GRANTS, N.M. –
Fire Marshal Dustin Middleton is on the move across Cibola to teach residents about the threat of fire danger, and how to be prepared. On May 19 the Grants City Council held a marathon meeting, here, Middleton spoke directly to the people of Grants about the high fire danger threat to Cibola County.
Middleton discussed protecting individual homes, the new “Ready, Set, Go!” program, and potential firework bans in the city.
Cibola County is currently under extreme drought, which increases the potential for fire danger. Middleton explained that the drought puts the community at a higherrisk, and that even with significant rains, the drought will not subside. Protecting the Home
Middleton explained that fire danger is extremely high. To be prepared for high fire danger, Middleton explained that residents should clear brush and high weeds from their homes, cut down tree limbs that are low hanging or near to the home, and clear out gutters as pine needles and other junk inside of the gutters can be fuel for fires if an ember lands in the gutter.
Fire embers can travel as far as 10 miles, and if an ember lands in a pile in grass clippings, it could easily ignite those clippings and put a residency, a residential block, and the whole community at risk.
Fire suppression teams will fight to protect as many homes as possible in the event of a fire, Middleton said, but that residents should help protect their own homes by removing potential fire fuel. Ready, Set, Go!
Middleton discussed the new program Cibola County has joined. This nationwide effort is called “Ready, Set, Go!” and aims to make fire evacuations more orderly and beneficial for the communities it may effect.
If a fire breaks out in the area, there will be phases before evacuations start. At the “Go!” phase, residents are expected to evacuate, but do not need to wait for the evacuation order to leave.
Ready
If Cibola is placed on “Ready” status, residents must begin packing their items. Ensure that all important documents are secured and ready to be moved; plan an evacuation route; find assistance for moving elderly, pets, or medical equipment.
This is a preliminary stage, and it is vital to ensuring you can move when called upon.
Set
At “Set”, Cibola needs to begin loading the items it has packed into vehicles. With all important packed and loaded, residents will be ready to leave once an evacuation is ordered.
If Cibola reaches this phase, residents should not be scrambling because packed all of their necessities and important documents.
Go!
If “Go!” status is reached, residents are expected to evacuate. Those who stay behind to try protecting their homes may end up causing issues for fire fighting personnel and endanger their lives, while tying up their already limited resources.
If instructions have been followed, all residents should have to do is get in their cars and evacuate.
Fireworks
Grants Councilors asked if they should ban fireworks, a response to which Middleton and Grants Fire and Rescue Chief Robert Hays agreed would be a good idea. Even a small brush fire can grow and threaten people’s properties, and their lives.
The City of Grants Council is preparing to hold a special meeting where they will debate this firework ban. As of press time, no date has been set for that meeting. In the meantime, the Cibola National Forest is closed, this is in an effort to protect the forest from fire danger.