HappyDay: ‘Preventing Fire from Becoming Catastrophic’

Casey O’Neill is a cannabis and food farmer in Mendocino County who has been writing newsletters about his efforts to provide sustainable produce and marijuana. We feature his column once a week.

     On Thursday we held the Bell Springs Fire Department Benefit, raising money for our efforts as volunteers in our rural area.  It also happened to be my 39th birthday, so I had the joy of celebration coupled with shared service in community.  Just right.

      Small-town benefits and fundraisers are an important part of the economic workings of our communities, and they’re damn fun!  I love getting to see people, to share in the effort of supporting a communal goal.  It’s a way of recognizing community and holding space for shared values.

      With climate change increasing the frequency, size, and duration of both fires and fire season, our preparedness has never been more important.  A volunteer fire department depends on multiple factors to function; resources, equipment, personnel and communication.

      Knowing each other and knowing how to work together is a critical part of any set of human interactions, moreso for fighting fire.  As a group, we need to know the equipment and how we will work to make use of it.

      Gathering in shared celebration to raise funds for the fire department fosters a feeling of togetherness, of community.  It is a statement of who we want to be, and what we want to strive for.  Fire season is scary, and taking steps to support a working response effort takes away some of the feeling of helplessness.

      Fire fighting equipment is expensive, and it takes all of us pooling our limited resources to support a functional effort.  Once equipment is obtained, we have to learn how to use it, which requires a commitment of training and consistency from community members.  Showing up is the basis for community, though sometimes it is difficult to carve out the time from busy schedules.

       The day after the benefit there was a vehicle fire on Bell Springs road and we responded with two rapid attack engines.  The fire spread to the brush but quick actions from locals had already stopped the spread when we arrived.  We helped with mop up and headed home, glad that it turned out to be a small incident.

      Community members are learning to think about fire in more constructive ways, preparing for the inevitability with clear steps to minimize damage.  Having hand tools and back pumps on hand, gas pumps ready and tanks full, cotton gear and boots at the ready, are all crucial steps to preventing fire from becoming catastrophic.  We are all learning to pay attention to conditions like wind direction and speed, temperature and humidity, applying these data to our expectations for fire behavior.

       Knowing what to do in the event of fire is critical, and it happens through practicing with a cool head so that the adrenaline doesn’t overwhelm when the real thing arrives.  During calm times, make plans for evacuation of valuables and keepsakes, pets and livestock.  Preparation of homesteads including water storage and movement, mowing, clearing of brush and marking of resources for fire responders are all steps that can be taken during calm times.

      Neighbors should communicate about fire plans and each neighborwoods should be as organized as possible in preparation for fire response.  The more communication that can happen in preparation, the more effective the response will be and the better the end results.

       For volunteer responders here on the hill we use a text message program that sends out a group text with incident location, response and staging locations and other necessary information.  Phone trees are also a great way for neighbors to help each other be informed.

      The more prepared and ready we are, the faster response times will be.  The goal is to catch em small and keep em small; the bigger the fire gets the harder it is to stop it.  The best response is a prepared homestead that can put out an accidental fire before it spreads.  Always call 911 so that resources can be dispatched, don’t assume that the fire can be stopped.

      Safety and preparation are of utmost importance.  Clear heads and cool operations avoid accidents.  When someone gets hurt, all activity on the fire stops until the person is safe.  Life cannot be replaced, and the danger is real.  We do well to think and prepare, acting in shared effort against a common threat that grows each year.  As always, much love and great success to you on your journey!