5.1 Hazard and Risk Assessment

The community of Alpine View is located on Jacks Valley Road, west of Jacks Valley/Indian Hills and north of Genoa in the northwestern portion of Douglas County. Alpine View is situated at the base of the Carson Range at an elevation of 5,200 feet, adjacent to the Jacks Valley Wildlife Management Area administered by the US Forest Service. The southern and western portions of the community border irrigated pastureland. Ninety-six residences were observed during the assessment visit. The risk/hazard assessment resulted in classifying Alpine View in the Moderate Hazard category (54 points). A summary of the factors that contributed to the hazard rating is included in Table 5-2. The primary factors that determined the hazard rating for Alpine View were the widespread use of fire resistant construction materials and adequate road accessibility. However, the community is situated in a location adjacent to dense fuel loads and terrain associated with hazardous fire behavior.

5.1.1 Community Design

The Alpine View interface area is characterized by the intermix wildland-urban interface condition. Structures are scattered throughout the wildland area with no clear line of demarcation between wildland fuels and residences in the community. The RCI Project Team observed that all of the homes in Alpine View are located on lots between one and ten acres in size. Figure 5-1 details the community layout and design.

• Roads: Jacks Valley Road is the major transportation route linking Alpine View to surrounding communities. This primary access road is paved and at least 24 feet wide, an adequate width for two-vehicle passage and fire suppression equipment to maneuver. All of the secondary community roads have adequate turn around space for fire suppression equipment, and the majority of community roads have less than a five percent grade.
• Signage: Street signs were present and visible for all streets. Residential addresses were generally visible except for six of the homes in the community.
• Utilities: The utilities serving Alpine View are underground and do not contribute to any additional wildfire hazard or ignition risk.

5.1.2 Construction Materials

Of the 96 homes observed, almost all were built with treated wood siding materials, stucco, vinyl, brick, or other fire resistant siding materials. Most homes have fire resistant roofing materials such as composite, metal, or tile. Twenty percent of the homes observed have unenclosed balconies, porches, decks, or other architectural features that create drafts and provide areas where sparks and firebrands can be trapped, smolder, ignite, and rapidly spread fire to the home.

5.1.3 Defensible Space

Approximately 92 percent of homes observed had landscaping that would meet defensible space guidelines to protect the home from damage or loss during a wildfire. The recommended defensible space treatment area is a minimum of thirty to 200 feet depending upon vegetation type and slope within the Alpine View community.

5.1.4 Suppression Capabilities

Wildfire Protection Resources

Career-staffed Indian Hills Station 12 of the East Fork Fire Protection District and the Jacks Valley Volunteer Fire Department (Station 15) are responsible for wildfire and structure fire protection in Alpine View. At the time of the assessment, the Jacks Valley VFD listed fifteen to twenty volunteers on its roster (East Fork Fire Protection District website). See Tables 4-2 and 4-3 for more information on the typical fire suppression response for first-alarm wildland-urban interface fires in Douglas County. Appendix E lists the type and number of fire suppression vehicles located at each EFFPD and Douglas County VFD station.

Water Sources and Infrastructure

Water availability for fire suppression resources for Alpine View include a one million-gallon and one 250,000-gallon water storage tank in Jacks Valley/Indian Hills and a fire hydrant at the Jacks Valley Elementary School. The turn-around time for fire apparatus responding to a fire occurrence in Alpine View is less than twenty minutes. Ponds may be available for use as helicopter dip sites on private land south of the community during the irrigation season. The ponds could only be used with landowner permission. There are no fire hydrants available for the Alpine View community.

5.1.5 Factors Affecting Fire Behavior

Vegetation, dead and down fuels, and topographic features contribute to the potential fire hazard around wildland-urban interface communities. The Alpine View community lies on the south-facing aspect of an alluvial fan with slopes ranging from ten to twenty percent. Steeper mountainous slopes of thirty percent or greater are located directly north of the community. The predominant wind direction is from the west with occasional strong downslope winds in the late afternoons during the summer months. A history of lightning-caused ignitions exists to the east of the community and thunderstorms are frequent in the area.

The vegetative fuel density was heavy in both fuel types within the Alpine View community. Dominant vegetation types included big sagebrush/bitterbrush and Jeffrey Pine/bitterbrush associations. The majority of the community is situated where vegetative fuels consisted of six to eight foot tall bitterbrush and four foot tall big sagebrush, Mormon tea, and rabbitbrush. Cheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail were the dominant grasses in the understory. Fuel loads in this vegetation type ranged from 3.5 to six tons per acre and were rated as a moderate to high fuel hazard.

Fuels in the northwest portion of the community transitioned into the Jeffrey pine/bitterbrush vegetation type. Dominant understory vegetation was similar to the rest of the community with the addition of a Jeffrey pine tree canopy. Fuel loads in this vegetation type ranged from six to eight tons per acre and were rated as an extreme fuel hazard.

5.1.6 Fire Hazard Reduction Projects

The US Forest Service Humboldt-Toiyabe Carson Ranger District completed a 200 to 400 foot wide fuel reduction treatment on the north and northeast sides of the Alpine View community. On the northwest side of the community a private landowner installed a 25-foot wide fuelbreak along fences behind homes from Schneider Ranch Road to the US Forest Service fuelbreak.

The USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe Carson Ranger District is in the process of planning approximately 340 acres of fuel reduction treatment within the Jacks Valley Wildlife Management Area, located southeast of the Alpine View community. Proposed treatments include several 200-foot wide fuelbreaks along the Forest Service boundary and along designated roads. Mechanical mastication equipment will likely be the primary method used to reduce fuels, except in areas where topography and ground conditions warrant the use of hand crews (see the Jacks Valley/Indian Hills section, Figure 15-4). A final decision on implementation of this project is pending due to funding and prioritization by the Carson Ranger District.

5.1.7 Fire Behavior Worst Case Scenario

The worst-case scenario for a wildland fire in the area surrounding Alpine View would likely occur in the event of a dry lightning storm with numerous ignitions along the east-facing slope of the Carson Range. Fire agencies could be faced with multiple fires being pushed by erratic winds toward residential areas on the west side of Douglas County including Alpine View. A fire ignition located northwest of the community with downslope winds in excess of 25 miles per hour could push a fire front through the heavy brush fuels toward homes. The intermix interface condition and heavy fuel density in this area could increase difficulty in controlling a wildfire that is threatening homes. The scenario would be worse if East Fork Fire and Paramedic Districts resources were unavailable due to previous assignment to an emergency situation elsewhere.

5.1.8 Ignition Risk Assessment

Alpine View is considered to be at high risk of ignition for lightning caused fires. There is an extensive history of wildfire and fire ignitions in the public lands nearby and adjacent to Alpine View. High ignition rates are likely due to the high hazard fuel type in and around the community and the tendency for lightning storms during the summer.

5.2 Risk and Hazard Reduction Recommendations

The Alpine View risk and hazard reduction recommendations address the primary concern regarding protection of existing and future development in the wildland-urban interface area. Other recommendations pertain to community coordination and public education efforts that could be undertaken to enhance fire safety in the community.

5.2.1 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 (minimum of 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 Owner Recommendations

• Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation to create defensible space around homes according to the guidelines in Appendix D. 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.
• Remove debris and flammable materials from within the defensible space area.
• Store firewood a minimum distance of thirty feet from structures.
• Mow or remove brush growing against wood and vinyl fences for a distance of ten to 25 feet.
• Remove pine needles, leaves, and debris from roofs and rain gutters.
• Maintain areas under wood decks and porches free of weeds and other flammable debris. Enclose these areas wherever possible.
• Clear all vegetation and combustible materials around propane tanks for a minimum of ten feet.
• Install spark-arresting devices on chimneys.
• For Jeffrey pine trees within the defensible space zone, limb branches a minimum distance of fifteen feet from the ground or no more than one-third the height of the tree. All dead and diseased branches and duff should be removed from beneath remaining trees.
• Prune trees so that the branches are at least fifteen feet away from chimneys and or structures.
• Immediately dispose of cleared vegetation when implementing defensible space treatments. This material dries quickly and poses a fire hazard if left on site.
• Irrigate all trees and large shrubs in close proximity to structures to increase their fire resiliency, especially during drought conditions.
• Maintain this defensible space as needed to keep the space lean, clean, and green.

5.2.2 Fire Suppression Capability

Coordination among local, state, and federal fire suppression agencies is important in the day-to-day fire prevention activities and becomes critical in the event of a wildland fire. During a fire event, firefighters from other communities and states may be dispatched to areas they have never been before. This is particularly true in areas like Alpine View, which may receive aid from outside fire suppression agencies in the event of a catastrophic wildland fire. The following recommendations related to actions homeowners can take to increase the quality of fire suppression response in their community.

Property Owner Recommendation

• Consider purchasing a fire retardant gel or foam product designed for homeowner use. These gels/foams can be applied to structures and vegetation to create an added layer of flame resistance in the event of a fire.

5.2.3 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 improve firefighter access and safety for protecting homes.

Property Owner Recommendation

• Reduce fuels at least ten feet along both sides of private driveways longer than 200 feet. Flammable fuels should be replaced with fire-resistant species such as crested wheatgrass, irrigated deciduous shrubs, wildflowers, lawn, or by seeding with an approved pre-suppression seed mix. Refer to Appendix D for recommended seed mixes and planting guidelines.

East Fork Fire and Paramedic Districts, Nevada Division of Forestry and US Forest Service Recommendations

• Coordinate with private landowners to construct a 100 to 200-foot wide fuelbreak on the east side of the community one-half mile in length, for a total treatment area of approximately six to twelve acres. Remove all brush within half of the width of the fuelbreak nearest to the homes (50 to 100 feet). Thin shrubs within the remaining area such that the distance between each canopy is twice the height of the shrubs (preferring bitterbrush retention over other species). Seed the treatment area with short-stature perennial grasses and forbs suitable to the site and the fuelbreak goals such as recommended in Appendix D.
• Widen the existing 25-foot wide fuelbreak on the west side of the community to 200 feet. Remove all brush within the half of the fuelbreak width (100 feet nearest to the homes). Thin shrubs within the remaining area such that the distance between each canopy is twice the height of the shrubs (preferring bitterbrush retention over other species). Seed the treatment area with short-stature perennial grasses and forbs suitable to the site and the fuelbreak goals such as recommended in Appendix D.
• Construct a 100 to 200 foot wide fuelbreak for a distance of approximately one mile on the south side of Jacks Valley Road between the communities of Alpine View and Jacks Valley/Indian Hills. The total proposed treatment area is approximately 12 to 24 acres (see Figure 5-1). Remove all shrubs (except bitterbrush) and seed the fuelbreak with a seed mix suitable to the site such as recommended in Appendix D.
• Maintain existing fuelbreaks on the west and north sides of the community every three to seven years as needed to maintain reduced fuel conditions.
• Remove the biomass generated from construction of the fuelbreak and disposed of at an appropriate site. The fuelbreak should be maintained as needed to reestablish reduced fuel conditions.

5.2.4 Community Coordination

Many of the most effective activities aimed at reducing the threat of wildfire for the Alpine View community require that individual property owners coordinate with each other and with local fire authorities. Defensible space, for example, is more effective in small communities when applied uniformly throughout entire neighborhoods. Public education and awareness, neighbors helping neighbors, and proactive individuals setting examples for others to follow are just a few of the approaches that will be necessary to meet the fire safe goals in the community. Disposal of biomass generated from defensible space and fuel reduction treatments can sometimes be most efficiently handled through community programs.

Property Owner Recommendations

• Assure that address signs are visible from the road. Address characters should be at least four inches high, reflective, and composed of non-flammable material. Improving visibility of addresses will make it easier for those unfamiliar with the area to navigate under smoky conditions during a wildland fire.
• Reorganize the Alpine View/Jacks Valley chapter of the Nevada Fire Safe Council to include the Indian Hills and Sunridge areas.

East Fork Fire and Paramedic Districts and Nevada Division of Forestry Recommendations

• Distribute copies of the publication “Living With Fire” to all property owners who live in wildland-urban interface subdivisions in Alpine View. This publication is free of charge. Copies can be requested from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

5.3 Summary of Recommendations

Table 5-1. Alpine View Priority Recommendations to Reduce Wildfire Risks and Hazards

Involved Party	Recommended Treatment	Recommendation Description
Property Owners	Defensible Space	Remove, reduce, and replace vegetation around homes according to the defensible space guidelines in Appendix D.
	Fire Suppression Capability	Consider purchasing a fire retardant gel or foam product designed for homeowner use.
	Fuels Reduction	Reduce fuels at least ten feet along both sides of private driveways that are longer than 200 feet.
	Community Coordination	Assure that address signs are visible from the road. Address characters should be at least four inches high, reflective, and composed of non-flammable material. Reorganize the local chapter of the Nevada Fire Safe Council to include the Indian Hills and Sunridge areas.
US Forest Service Nevada Division of Forestry East Fork Fire and Paramedic Districts	Fuels Reduction	Coordinate with private landowners to construct and maintain a proposed 100 to 200-foot wide fuelbreak on the east side of the community and widen the 25-foot wide fuelbreak on the west side of the community to 200 feet.
	Community Coordination	Distribute copies of the publication “Living With Fire” to all property owners.

Table 5-2 Alpine View Wildfire Hazard Assessment Summary Sheet

Figure 5-1 Alpine View Fire History, Suppression Resources, and Mitigation Projects small | large | x-large