4.0 County-Wide Assessment Results
4.1 County-wide Risk and Hazard Assessment Overview
During June of 2004, the RCI Project Team evaluated five communities in Esmeralda County. Inventory and analyses of community design aspects (roads, signage, utility infrastructure), defensible space conditions, construction materials, architectural features, wildland-urban interface characteristics, and fuel hazards resulted in an overall hazard rating for each community. The results of these assessments are summarized in Table 4-1.
| Community | Interface Classification | Interface Fuel Hazard Condition | Ignition Risk | Fire Hazard Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyer/Fish Lake Valley | Rural | Low | Low | Low |
| Goldfield | Intermix | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Gold Point | Intermix | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Lida | Intermix | High | High | Moderate |
| Silver Peak | Intermix | Low | Low | Moderate |
4.1.1 Wildfire Protection Resources
Wildland fire suppression resources in Esmeralda County are available through the volunteer departments, and from the Bureau of Land Management in Benton, California. Table 4-2 summarizes the types of wildfire suppression resources, cooperating partners and equipment available to respond to wildland fires in the communities in Esmeralda County. The availability of the listed resources may vary depending on time of year and resource needs in other areas.
| Type of Equipment | Amount of Equipment | Cooperating Partner (Resource Location) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Type 3 | 1 | Bureau of Land Management Benton, CA |
| Air Tanker | 1 | Bureau of Land Management (Closest available resource dispatched from Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center in Minden, Nevada) |
| Hand Crew - Type 2 trained | 1 | Nevada Division of Forestry Conservation Camp (Tonopah) |
| Source: Sandy Johnson, Volunteer Gold Point VFD; Frank Baker, Chief, Silver Peak VFD; Denise Gano, Goldfield VFD. | ||
4.1.2 Detection and Communication
Fires in Esmeralda County are reported through 911 calls to the Esmeralda County Sheriff’s Office in Goldfield. Fires are communicated to fire response personnel through Esmeralda County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Dispatch using radios and pagers, and by telephone. The Esmeralda County Sheriff’s Office and the Volunteer Fire Departments have access to the state mutual aid frequencies. The radio system is compatible with neighboring agencies.
4.1.3 Community Preparedness
Esmeralda County has an active Local Emergency Planning Committee and has adopted an emergency plan that includes a hazardous material plan, a disaster plan, and an emergency evacuation plan for Hazmat incidents.