Self Suffifciency
By Jim Palmer Jr.

In recent days we’ve all had the chance for a lot of self reflection concerning our individual level of preparation and self sufficiency.  The Corkscrew Canyon fire that recently ravaged thousands of acres in our immediate area has had us all on edge and even caused many of us (living within the level 3 boundaries) to evacuate our homes because of the imminent danger.  My wife and I agreed on some of the items that should be evacuated, such as important papers, a suitcase with clothing, and family photos, but when it came down to additional items we found that our attachment to “stuff” was markedly different.  She was focused on items sentimental to her and I was focused on getting horses and mules relocated and would have left most of the other stuff behind.

Even though fire planes are still flying over the house (to refill at Loon Lake), the rains came and the immediate danger to our property subsided, so we were able to move back in.  We talked about what we could do differently next time to be more prepared.  We were pleased about how some of our preparations allowed us to react quickly, but we also realized there is still room for improvement.  We have kept a wide swath of green space around the house (a constant battle), which we think might have protected our home, but when I saw the aftermath of the fire in some burned areas it was easy to see which strategies work and which don’t.

When it was safe to do so, I visited a listed property in one of the canyons that is now a moonscape because of how hot the fire burned as it raged through that thickly wooded canyon.  The cabin that was situated in thick woods is gone, except for a pile of crinkled tin.  Every tree and every twig has been reduced to ash on the whole 20 acres.  No effort was ever made to mow or trim or thin and the result was that this property was indefensible.  In the same canyon two other homes survived the inferno because the homeowners had created a defensible space around the homes.

Rural living requires a level of self sufficiency that many have not attained yet.  Of course it would be impossible to prepare for every eventuality, but there are things we all can do differently.  Some of those trees and shrubs around the house may have to go!