Tree Clearing For Fire Prevention In Beaverton's Forests
Tree clearing is the process of removing trees from a forested area. There are many reasons to do this, some more justified than others.
Beaverton has a large amount of forested land, making it a popular place for hikers and nature lovers. With that popularity comes increased risk of forest fires.
Since trees can carry fire from one place to another, if there is a fire in one area of the forest soil, it can easily spread to other areas. This makes prevention of fires difficult, and even dangerous for firefighters.
Removing trees that are dead or dying, as well as thinning out the forests is an effective way to prevent these fires from spreading and becoming catastrophic.
This article will discuss how your community organization can help with tree clearing for fire prevention.
Call a professional
While you may know how to do it, you probably will not do it as well as a professional. Professionals have years of experience and know the best ways to clear trees and bushes.
Besides, they have the necessary equipment to efficiently clear the areas. They also know the laws regarding tree clearing in your area so that they do not over-remove trees or vegetation.
Reasons to call a professional for tree clearing include:
They have the expertise needed for the job Your time is valuable and they can get the job done faster than you can How much money you will save by hiring a professional
Regardless of whether you need tree clearing done or not, if there is a fire in your area, report it! Firefighters would much rather have adequate time to prepare than none at all.
Clear away from buildings
As the threat of wildfires increases each year, it is important for residents to know how to prevent them and how to deal with them if they occur.
One of the most important prevention steps is to clear away dry vegetation near buildings. This includes grasses and shrubs as well as trees and bushes.
Beaverton requires that property owners maintain a 15-foot vegetative buffer adjacent to buildings and structures. This includes rooftops, chimneys, vents, etc. The City also requires a 30-foot tree clearing radius around these buffers.
These regulations are in place to prevent burning debris from accumulating on the ground or in trees and bushes near buildings and structures. This prevents smoldering fires from spreading onto property owners’ land.
Clear away from power lines
A crucial part of fire prevention in forested areas is ensuring that there are no pathways for fire to spread through.
Power lines can be a source of concern, as they can spark a fire if the trees and brush around them are dried out or burned.
Beaverton requires that property owners maintain a minimum of eight feet (2.4 m) clearance between tree canopies and overhead power lines to reduce the potential for fires caused by these wires.
Additionally, all vegetation must be maintained at least eight feet from the wires to prevent fires from starting on the ground and traveling up to the lines.
Use natural barriers
In addition to managing the trees in your backyard, homeowners can also help prevent wildfires by clearing trees and brush from their property.
Natural barriers, like large bodies of water or tall cliffs, can help prevent fire spread on a property.
By removing trees and bushes from around homes and buildings, firefighters can more easily protect them.
Wildfires are a natural part of the environment, but people can play a role in preventing them from getting out of control. By taking some measures on private property, damage and injuries can be reduced.
Beaverton residents are invited to drop off unwanted trees at the City’s forestry facility for free chip disposal or to purchase discounted tree removal services via the City’s Forestry website.
Use chemical controls
A less drastic measure is to use chemical controls to rid trees and bushes of vegetation. These can come in the form of herbicides that kill off unwanted plants or anticoagulants that poison specific tree species.
Herbicide use has increased in recent years, as has criticism of it. Some studies have shown that chronic exposure to some herbicides can lead to health issues like cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Others have noted a connection between herbicide use and declines in honeybee populations, which could have implications for future tree growth.
Beaverton has a no-kill policy when it comes to trees, so clearing out unwanted vegetation is not an option. However, the city does employ selective cutting techniques that only target certain trees while leaving others intact.
Know the fire safety plan for your home
As mentioned earlier, most of the homes in the area are built in wooded areas, so there is a higher risk of forest fires.
To prevent this risk from becoming a tragedy, make sure you know the fire safety plan for your home and surrounding homes.
Make sure that all members of the family know how to activate the fire safety plan and where all of the emergency supplies are. These include water, fire extinguishers, and escape routes.
Make sure to have an evacuation plan if needed and make sure everyone knows when to leave.
Maintain adequate vegetation clearance around roof openings
Roof openings such as skylights, chimneys, and roof vents require adequate vegetation clearance around them to prevent fires from spreading onto the roof and into the structure.
The rules for clearing around roof openings depend on whether or not the building has been closed in by a roof. If the building has no open spaces between the structure and the ground, then there must be a six-inch clearance between vegetation and any part of the opening.
If there is no open space between the structure and the ground, then there must be a six-inch clearance between vegetation and any part of the opening. If there is open space between the structure and the ground, then there must be a three-foot clearance between vegetation and any part of the opening.
These rules apply to trees, bushes, and grasses within a ten foot radius of these structures.
