Comments on: Wildfire Shows Why NOT to Allow Foothills Homes

By: seajay

seajay — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:06:53 +0000

Clippity: Well said.

Clancy and JJ: No sewer lines out here…at least yet…septic tanks. And our fire rates already reflect a 9 hazard rating on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being worst danger. We’re wildland/urban interface, in which more humans in range fire land traslates to greater risk.

By: HA81

HA81 — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:52:53 +0000

GR8 T8R: Lynn Hightower is a grossly overpaid employee of the Boise Police Department. Not sure why she designated herself the PIO of the Eagle fire. Perhaps it is the same as when Nampa Fire PIO Doug Strosnider made himself the designated speaker of the Middleton High school fire.

EDITOR NOTE–Hightower helps with PR at BFD just like the Navy helps the Army for no additional wage or fee. When former Deputy Chief Dave Hanneman left there was a void at the FD. Fire does its own PIO except on these biggies. Cops also direct traffic at fires and this is no different.

By: boisecynic

boisecynic — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:44:58 +0000

Also, regarding schools: The vast majority of students at Whittier Elementary are bused from Garden City, they do not come from the West Downtown neighborhood. The majority at Lowell Elementary come from north of State St. Madison Elementary was closed years ago and is now a Head Start facility, I’m not sure how much BSD contributes to Head Start facilities.

Another thing about West Downtown is the fact that roughly 60% of properties are rentals. Yes, rentals consume more services but they also pay more in property taxes.

By: boisecynic

boisecynic — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:15:38 +0000

Guardian: What is your source for the 40 times the services? Sure, there may be 30 to 40 times the density but are you saying costs rise proportionately? I’m pretty sure it’s not a linear equation.

Yes there will be greater demand for schools but suburban development has placed a greater demand for roads. I would like to see the costs of fighting foothills fires compared to valley fires.

EDITOR NOTE–Cynic, of course it is not a “tit for tat” comparison, but there are more cars, sewer, water, electric hookups. More crime calls (both victim and criminal), more ambulance etc. We agree with you about disproportionate costs for fires in foothills…same when it comes to protecting homes on Eagle Island and riverside areas from flood.

By: Naomi

Naomi — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:17:41 +0000

This story falls flat on giving a reason why there should NOT be building in the foothills since the only acreage to survive the fire was developed and had a houses sitting on it.

I live in Eagle, on the bench, about a mile from the downtown core. We’re the suburbs through and through yet a fire could start and be driven by the winds from cottonwood tree to cottonwood tree and multiple homes would be affected. It doesn’t have to be a grassland fire that takes down a community.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:50:11 +0000

JJ: You said well in a few words what I was getting at with a whole lot of words.
When I bought this place, I knew what the possibilities were: wildfire, mudslides, animals tearing things up, etc. I accepted those risks to be able to live on a site i love (near a hill, not on it, though).

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:43:23 +0000

Fire is a natural part of the ecosystem. You buld a house out there then expect the possibility of a burn out. Fighting fires in these zones is a wast of taxpayers monoey. Let those willing to risk it all keep a defesnseable area around their homes and let it burn.

If it doesn’t burn now it will later and with more ferocity than now as fuels build up over time.

By: JJ

JJ — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:47:30 +0000

I fail to see why wildfires in the foothills should prevent the building of homes there as suggested by the title. Like we do for flood plains, let insurance companies know about wild fire zones, so they can charge more for insurance, and put the home owners on notice that fire protection will seek to save lives from structures, but fighting the fire will be more of a BLM-like response not city fire dept issue and their home may be lost.

By: JIMV

JIMV — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:28:25 +0000

Heck, I’m still trying to figure out how my homes value for city valuation dropped 20% yet my tax rose from before the drop??

EDITOR NOTE–Stop worrying Jim! The city increased spending by the maximum 3%.

By: Clancy

Clancy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:00:14 +0000

Re:Guardian’s response to cynic,

Yes higher demand but lower operating/maintenance cost/parcel. What happens when sewer lines need major upgrading at the McMansion on 10 acres? It will be subsidized by the higher density areas. No right or wrong, it just shows Peter gets robbed to pay Paul and Paul gets robbed to pay Peter.

EDITOR NOTE–Clancy, you well understand. On KBOI radio this morning a caller advocated building foothills homes to help the economy while another said if there were more houses there would be less chance for fire!