McCall Idaho Headline News

After years of espousing on defensible space and smart fire prevention, Andrew Lemberes has found himself taking his own advice.

Lemberes, interim fire chief of the McCall Fire Protection District, owns a cabin in Secesh Meadows, which has been threatened by the Loon Lake Fire.

"I've put plastic around the decks and vents to prevent ambers. I've thinned brush," Lemberes said over the hum of a small sprinkler jutting out water on his Secesh property.

Andrew Lemberes

In addition to preparing his own property and fielding questions from his neighbors, a small fire camp known an spike camp has sprouted in his backyard.

The camp is host to as many as 75 fire personnel, multiple portable toilets and a nightly catered buffet. Lemberes' once rustic and serene property has been converted to a hub of operations.

Despite the obvious threat of the fire, Lemberes said he feels optimistic, but aware of the potential risks.

Taking steps to properly protect personal property is critical in the face of a major wildfire. Lemberes said he is reluctant to be blunt, but in remote areas like Secesh, if a structure burns, it's gone.

"If a structure ignites, we go down three properties and work to try and stop the spread. We do not have the resources to fight a structure fire," he said.

Lemberes knew this was coming especially after McCall experienced what Lemberes dubs a "fire winter."

"The grasses are drier, we had a light snow year and it's a lot hotter and drier than normal," he said.

A previous fire that threatened Secesh in 1994 was the biggest eye opener the vacation community has ever had, he said.

The community learned from that fire and has taken the necessary steps to avoid a disaster. Lemberes has observed, the Secesh community taking precautions very seriously, which in turn makes his job and the crew job easier.

Some preparations have changed over time. For instance, using foam to avoid these structures from catching fire is an archaic practice, he said.

"Using foam is like a giant game of government favoritism," he said. Instead, the firefighters are thinning brush and limbs, rigging water pumps to draw from the river and moving firewood piles away from homes.

Lemberes said he's pleased with the job fire managers have done.

"The management team has done a very nice job in mapping out people's properties," he said.