Little Bear Fire (law, homeowner, pine)

[GregW]

As a New Englander living in nearly fireproof (most of the woods around here are effectively swamps) forests I only have my college courses to rely on when discussing these situations. I did grow up in a fire forest near Albany NY. It was called the Pine Bush and parts burned every few years until it became filled with shopping malls and houses.

I consider building houses in a fire forest just about as smart as building on the flood plain of a river. Go right ahead but do not expect me to help you with insurance. As I have said earlier my wife and I want to move to New Mexico. The conditions of the forests and access to medical care and college preclude our ever building a house in a forest no matter how desirable living these might be.

I would like to thank the posters for providing up to date information on the complexities of fire policy in the Southwest.

GregW

[rruff]

Originally Posted by GregW

I consider building houses in a fire forest just about as smart as building on the flood plain of a river.

How about a place that gets tornadoes? Earthquakes? Hurricanes? Or even fires in dry grass (Texas 2011... and many others)?

Granted, there are a few places in the country that are at low risk from these things. Living in the central NM desert would be pretty safe. But most places have a significant hazard of one sort or another, and people have lived in the woods around here for a very long time.

[GregW]

I know that. I just hope they knew the risks before the moved in.

We have our share of hazards that include ice storms, flooding and hurricanes.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by GregW

I know that. I just hope they knew the risks before the moved in.

You would have to actually see the circumstances in which many people (people of means, too) live. It's almost a given that the average person who lives on a heavily wooded lot HATES to think of losing their trees. Unfortunately for those who are reluctant to thin their property and remove trees close to the house, the bark beetles in recent years have been doing it for them. The problem is that many lots have a dense growth of smaller trees that the bark beetles seem to leave alone. It's that "undergrowth" that invites fire to attack houses - as well as the tall trees.

Look at the photos I've attached. These houses burned primarily due to grasses and other undergrowth, not because the taller trees burned. Notice that in the case of the house trailer, there is a single tree next to the house that burned (and the grass) giving the appearance that it set the trailer afire.

[mike b1]

And, it's illegal to live in a trailer that can be moved when a fire is approaching. I think the codes should be relaxed to allow full time trailer living as long as a person has a permitted septic system and follows the other applicable rules.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by mike b1

And, it's illegal to live in a trailer that can be moved when a fire is approaching.

I don't know how illegal it is in the county but I do know that there is a difference in taxation for mobile homes that are not on foundations vs those that have had the axles removed and the body set on a permanent foundation. I know of quite a few people who have lived in RVs/Mobile Homes for several years, sometimes on land where they are building their own homes.

There is a single wide across from me that I've seen the state inspecting on several occasions over the period of time I've lived here. The "inspector" always looks underneath to see if the axle is still in place, but this one is NOT on a perimeter foundation - only has a metal skirt all around it. And this is in the village of Ruidoso in a subdivision that was originally laid out as a mobile home area.

[songinthewind7]

Just got back home from Missouri. How's the fire situation? Is it contained yet?

[mike b 1]

Joqua, I'm talking about living in a travel trailer on your property. The only time it's legal is if you are in the process of building a house, and you must obtain a permit to do it. If it were legal to live in travel trailer, you could quickly hook up and leave when a fire approaches, makes sense.

[stillkit]

If any of y'all need help cleaning up a burnt house, or know anyone who does, contact a local Southern Baptist Church or Red Cross helper. Our Disaster Relief ash-out teams are on the way. The New Mexico Baptist's are already there, I think, and we Oklahoma Baptist's are bringing one team a week for at least the month of July. We will clean up the site, right down to the foundation (if there is one), separate the debris and recover any valuables we find for the property owner.

And, it's free. We don't charge a dime, won't force you to take a Bible tract, listen to a sermon, go to church or anything else. We won't even accept a donation. It's our service to you in the name of Christ and we don't care if you're a Baptist, Catholic, Muslim, Hindu or the devil himself. If you need help, we're there for you.

[rruff]

Forest ranger (Warnack) says he would do exactly the same thing. Really. So we should expect any tiny fire in the mountains that goes nowhere for a few days to eventually rage out of control as soon as the winds kick up. No way to actually put it out. No reason to use slurry bombers or a helicopter that can actually function at that altitude.

And they wonder why we don't trust the Forest Service... or would admitting to a mistake open them up to liability?

Forest ranger says he would do 'exactly the same thing' regarding Little Bear Fire - Ruidoso News