Trees + heat = fire

Water + lawns = safety

California's drought is keeping lawns and grasslands brown and dry this year - ripe for wild fires that can easily spread into urban areas.

Oregon is not far behind.  Our drought is making the landscape dry and fire hazards high.  The defensive zone around houses is their green lawns and landscaping.  With enough water, the lawns can play an important part in reducing urban wildfires.

Lake Oswego has a couple of additional problems.  We have an extra heavy tree canopy at 49% for urban areas, and tree crowns at close proximity to one another.  Tree removal for thinning purposes is not encouraged, even though it increases the health of trees.

Lake Oswego water is expensive.  Keeping lawns (and landscaping) green in hot, dry weather requires lots of water.  In droughts and hot, dry weather, the rivers run low, reducing the supply of water.

Where will the water come from and who will pay to keep this city safe from summer fires?  
Will trees or the safety of lives and property take priority?   

Vancouver officials encourage lawn watering to prevent fires

By Associated Press Published: Jul 22, 2015 at 1:40 PM PDT

Firefighters battle a brush fire that's threatening homes on Image Road and Hillscrest Drive in Vancouver, Washington, Wednesday, July 15, 2015. The fire has burned two homes. (Photo: Joe Douglass/KATU News)

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - Officials in the southwest Washington city of Vancouver are encouraging residents to water their lawns to help suppress fires.

The Columbian newspaper reports that while some communities are urging water conservation because of this year's drought, Vancouver City Manager Eric Holmes told the city council the city has "a tremendous water supply."

He says residents should try to keep their lawns and other vegetation green to help prevent fires, though city officials ask that people still use water wisely.

Vancouver Fire Chief Joe Molina told the council it's been a challenging summer for firefighters. He says many blazes could have been prevented.

A city spokeswoman says the city's water supply is good because it relies on rain-fed aquifers and is not dependent on mountain snowpack.