Fallon-Churchill Fire Department (FCFD) and NAS Fallon (NASF) Fed Fire crews responded to a record number of fires this month. According to Fire Chief Jared Dooley, crews worked 25 fires in the Lahontan Valley between March 31 and April 7.
Over the last eight days, Fallon’s firefighters put in 600 man-hours. Dooley reported the fires caused over $95,000 in property damage to structures, cars, and trailers. No pets or livestock injuries were reported. However, one life was tragically lost during a controlled burn that blazed out of control. Aptly stated in a Facebook message to the community, “Some losses cannot be measured.”
According to Dooley, “Nearly all of the fire calls were the result of out-of-control ‘control burns.’” Control burns are prescribed fires set intentionally for various purposes, including weed elimination around homes, ditches, fields, and fences. They also include burning piles of leaves, limbs, wood, and detritus and “burning stubble,” which refers to burning the remaining vegetation stubble from a previous crop season before planting a new crop.
Nevada, notorious for its wind and quickly changing weather patterns, is often a factor when fires get out of control. “Check the weather before and after burning,” Dooley said. He recommends rethinking your burn plans if the wind is blowing over ten mph. “If you walk outside and have to ask yourself if it is too windy – it is.” Fires can go into hibernation and continue to burn long after a fire appears to be out. “It can smolder for days,” he stated.
The Department suggests anyone burning to exercise extreme caution and follow some simple fire safety rules.
• Report your burn to Sheriff’s office
at 775-423-3611. All control burns must
be called in prior to burning.
• Never leave your fire unattended –
ever.
• Have a shovel handy
• Have an available water supply
Make sure your fire is extinguished fully – when putting out your fire, use far more water than you think is necessary. Treat it like a campfire and make sure it is cool to the touch before walking away.
Additionally, Dooley reminds residents that it is illegal to burn standing vegetation unless you are in an agricultural area. Weeds and other growth must be chopped and raked into a pile before being burned. Burning trash or other debris outside of a burn barrel is prohibited, and no open burning is allowed within the city limits.
Fortunately, Fallon is home to NASF Fed Fire, who routinely assists the Volunteer Fire Department with fires and other emergencies. “We are the only fire suppression within 500 square miles,” Dooley said. “We have a long-standing mutual assistance agreement with Fed Fire, they are huge help to our department.”
As spring comes upon us and the time for yard and clean-up approaches, fires are sure to follow. The Fire Department urges all residents to exercise caution, follow all burning guidelines, and remember that embers can burn long after a fire appears to be out. “We would like to ask all of our community to do your best to help keep the numbers of fires down,” writes Dooley. “Most fires we are called out on could have been prevented if some steps were taken both prior to and during the fires.”
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