Dry weather could lead to fire

Looks like we might be in for a warm spring and summer. One thing's for sure - the blooms and vegetation will be less than in the previous couple of years due to the dry winter we just had but everything will be much drier, too. Living in high desert areas such as ours can be challenging to maintain landscapes and other amenities that we may have on our properties. This year will probably offer more dangers to fires with the dryness of the area vegetation. We will have to be more careful and more alert to protect our homes and our recreation areas. There are a few simple things to be on the lookout for; and if we are all more aware, hopefully we can avert any potential forest or home fires and learn a little something in the process.

Our neighborhood has an abundance of tumbleweeds - some are the size of an adult - and they make great fire starters. Once they reach maturity, tumbleweeds naturally separate at the ground level making it easy to round them up for trash pickup or a dump run. Of course, you have to get them before the winds kick up and send them on a trip around the county. The cheat grass, which looks like wheat, is also a problem because it burns so fast you can't get out of its way.

For more specific help in this area, please contact the cooperative extension office at 782-9960. They are a wealth of information and have products available for weed control in our area. Every little bit we can do will pay off in the unlucky event of a spark in the wrong place. Picking up broken glass can also help to prevent an unfortunate spark. The glorious sunshine that we all enjoy here in the Valley can also shine through the glass and heat it up enough to ignite the dry grasses. I've seen this happen; in the blink of an eye, flames can spread up a hill and get out of control. Remember that 15 feet perimeter around structures and 30 feet around your property is the recommendation for defensible space that should be clear of combustible materials. The combustibles could be dry weeds or firewood or any other easily burnable debris on your property.

Watering in the daytime can be ineffective due to the evaporation and the winds blowing the water away from the intended plants or trees. In this dry climate, we can water in the early morning hours or late evening hours and not have to be concerned with dampness problems that may occur in a more humid environment. We are in the process of redoing the plants in our yard and are putting in more native, drought tolerant plants and trees that are further away from the house. We are going to have grass just in the areas closest to the house. That way we can minimize the water necessary to keep things green and alive as well as maximize the use of defensible space. We are also looking into plants that have a low combustibility rate. In the April 13 column, County Code Officer Jay Hoogestraat explained that junipers burn very quick and very hot even though they are a green plant. So we can't always assume that picking things that are green will provide a barrier to fires.

With the possibility of West Nile virus becoming more active this year, we need to be aware of standing water on our properties. This includes bird baths, pet and livestock water bowls, ponds or fountains. According to our volunteer fire department's Assistant Fire Chief John Babcock, these containers of water should be completely emptied, cleaned and refilled every 72 hours to help eliminate the mosquito larvae reaching maturity. Vaccinating our horses against the virus is imperative. The Douglas County Mosquito Abatement District, led by Ron Lynch, can help in this area. If you have any questions or need further information, you can contact him at 782-4642. Mark Gonzales, Gardnerville Water Company engineer as well as the training captain in our Ruhenstroth Volunteer Fire Department, reminds us about using products containing DEET to prevent being bitten. These products come in pop-up containers of wipes or individually packaged wipes that are easy to carry.

Skin-So-Soft products by Avon have long been considered to be effective mosquito repellents, too. There are some animal and children-friendly preventatives for keeping the fountains, water bowls, etc., free of mosquitoes and their larvae. Microbe Lift BMC says that it is safe for these kinds of applications. You can learn more about it at www.naturalenviro.com/bmc.htm or by calling them (800) 999-9345. Watering our yards and gardens may be challenging this year. While I am not going to get into the argument of whether or not we have enough water in the neighborhood or Valley, I can attest to the fact that the level in our well has dropped more than 10 feet in the last five years. Our neighbor, Gary Swift, has developed a Web site for water issues specific to our neighborhood. You can check it out at www.geocities.com/ruhenstrothwater for updates on meetings and minutes from those meetings.

Mark your calendars for our annual barbecue on July 21 from 4 p.m. to midnight at the fire station on Pinto Road. It is a great family night and a way to meet your neighbors.

Have a ramblin' good week!

-- To reach Gail Davis, e-mail RuhenstrothRamblings@yahoo.com or call 265-1947.