Reassessing bug out strategy - What about fires?

[The Heretic]

 

[bradsteen]

The argument for an underground bunker keeps growing. Just saying...

 

[The Heretic]

I have not read this whole thread, but one scary aspect of SHTF that is "total" (i.e., TEOTWAWKI) such that there is no more fire departments/etc., is that there would be a lot more fires and they can/will spread without anything much to stop the spread - except natural barriers, and even those may not do much, if anything to stop or slow down the spread.

I.E., just imagine the wildfires we currently have without anybody out there doing something to control them.

Then imagine all the crazy people who like/want to see things burn.

And imagine the careless people who negligently cause fires due to their stupidity.

And fires caused by conflicts/etc.

In short, do what you can to reduce the vulnerability of your residence/BOL to fires.

 

[Defense Minister]

If I ever get off my posterior and sell my property, then buy land and build, fire will be a prime consideration. Probably ICF and earth bermed. Exposed walls may have a stone (real stone) facade. Windows will have security shutters - probably metal. Roof will be metal - maybe with sprinklers installed.

ICF construction with a metal roof and noncombustible siding is exactly how I intend to build my next rural home, but I need to get out of Eutopia, OR first... Taking a trip to northern ID/NW MT next summer to scope it out, and it looks like there are a few of you on this thread already in MT. If fate brings me there I'll reach out as it's always good to have a network of folks who can help one another out, and I was just talking to a good, like-minded friend a few days ago about the downside of moving from where I am: being a stranger in a strange land.

Bring food, whisky, and bullets...

Three things I always have in ample supply!

 

[Angie]

ICF construction with a metal roof and noncombustible siding is exactly how I intend to build my next rural home, but I need to get out of Eutopia, OR first... Taking a trip to northern ID/NW MT next summer to scope it out, and it looks like there are a few of you on this thread already in MT. If fate brings me there I'll reach out as it's always good to have a network of folks who can help one another out, and I was just talking to a good, like-minded friend a few days ago about the downside of moving from where I am: being a stranger in a strange land.


Three things I always have in ample supply!

Feel free to reach out, and let me know if you have any questions. We're at the south end of Flathead Lake.

 

[The Heretic]

If I haven't mentioned it, location is important.

I have "Watch Duty" running 24/7 on my phone and the web page open when I am using my laptop.

For a while it has occurred to me that the NW corner of Oregon is probably at lower risk for forest fires than the rest of Oregon - lower, albeit not fireproof; fires still occur. Looking at the Watch Duty map I rarely see fires in this corner of the state.

Today I searched google for a history map of forest fires in the state - didn't really find one that worked (the gov's map didn't really show a history, and what it did show was only fires on ODF lands).

I did come across an interesting dissertation on forest fires and the ages of trees before "white man" came to the state. Among other interesting facts/theories, it appears that most of the trees in the coastal mountain range are/were much younger than expected - less than 500 years old, many less than 300 years old - when Doug fir can get much older. Based on observations when European explorers/settlers first got here, and started logging, it appears that sometime in the 16th century (1500s), there was a number of large fires in the coastal range - one theory is that some or most were set by the indigenous peoples.

CHAPTER 4

 

[The Heretic]

Looking at the watch duty site today it appears that, in Oregon at least, the firefighters are containing a significant number of the major Cascade fires.

Of course, there are probably some fires that won't be contained until the rainy season comes on sometime next month. Supposed to get some rain here Wed. and maybe some late Thu/early Fri

So far it seems combustibles around here on the mountain are greener than last year. It also seems we have had intermittent short periods of rain to help with that.

 

[Idaho44]

Lacking intervention by "man" (e.g. fire suppression crews) fires can continue to burn even with rain and snow. Think about how 'prairies' were enabled! Fire ecology is more complex than some superficial concept re. natural or man made ignition.

 

[The Heretic]

View: https://youtu.be/P9n_eyDzGSo?si=Jl385dIh5qLSDA4z