Federal Agency to Pay for 11K Miles of Strategic Fuel Breaks in 6 States, Including CA, to Help Control Wildfires

The Bureau of Land Management has announced plans to fund 11,000 miles (17,703 kilometers) of strategic fuel breaks in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada and Utah in an effort to help control wildfires.

The fuel breaks are intended to prop up fire mitigation efforts and help protect firefighters, communities and natural resources, The Oregonian reported Saturday.

According to the BLM, wildfires are becoming bigger and more frequent across the Great Basin states. Between 2009 and 2018, more than 13.5 million acres of BLM land burned in the project area.

“Recovering from the devastating effects of wildfires can take decades in the rugged, high-desert climate of the Great Basin. These tools will help firefighters contain fires when they break out,” said acting Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management Casey Hammond in a news release. “That’s why creating fuel breaks is incredibly important to the entire basin, the people who live in these communities, and our wildland firefighters.”

Fuel breaks are intended to break up fire fuels by creating breaks in vegetation that slow a blaze’s progress. By implementing them strategically, they help firefighters control the spread of fire, and can protect homes and resources.

Some scientists debate the effectiveness of fuel breaks, raising questions about whether these efforts are worth funding.

But the BLM reports that assessments of more than 1,200 fuel breaks found that 78% of them helped control wildfire and 84% helped change fire behavior. According to the news release, “the BLM has extensively documented that fuel breaks, and other types of fuel treatments, are effective.”

Jennifer Jones, a spokeswoman for the BLM, said the program will help streamline the implementation process by reducing or eliminating the need for environmental analysis.

The timeline for implementation and the location of fuel breaks will depend on what offices develop plans and apply for funding.

Because BLM offices have not requested funds, said Jones, the BLM can’t provide a figure for what the plan will cost.

“Costs will depend on how many fuel breaks are actually constructed, what types of fuel breaks are constructed, where they are constructed, whether they are constructed by employees or contractors,” Jones said.

The public can comment on the plan for the next 30 days, after which the BLM will make final decisions.

Whidbey Island Farm Retreat by mwworks

Seeking a new home for their farm on Whidbey Island, Washington, a local family enlisted the help of Seattle-based design studio mwworks.

On Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, mwworks have designed a holiday home for a growing family with strong local roots. Located on a densely-forested hill, the farmhouse works its way around the forest, overlooking chicken sheds, a weathered red barn and cattle fields.

Through a combination of carefully selected natural materials and a collaborative approach between designer and client, mwworks have created a home entrenched in its environment and family legacy. 

The home honours the agricultural heritage of its site. Out of respect for its neighbouring cottage-style homes, the farm retreat considers the simplicity of the landscape, while still embodying a sense of modernity through its high ceilings and large windows. Polished concrete flooring is used throughout, married with a selection of natural timbers, locally-sourced stone and black steel accents. 

The layout of the home is broken down into separate wings, all accessible via the courtyard, providing connection but offering privacy when desired. Accommodating up to 20 people, the four-bedroom house is designed for quality family time – from fishing trips to summer barbecues.

Principal architect Eric Walter says that there was a strong relationship between the architects and the client of the home. “Client meetings typically included the owners, their three adult children, and sometimes their teenage kids as well,” Eric says.

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At the owner’s request to respect the existing ecosystem, each building wing is carefully situated to wrap around the fir trees, in order to preserve as many significant trees as possible. Perfect for entertaining, the timber decking extends out from the large, open-plan living area of the home, complemented by a grand central fireplace. In the kitchen, premium Gaggenau appliances are met with streamlined teak cabinetry and stone benchtops.

mwworks have successfully designed a home that meets the clients’ need for sustainability with all of the modern trimmings, to be enjoyed by the family and it’s future generations. 

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The post Whidbey Island Farm Retreat by mwworks appeared first on Est Living Free Digital Design Magazine.

Whidbey Island Farm Retreat by mwworks

Seeking a new home for their farm on Whidbey Island, Washington, a local family enlisted the help of Seattle-based design studio mwworks.

On Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, mwworks have designed a holiday home for a growing family with strong local roots. Located on a densely-forested hill, the farmhouse works its way around the forest, overlooking chicken sheds, a weathered red barn and cattle fields.

Through a combination of carefully selected natural materials and a collaborative approach between designer and client, mwworks have created a home entrenched in its environment and family legacy. 

The home honours the agricultural heritage of its site. Out of respect for its neighbouring cottage-style homes, the farm retreat considers the simplicity of the landscape, while still embodying a sense of modernity through its high ceilings and large windows. Polished concrete flooring is used throughout, married with a selection of natural timbers, locally-sourced stone and black steel accents. 

The layout of the home is broken down into separate wings, all accessible via the courtyard, providing connection but offering privacy when desired. Accommodating up to 20 people, the four-bedroom house is designed for quality family time – from fishing trips to summer barbecues.

Principal architect Eric Walter says that there was a strong relationship between the architects and the client of the home. “Client meetings typically included the owners, their three adult children, and sometimes their teenage kids as well,” Eric says.

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At the owner’s request to respect the existing ecosystem, each building wing is carefully situated to wrap around the fir trees, in order to preserve as many significant trees as possible. Perfect for entertaining, the timber decking extends out from the large, open-plan living area of the home, complemented by a grand central fireplace. In the kitchen, premium Gaggenau appliances are met with streamlined teak cabinetry and stone benchtops.

mwworks have successfully designed a home that meets the clients’ need for sustainability with all of the modern trimmings, to be enjoyed by the family and it’s future generations. 

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The post Whidbey Island Farm Retreat by mwworks appeared first on Est Living Free Digital Design Magazine.