25.1 Risk and Hazard Assessment

The Steamboat community is located northeast of Pleasant Valley and directly south of Reno-Southeast. The community is situated in the valley between the Steamboat Hills and the Virginia Range along Steamboat Creek. The community boundary is shown in Figure 25-1. The community hazard assessment resulted in classifying the Steamboat community in the Moderate Hazard Category (49 points). A summary of factors that contributed to the hazard rating is included in Table 25-3. Primary factors that determined the hazard rating in the Steamboat community included the high number of homes with flammable roofing materials, the potential for hazardous fire behavior, and the limited availability of water sources for fire protection.

25.1.1 Community Design

The wildland-urban interface area in the Steamboat community is characterized as an intermix condition. There is no clear line of demarcation between wildland fuels and the residential structures in the community. The majority of residences are located on lots less than one acre in size.

• Access: US Highway 395 is the primary transportation route providing access to and from the community. The road is greater than 24 feet wide and provides adequate space for two-way vehicular travel and for fire suppression equipment to maneuver. Secondary roads in the community generally have road grades less than five percent with adequate turn around areas for fire suppression apparatus.
• Signage: Ninety-six percent of the street signs in the community are easily visible. All of the 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 areas of the community, the recommended ten feet of vegetation clearance does not exist around propane tanks.

25.1.2 Construction Materials

Almost all of the homes in the interface are built with non-combustible or ignition resistant siding such as medium density fiberboard, stucco, or brick. Approximately 89 percent of homes have roofs of non-combustible material such as tile, metal, or composition. Approximately twelve percent of the homes observed had 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.

25.1.3 Defensible Space

Approximately 76 percent of the homes surveyed in the Steamboat community have landscaping that meets defensible space guidelines to protect the home from damage or loss during a wildfire.

25.1.4 Suppression Capabilities

Wildfire Protection Resources

Reno/Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District provides fire suppression services to the Steamboat community. The closest fire stations to the Steamboat community are located in Pleasant Valley to the south and Reno-Southeast to the north. The standard Reno Fire Department dispatch for a wildland fire is shown in Table 25-1. Other local, state, and federal resources are available upon request through mutual agreements as described in Section 4.1.1.

Table 25-1. Standard Reno Fire Department Wildland Fire Dispatch for Initial Attack Near Steamboat

Type of Resource	Amount of Equipment	Cooperating Partner (Resource Location)
Engine Type III Engine Type I Water Tender Battalion Chief Safety Officer	3 1 1 1 1	Reno Fire Department (Closest available career and volunteer resources)
Source: Marty Scheuerman DC, Reno Fire Department 9/21/04; Roy Slate Volunteer Coordinator Reno Fire Department. 9/21/04 John Schuler, Chief Pleasant Valley VFD

Water Sources and Infrastructure

There are no fire hydrants in the Steamboat Community. A small lake and irrigation ditches within the community may be used for drafting during the summer months.

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.

Fire Protection Personnel Qualifications

All career firefighters and volunteers are trained to the State Fire Marshal’s Firefighter I and II standards. Wildland firefighting training is provided to meet the NWCG 310-1 standards.

Financial Support

Financial support for the Reno/Truckee Meadows Fire Department is provided through the City of Reno General Fund and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (NRS 474).

25.1.5 Factors Affecting Fire Behavior

The terrain around the Steamboat community is mostly flat with steeper slopes of eight to twenty percent along the Virginia Range foothills and the Huffaker Hill north of Rhodes Road. The predominant aspects are west and north. The prevailing wind direction is from the southwest and west. Downslope winds are common during summer afternoons.

Previously burned areas on the south and east sides of the community are characterized by occasional sagebrush, rabbitbrush, desert peach, and pinyon pine that survived the fires. Cheatgrass is expected to dominate the burned areas into the near future. The fuel loads were estimated at less than one ton per acre and were considered a low fuel hazard.

Along Steamboat Creek, the vegetation consists of rabbitbrush, big sagebrush, cottonwoods, willow, Russian olive, creeping wildrye, and tall whitetop, a state-listed noxious weed. The fuel load along the river was estimated four to six tons per acre and was considered a moderate fuel hazard.

On the north and west sides of the Steamboat community the vegetative fuels include big sagebrush, Mormon tea, rabbitbrush, and desert peach in the shrub layer with cheatgrass and perennial grasses in the understory. The fuel loads were estimated at four tons per acre and considered a high fuel hazard.

On the east side of the community, the dominant vegetation consists of big sagebrush, rabbitbrush, fourwing saltbush, tall whitetop, perennial grasses, and cheatgrass. Light to moderate density pinyon and juniper are also present. The fuel load was estimated at four to six tons per acre and was considered a high fuel hazard.

25.1.6 Fire Behavior Worst-Case Scenario

The worst-case scenario for this area would be a dry lightning storm late on a summer afternoon, during a year with above normal precipitation and abundant cheatgrass production. Multiple fire ignitions west of Hwy 395 with strong erratic winds, greater than twenty miles per hour, in addition to the prevailing west to southwest winds could push fires rapidly downslope into structures west of Highway 395. This is an area without fire hydrants and poor defensible space. The slopes behind the structures are relatively steep, making access difficult.

25.1.7 Ignition Risk Assessment

There is a high potential for fire ignition in Steamboat west of Highway 395 due to summer afternoon thunderstorms and high use of the area by the public. The area has a history of multiple ignitions and large fires.

25.2 Risk and Hazard Reduction Recommendations

The responsibility to keep a community fire safe falls not only on the local fire protection district but also on the residents of the community and local governments. The recommendations for the Steamboat area focus primarily on providing and maintaining defensible space.

25.2.1 Defensible Space Treatments

Defensible space treatments are an essential first line of defense for residential structures. The goal of the treatments is to significantly reduce or remove flammable vegetation within a prescribed distance from structures. (Refer to Appendix E for the recommended defensible space area). Defensible space reduces the fire intensity and improves firefighter and homeowner chances for successfully defending a structure against oncoming wildfire.

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.
• Replace wood shake roofs with fire resistant roofing materials.
• Maintain the defensible space as needed.

25.2.2 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. Reduce and remove vegetation to maintain a minimum clearance of thirty feet from fences around power substations.

Washoe County and Nevada Department of Transportation Recommendations

• Reduce vegetation and maintain roads by mowing all vegetation to a height of no more than four inches for a distance of twenty feet from the edge of the pavement on both sides of the road. 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.

25.2.3 Fire Suppression Resources and Training

Reno Fire Department Recommendation

• Meet annually with the Nevada Division of Forestry, the Bureau of Land Management, and the US Forest Service 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.

25.2.4 Community Coordination

Property Owner Recommendation

• 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

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.
• Develop and enforce ordinances regarding fuel reduction and defensible space requirements for wildland-urban interface areas. Require defensible space implementation and maintenance on all developed lots and fuel reduction on all vacant lots within the interface area. Require approval by the appropriate fire agency of completed fuel reduction treatments prior to issuance of building permits for new wildland-urban interface 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.

25.2.5 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.

Property Owner Recommendation

• Participate in public education opportunities and become knowledgeable of emergency evacuation procedures.

Reno/Truckee Meadows Fire Department

• 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.
• Prepare an evacuation plan and post or otherwise distribute this plan to residents. 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.

25.3 Summary of Recommendations

Table 25-2. Steamboat Priority Recommendations to Reduce Wildfire Risks and Hazards

Involved Party	Recommended Treatment	Recommendation Description
Property Owners	Defensible Space	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.
	Public Education	Participate in public education opportunities and become knowledgeable of emergency evacuation procedures.
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 Nevada Department of Transportation	Fuels Reduction	Reduce and remove vegetation in road right-of-ways to maintain an average four-inch vegetation height. Reseed treated areas to minimize cheatgrass and noxious weed invasion.
Washoe County	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. Develop and/or enforce county laws, regulations, and ordinances for defensible space and fuels reduction that include absentee homeowners, vacant lots, and new subdivisions. 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.
Reno Fire Department	Resources and Training	Meet annually with the Reno/Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and the Bureau of Land Management to discuss and update pre-attack plans for the community and test radio coverage and compatibility.
	Public Education	Develop an emergency evacuation plan for Steamboat area. Distribute copies of the publication “Living with Fire” to all property owners.

Table 25-3 Steamboat Wildfire Hazard Rating Summary

Figure 25-1 Steamboat Fire History and Proposed Mitigation Treatments small | large | x-large