Flood and wildfire threats recurring concerns in the Lincoln Valley

As Lincoln heads into May and June, flooding and fires are crucial topics, and preparation is key for either scenario.

At this point, it doesn't look like Lincoln will be facing any flooding issues, but weather conditions can change that at any time. Flooding can occur if heavy rains are present for two to three days at a couple of inches per day.

Lincoln Fire Chief Zach Muse recommends preparing for flooding and having sandbags on hand, especially if in the flood plain. Lincoln Fire & Rescue currently has sandbags from the county for public buildings and infrastructure, but not for private use. However, Muse said if folks find themselves in need, they should reach out and he'll do what he can to help.

The Lincoln community can help prevent flooding in the future by doing their part now to notify landowners or Lewis and Clark County Public Works if they notice a plugged culvert or a downed tree or log upstream of local bridges.

"Simple little things like that can prevent a huge problem later. Pulling a log out now and unplugging a culvert is much easier to do now than when flooding is occurring." Muse said, adding, "If you live along the river, just pay attention. Nature has ways of making bad things happen, but if people are aware and kind of plan ahead and (if) they're looking around at things and letting people know that there's a (potential) problem, they can get people out there to fix it before it is a problem."

In direct contrast to flooding, the upcoming fire season is also a concern.

Looking back to 2017, there was a lot of snow pack, but not a lot of rain in June, which set the stage for a heavy fire season.

June seems to be the deciding factor as to whether Lincoln faces a good or bad fire season. According to Muse, if we get at least six inches of rain in June, we generally have a calm fire season. "There will always be fires, but that amount of moisture prevents them from spreading too quickly and give us a chance to get a handle on them before they get out of control."

The biggest impediment to fighting fires in our area are the forest conditions. Eight years ago, the problem was the dead red needles on the trees, which were a hazard because lighting strikes set the top of the trees on fire and they would "crown run," jumping from treetop to treetop, going for miles without an effective way to fight the fire. Now, firefighters face all the deadfall on the ground, as well as standing dead trees.

"A lot of people don't understand the type of woods we're dealing with. It's difficult to move quickly on the ground because it's all deadfall and when a fire comes towards those fighting it, they don't have the ability to just run out, and they have to actually climb out," said Muse. "Combine that with the hazard of standing dead trees falling over, and it's just not safe to send people in there. I don't think a lot of people are aware of those dangers and how they have changed over the years."

A focus area for Lincoln Fire & Rescue this year is 4 x 4 Road, where the department is working with land owners in the Wildland Urban Interface by pointing out areas that need to be addressed to potentially save houses in the area. Another area of concern for wildfires includes Lincoln Springs, and the region near the cemetery.

For anyone interested, property assessments are available at no charge. Muse will evaluate your property and offer pointers and suggestions for helping minimize fire threats around their homes. Contact Muse at 465-7691 to schedule an assessment.

"Now is the time to get properties cleaned up, clear debris, trim tall grass and bushes, to give us the best chance to save a home if it comes to that." Muse said.

Burning permits are available until conditions change. In order to burn, residents must obtain a permit online, and activate their permits the day they are going to burn. First time permits cost $8 (renewals are $5) and can be purchased online at https://www.lccountymt.gov/bocc/burn-permits.html. Muse reminds folks to be aware while burning debris and take into account the weather and their surroundings. "Once someone lights a fire, they are responsible. If the wind takes the fire and it burns someone else's property, they are responsible for those damages." Muse said.

Last, but not least, Muse reminds people to pay attention when lighting fires in their fireplaces and wood stoves this time of year. Burning low and slow to take the chill out of the air can causes creosote build-up, which can result in a chimney fire.

As with everything lately, the coronavirus is also going to impact the 2020 fire season, and each agency has their own set of protocols. Generally, Lincoln Fire & Rescue has crews of two to three people on each rig to respond to a fire. This year will be different.

"We have a job to do, but we need to be safe and do our best by abiding by distancing rules. We'll all do everything we can do and be as safe as possible" Muse said.

Firefighters are considered to be in a higher risk category for COVID-19 due to smoke inhalation, and Muse says they will all be keeping an eye on one another to make sure everyone is well. One sick person could take out the fire and ambulance crews so they are also asking the community to do their part by being extra careful this year as well.