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Skinner fire an eerie reminder
May 2, 2008
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They say you have to pay the piper if you want to dance. If you want to live in the gorgeous Sierra Nevada, surrounded by towering pines and crystal-clear lakes, you have to put up with a downside.
And this past week reminded everyone who the piper is: wildfire.
Unwelcome as it might be, the Skinner fire in the Washoe Valley this week marked the return of wildfire to the region. Thankfully, no structures were damaged, and hand crews from across the region were able to quickly battle high winds to contain the blaze. It served as a hair-raising reminder of the pitfall of living in a state of near-perpetual sunlight and yearly drying.
As fire season is officially upon us, please take accountability for your own property in preparation for the worst. A recent Bonanza poll, admittedly unscientific, revealed 31 percent of respondents said they don’t take any steps to create defensible space. There is the distinct possibility all of those respondents lived in apartments and don’t need to worry about their defensible space, but every homeowner does.
Whether that means rolling up your sleeves and clearing the ladder fuels on your property yourself or hiring an independent defensible space contractor to do so, it’s your responsibility. It is your responsibility to your own property, to your neighbors and to the community as a whole. While fires serve as a frightening reminder to the perils of living here, it shouldn’t take a blaze to spark residents to action.
If you live here, you should accept these terms: I live in fire country, I understand that and will take accountability to do everything in my power to make sure my property is as safe as possible from the flames.
Our own firefighters are paid to keep us safe, to fight the fires near and far for a better Incline Village, Nevada, Western states and nation. Simply by living here it’s our responsibility to help them out.
You aren’t being asked to lay your life on the line, just to make sure you live up to your end of the bargain for living in such an amazing landscape.
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P/SUNNY 56°
