18.1 Shoshone Hazard and Risk Reduction

Shoshone is located west of Great Basin National Park, at the end of State Route 894 (see Figure 18-1). Shoshone is a rural community that lies in a long valley scattered with ranches situated one to three miles apart and includes the historic mine site of Minerva. The rural ranch community type does not lend itself to the standard community assessment procedures. Suppression resources and fuel hazard conditions are described qualitatively for the community.

18.1.1 Community Design

Nine ranches were noted during assessment of the Shoshone community. The historic site of Minerva has several old, weathered buildings that could be damaged or destroyed by wildfire.

18.1.2 Suppression Capabilities

Wildfire Protection Resources

Shoshone receives fire protection from the Baker Volunteer Fire Department with additional resources available from the Bureau of Land Management Ely Field Office, the Nevada Division of Forestry Ely Conservation Camp, and the Great Basin National Park Fire Department as described in Section 4.1.1. Table 18-1 details the types of wildfire resources, cooperating partners, and equipment available to Shoshone to a reported wildfire.

Table 18-1. Shoshone Wildfire Suppression Resources

Type of Equipment	Amount of Equipment	Cooperating Partner
Engine Type 6 Engine type 2 Water Tender Type 2	2 2 1	Baker Volunteer Fire Department
Engine Type 4 Engine Type 6	1 1	BLM Pony Springs Substation
Engine Type 3 Engine Type 4 (both from Panaca)	1 1	Nevada Division of Forestry Pioche Conservation Camp
Source: Bill Dunn, BLM Ely Field Office Fire Planner; Kevin Hall, NDF Northern Region FMO.

Water Sources and Infrastructure

The only sources of water for fire protection in Shoshone are wells and ranch ponds. There are no hydrants or water tanks of any notable size in the area.

18.1.3 Factors That Affect Fire Behavior

Agricultural fields surround most of the residences in the Shoshone community. The terrain in Shoshone is generally flat and predominant winds are from the west/southwest. Wildland fuels adjacent to the agricultural areas consist primarily of big sagebrush, greasewood, and rabbitbrush. Cheatgrass and other annual grasses dominate the understory. Overall vegetative fuel loading was estimated at two to four tons per acre. Some stands of pinyon-juniper are present on the west side of the valley. Fuel loads in the pinyon and juniper dominated areas were estimated at six tons per acre. Fuel hazards were considered high on the west side of the community and moderate or low in the rest of the community.

18.1.4 Worst Case Wildfire Scenario

During the summer, thunderstorms produce dry lightning, which is a typical cause of wildfire ignitions in White Pine County. In years of higher than normal precipitation, cheatgrass production increases, leaving a dense fine fuel understory that will feed a wildfire ignition into the shrub layer. A dry lightning fire ignition on the east, west, or south side of Shoshone could rapidly spread through the wildland fuels if driven by erratic winds greater than twenty miles per hour. Any ranch improvements such as fences, equipment, and stockpiled hay are at risk of damage or loss. There is a low potential for structure loss because agricultural buffer zones surround most of the homes.

18.2 Risk and Hazard Reduction Recommendations

Despite the reduced risk of damage or loss to structural properties that are protected by irrigated agricultural lands, residences in Shoshone exhibit unique conditions because of their remote location. 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.

18.2.1 Defensible Space Treatments

Defensible space treatments are an essential first line of defense for residential structures. Significantly reducing or removing vegetation within a prescribed distance from structures (30 feet to 200 feet depending upon slope and vegetative fuel type) reduces fire intensity and improves firefighter and homeowner chances for successfully defending a structure against an oncoming wildfire.

Property Owners Recommendations

• Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes 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 debris.
  • Green: Existing plants are healthy and green during the fire season.
• Maintain defensible space annually.
• Immediately remove cleared vegetation to an approved disposal site. This material dries quickly and poses a fire risk if left on site. Refer to the Defensible Space fact sheet in Appendix E for clearance guidelines.
• Keep the area beneath unenclosed porches and decks free of accumulated vegetation or other flammable debris. Enclose these areas wherever possible.
• Store woodpiles at least thirty feet from any structure.
• Maintain a space clear of accumulated vegetation and combustible materials for at least ten feet around propane and fuel tanks.
• Cheatgrass or other annual grasses that have become dominant within the defensible space zone should be mowed or treated with an application of pre-emergent herbicide prior to seed set. Treatments may need to be repeated the following year to ensure that the seed bank of unwanted grasses has been depleted. Refer to Appendix E for approved seed mixes and planting guidelines that can be used in conjunction with removal of this annual grass.
• Remove brush growing within thirty feet and mow grass within ten feet of fences in the community.
• Install spark arrestors on chimneys.
• Create a firebreak of bare ground or gravel for 100 feet around stockpiled commodities. Because it is dried plant material, stacked or baled hay is vulnerable to ignitions from internal combustion or from outside sources.
• Plant a seed mixture of fire-resistant species around residential structures and ranch outbuildings.
• Purchase a backup power system for properties on individual wells in the case of loss of commercial power during a large, wildland fire.
• Remove or board up any abandoned trailers or other structures to prevent flying embers from entering and igniting these structures.

18.2.2 Fuel Reduction Treatments

Fuel reduction treatments are applied on a larger scale than defensible space treatments. By permanently changing the fuel structure over large blocks of land to one of lower volume or reduced flammability (a fuel reduction treatment), the expected result in the event of a catastrophic wildfire would be one of reduced capacity for uncontrolled spread through the treatment area. Reducing vegetation along roadways and driveways could reduce the likelihood of wildfire spreading across roads and improves firefighter access and safety for protecting homes.

Nevada Department of Transportation and White Pine County

• Reduce vegetation by mowing to a height of not more than four inches for a distance of 25 feet from the edge of the pavement along both sides of state and county roads. Seed or treat the cleared areas as necessary to control cheatgrass.

Electric Utility Company

Power line corridors and transformer sites should be kept clear of flammable vegetation, as fires have been known to start from arcing power lines during windy conditions. Fire damage to power lines often creates power failures that can be especially dangerous in communities without a backup energy source. Energized power lines can also fall during a wildfire creating additional hazards for citizens and firefighters.

• Maintain utility right-of-ways by removing trees from beneath power lines and thinning shrubs a minimum of fifteen feet around power line transformers.

18.2.3 Fire Suppression Resources

Adequate training, equipment, and water drafting supplies are critical to all firefighters, whether they are first responders, volunteer fire department personnel, or agency personnel. These matters are also of special importance to all communities, especially those located in remote portions of the county. The following recommendations related to actions homeowners and the county can take to increase the quality of fire suppression response in the Shoshone community.

White Pine County and Nevada Division of Forestry

• Purchase 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 Shoshone 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 ignitions.
• Identify agricultural wells that can be used for filling water tenders and engines, and pursue grant funding to develop water storage (at least one, 10,000 to 15,000-gallon tank) for fire protection. Agricultural wells require fire department threads for filling water tenders and engines.

Nevada Division of Forestry

• Identify a minimum of four people from Shoshone who would likely be able to provide the initial response to a nearby ignition. Coordinate with the Bureau of Land Management to provide them with Basic Wildland Firefighter Training.

Nevada Division of Forestry and Bureau of Land Management

• Meet annually with Shoshone ranchers and local property owners to discuss wildland fire pre-attack plans.

Property Owners

• Organize a group of volunteer firefighters and obtain wildland and structure firefighting training for initial attack of ignitions.

18.2.4 Community Coordination

Nevada Division of Forestry

• Distribute copies of the current “Living With Fire” publication. This publication is available free of charge from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.
• Request the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension to develop a “Living With Fire” type publication tailored to the concerns of rural Nevada ranchers. The publication should include solutions for power back up, foaming systems, fire resistant seeding, and ranch site layout suggestions.

Table 18-2. Shoshone Risk/Hazard Reduction Priority Recommendations

Involved Party	Recommended Treatment	Recommendation Description
Property Owners	Defensible Space Treatments	Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes, stockpiled hay, and equipment storage areas according to the guidelines in Appendix E. Maintain defensible space as needed to keep the space lean, clean, and green.
	Fire Suppression Resources	Coordinate with NDF to identify four residents willing to obtain wildland firefighting training.
Nevada Division of Forestry	Community Coordination	Distribute copies of the current “Living With Fire” publication. Work with UNCE to develop a “Living With Fire” publication for rural ranch communities.
	Fire Suppression Resources	Identify a minimum of four people from Shoshone who could be trained to provide the initial suppression response to a nearby ignition.
Nevada Division of Forestry Bureau of Land Management	Fire Suppression Resources	Meet annually with local residents to discuss wildland fire pre-attack plans.
Nevada Division of Forestry White Pine County	Fire Suppression Resources	Purchase 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 Shoshone during the fire season. Identify agricultural wells that can be used for filling water tenders and engines and develop water storage (at least one, 10,000 to 15,000-gallon tank) for fire protection.
Nevada Department of Transportation White Pine County	Fuel Reduction Treatment	Reduce vegetation within 25 feet from edge of pavement on both sides of roads.
Utility Company	Fuel Reduction Treatments	Remove trees and thin shrubs beneath power lines and utility poles. Maintain a minimum of fifteen feet of clearance around power line transformers.

Figure 18-1 Shoshone Fire History small | large | x-large