Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />As <br />Sales <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />If possible, stack firewood and woodpiles uphill or at <br />the same elevation as the structure but at least 25 feet <br />(or more) away from your house. Dispose of limbs and <br />branches that have been trimmed or pruned by <br />chipping or composting away from structures. <br /> <br />The General Management Zone is no specific size, but <br />comprises the third ring of defense. In this area, you <br />are encouraged to manage your forested areas in a <br />traditional manager. You should consider spacing out <br />trees and shrubs, when possible. <br /> <br />For more information go to: <br />https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewise/livingwithfire/spac <br />e.html <br /> <br />Congratulations to Gem Lake <br />Graduate! <br /> <br />Congratulations to Gem Lake resident Ms. Grace <br />Nathanson. She recently graduated from White Bear <br />Lake High School. <br /> <br />Grace will be attending St. Catherine University in the <br />Fall. She plans to work towards a Teaching Degree, <br />with English as a Second Language. Our best wishes <br />to Grace! <br /> <br />As drought conditions linger in Minnesota, the <br />Minnesota Department of Natural Resources <br />suggests you think about creating a defensible <br />space on your property, in the event of a wildfire. <br /> <br />A defensible space is an area around your house <br />that can enable your home to survive a wildfire. It <br />is an area of reduced fuels, and careful <br />management aimed at making your property “fire- <br />wise.” <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />There is significant information and graphics <br />available on-line that shows how to create a three <br />ringed approach to protection. The first is an area <br />right around your house that is called the <br />Intensive Zone. It should be at least 30 feet <br />around, measuring from the edges of the main <br />structure. This is where you would make sure you <br />have cleared away dense or tall vegetation, fuel <br />tanks and tree limbs that extend over your house. <br />Your woodpile and other combustibles should be <br />well outside of the intensive zone. Ideally, there <br />would be no conifer trees inside the intensive <br />zone to reduce fire hazards. You should remove <br />all “ladder fuels” from beneath any trees. This <br />would include tall grasses, small shrubs, tree <br />limbs and other materials that allow a fire to climb <br />to the crown of a tree. <br /> <br />The second ring around your home is called the <br />Extensive Zone. This is the next 70-100 feet (or <br />more) around your structures. This is an area of <br />fuel reduction, designed to reduce the intensity of <br />any fire. Within this zone, you should consider <br />thinning trees and large shrubs so there is at <br />least 10 feet between crowns. Limit the number <br />of dead trees in this zone and mow the grass <br />often. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Fire Safety During a Drought <br /> <br />