Fire

Although fire is inherently neither good nor bad, the circumstances surrounding its ignition, its burn rate, its location and its intensity are significant. Wildlands are areas of land where the vegetation can grow and natural forces take place without significant interference. Areas of agriculture, urban areas and industrial development, are not considered wildland. As homes are being built further into the wildland interface, risk of personal and property damage has increased. Fire requires three essential elements: heat, fuel and oxygen. Wildland fires can occur in any flammable vegetation. Those fuels, along with weather and topography affect the behavior of wildland fires. Beneficial or damaging effects of wildland fire depend on circumstances surrounding the fire.

Wildfires

Wildfires are unplanned, unwanted fires that burn uncontrollably. They destroy natural resources, property and lives. People (98%), not lightning (2%), ignite most wildfires in our area. Most human ignitions are unintentional. Carelessness with debris burning, campfires, welding and other human activity is the most common cause of wildfires. Fires such as these can most easily be prevented.

Prescribed fires

Prescribed fires are planned to meet specific management objectives. Professionals regularly use prescribed fire as a management tool on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuges in the Oklahoma and North Texas Fire Management Districts. Prescribed fires are carefully managed and applied only under predetermined conditions to ensure the desired results are achieved. Habitat manipulation can be attained by varying fire timing, frequency, and intensity. The proper use of prescribed fire reduces fuel that can cause damaging fire and maintains the ecosystem in a diverse, healthy and vigorous state.

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) is the area in or near grasslands and forests where homes are located. As more people build their homes in this interface, the potential for wildfire damage increases. There are steps we can take to protect our homes, property, structures and ourselves from wildfires. Firewise is a program designed to help keep you, your family and your property safe from wildfires. This program provides landowners with many tools to make their homes and property Firewise, and thus better able to withstand the destructive outcome of wildfire.