Guest Editorial: Fire Breaks Needed

By Gene Seeley

My wife and I have lived on Sand Dune Avenue SW near the Polaris intersection since 1999.  Our living quarters are on the second floor so we have a nice view of the ocean and the dunes between Ocean Lake Way on the north and Taurus Avenue on the south. 

On July 4th 2006 and July 4th 2007, large dune fires burned from the beach west of Polaris on the north to Taurus on the south. These fires burned mainly the previous years’ dry salt grass over the same area. See fire-break-diagram. These fires were each about 20 acres. Fireworks smoke trails showed the winds to be out of the north to north/northwest at approximately 20 mph. By the time firemen put out the fires each was about 370 feet from the houses near Taurus.

 Fighting fires in the dunes is difficult. The soft sand, mounds, depressions and encroaching vegetation make access by any large street rated fire equipment nearly impossible. Bulldozers have shown themselves to be the most effective dune fire stoppers. I suspect operating these standard bulldozers at or in front of these advancing grass fires is extra hazardous duty.

On July 4th 2003, a dune fire started just south of Taurus at the west end and burned southeast toward the intersection of Sand Dune Avenue SW and Ocean Shores Blvd.  This fire was estimated to be between 20 and 25 acres. Because of its configuration disclosed by an aerial photograph it is referred to as “the chicken fire”.  It was stopped about 350 feet from houses.

Back to 2007:  About the time the Polaris fire was reported another call to 911 reported a fire about midway between Taurus and Butter Clam Street. Two potential large fires at once. Butter Clam Street ends at the dunes so there is only a barely defined trail continuing to the ocean beach to aid stopping the fire. This fire took top priority to stop. Extraordinary effort by our fire department was able to contain the fire at the trail. Fire equipment and firefighters were then shifted to the northern fire where it was stopped at Taurus.

Over the years many smaller fires in the dunes have been extinguished by our fire department.  Outside fire agencies have assisted Ocean Shores with equipment and firefighters on several occasions.

We have no objection to 4th of July fireworks on the ocean beach and enjoy watching the show from our beach front home. The 4th of July is a major economic event for Ocean Shores. The availability of the beach for tourists to shoot fireworks themselves is a unique Ocean Shores draw. It is not unlike having a perennial “Woodstock” of our own. Our children and grandchildren have all taken part in the beach fireworks events.

The city of Ocean Shores owns the dunes property between the western boundary of the platted city and the mean high tide line. 

At the city council meeting on Monday, April 13th, 2009 I presented a proposal to allow any lot owner on the western boundary of the platted area of Ocean Shores to construct a Zone 2 firebreak 100 feet into the Ocean Shores dunes property at no cost to the city.  

A  Zone 2 fire break is not a clear cut, a ditch, a moat or a wall. It is a method developed over a many centuries to inhibit and usually stop all but the worst wind driven fires. The basic rule is to remove all combustible ground cover.  This includes dry grass, leaves, pine needles, twigs and other trash. The next rule is to trim off tree branches to 7 or 8 feet above the ground.  On our dunes the trees are mainly shore pines and an occasional fir tree. Small bunches of trees or larger individual trees should be spaced about 30 feet apart.  Intervening brush should be removed.  We have more than our share of a notoriously flammable tree called “wax myrtle.” It ignites easily, burns furiously, makes sparks and because of its volatile wax components occasionally explodes. We have a grove of these on city property just across our western lot line approximately 40 feet from our deck.

Many of the lots which have not had the vegetation encroachment that we and others have had (since about 1995) will only need to mow the salt grass once or twice in the fall when it is drying and remove the clippings.  

Use of heavy equipment like bulldozers, backhoes or tractors will not be necessary.   Chips from chippers, if used, would have to be removed from city property.  Most of the conversion to Zone 2 firebreak can be accomplished with at most hand clippers, an electric saws-all or a small chainsaw, a mower and a wheelbarrow.  In some areas a chipper may be worthwhile.   

The recommended Zone 2 fire break configuration per typical lot is shown on the diagram. The 45 degree extensions for each lot gives the owner substantial protection even if there are undeveloped lots on each side. Owners of undeveloped lots have little incentive to construct their own Zone 2 firebreak.

In addition, the firebreak will provide much improved access to firefighters.  

The important remaining question is:

 What is going to happen when we have a dune fire with a strong west wind without the proposed firebreak in place?

Gene Seeley welcomes feedback at   360-289-4403 or seeley@coastaccess.com.