Fire Suppression Resources and Training	Consider purchasing a fire suppression product such as a fire blocking gel or other similar products.
Utility Company	Fuels Reduction	Remove trees and thin shrubs beneath power lines and utility poles. Maintain fifteen feet of clearance around utility poles.
Washoe County	Fuel Reduction	Reduce vegetation and maintain a minimum of fifty feet of clearance from the edge of all county roadways in the Axe Handle/Curnow Canyon area. Construct and maintain a fuelbreak south on Bacon Rind Road that is fifty feet wide on the upslope side and 100 feet wide on the downslope side.
	Community Coordination	Continue to require all future development in the County to meet the National Fire Codes with regard to community design, building construction and spacing, road construction, water supply, and emergency access. Facilitate coordinated and collaborative efforts at the County and State levels for consistency in fire safe community planning and enforcement of fire safe ordinances in a unified manner. Improve street sign visibility.
	Fire Suppression Resources and Training	Install at least one 15,000 gal. water storage tank for firefighting purposes in the Palomino Valley.
Reno Fire Department	Defensible Space Treatments	Conduct courtesy inspections of defensible space conditions and defensible space treatments on private property.
	Fuels Reduction	Develop and promote regular brush clearance and biomass disposal, and continue to enforce the open burn permit programs.
	Fire Suppression Resources and Training	Meet annually with the Bureau of Land Management to discuss and update pre-attack plans for the community.
	Community Coordination	Develop and distribute evacuation plans for the Axe Handle/Curnow Canyon area. Work with homeowners to identify non-ambulatory persons within this area for evacuation assistance.
	Public Education	Distribute copies of the publication “Living with Fire” to all property owners.

Table 19-3 Palomino Valley Wildfire Hazard Rating Summary

Figure 19-1 Palomino Valley Fire History, Suppression Resources, and Proposed Mitigation Treatments small | large | x-large