Rural homeowners face fire hazards

In the country’s Western states, a multitude of homes now stand in what were once open fields.

“This is our environment,” said Tubac firefighter Al Kingsten, motioning out over the land just west of Madera Canyon. “The forest comes into our neighborhoods now.”

Green Valley and Tubac firefighters are taking specialized urban-interface courses to better prepare themselves — and rural homeowners — with the threat of wildfires.

Crews were out near the canyon Thursday examining several homes built in the middle of undeveloped land. Their goal was to learn hands-on how best to protect such property.

The question they asked each time was, how defensible is the space around the structure?

One home “passed the test” in certain areas — at least 30 feet of land around the structure had been cleared of brush — though it failed in others. Old pieces of plywood and other debris were found leaning against the side of the house, along with containers of gasoline and house paint. A propane tank behind the home was surrounded by dried grasses 3 feet high.

It’s crucial that rural homeowners take proactive steps to protect their homes, said Greg Stoklos of the Tubac Fire Department.

“We’re in the middle of a severe drought, and it doesn’t take much to start a fire,” he said.

Fire District officials urge rural homeowners to speak to their local fire department about the risks of living in undeveloped areas, said Mark South, one of the urban-interface instructors.

“The country is beautiful, but it’s important to know the risks involved with living so far away from the city, and from emergency response crews.”

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726