Resolution No. 4814 - Laserfiche WebLink

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interface areas. Most wildland or interface fires have human sources of ignition - arson, sparks from vehicles or electric lines, discarded smoking materials, or trash or debris fires that 9et out control, and so on. Thus, the probability of a given acre burning is higher in interface areas than for the wildland areas of Lane County as a whole. Developments in wildland/urban interface areas face a range of levels of fire risk, depending on a number of factors. Developments that have all of most of the following attributes are at the highest level of risk: 1 ) High vegetative fuel loads, with a high degree on continuity of fuel load few significant firebreaks). Risk may be particularly high if the fuel load is grass, brush and smaller trees, subject to being at very low moisture levels in short duration drought periods. 2) Higher slopes, which cause fires to spread more rapidly than in flatter terrain. 3) Limited fire suppression capacity, including limited water supply capacity for fire suppression purposes, limited fire fighting personnel and apparatus, and typically long response times for fire alarms. 4) Limited access for fire fighting apparatus and limited evacuation routes for residents at risk. 5) Construction of structures to less than fully fire-safe practices, and 6) Lack of maintenance of firebreaks and defensible zones around structures. Overall, for central Lane County, including the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area, the threat of wildland fire and/or wildland/urban interface fires appears moderate, in large part because of the typically high levels of rainfall. However, depending on specific conditions in developments in wildland/urban interface areas, the threat may be moderate to high, especially during periods of drought. The specific level of risk for each development depends on the particular risk factors as summarized above. A comprehensive evaluation of the level of risk for developments in wildland/urban interface areas requires a specific evaluation of the risk attributes listed above for each development area. A review of topography, forest cover and development patterns for the Eugene/ Springfield Area suggest that the following portions of the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area likely have higher levels of risk for wildland/urban interface fires than the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area as a whole: 1. the south hills areas of Eugene, 2. the south hills areas of Springfield, especially areas south of Main between South 2nd Street and the quarry off South 28th Street and east of 58th Street, and 3. the northeastern portion of Springfield, including areas outside the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area Plan boundary. Public Review Draft: August 6, 2004 9-17