Meri
L. McEneny
Owner, Site Assessment Leader, Principal Masticator Operator
After
two decades of creating defensible space on her own property,
Meri became involved in the business of defensible space to reduce
the wildfire threat after a disastrous wildfire in Carson City,
Nevada. In July 2004, the Waterfall fire burned for 6 days above
Carson City. Almost 9,000 acres burned, 18 homes were lost, lives
were turned upside down, suppression and rehabilitation costs
exceeded $25 million and firefighters and others were injured.
The forested and sagebrush lands in the burn area were critical
habitat to the declining mule deer and white-headed woodpecker.
The watershed lands are critical for water supply and erosion
control for Carson City. Throughout the West, wildfires are increasing
in numbers and intensity, and devastation.
After the fire Carson City mobilized quickly to provide services
to residents. Meri was hired under a grant issued by the City
to the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension to provide burned
area site assessments on plant and other natural resources, educate
the public about reducing the wildfire threat using the acclaimed
Living With Fire materials, and work with the Fire Department
and the Nevada Fire Safe Council to create neighborhood Fire Safe
Chapters to find solutions for individual and community defensible
space. While Meri worked with local NFSC chapters she became aware
of the need for private sector equipment operators to create the
necessary defensible space. After months of research, and prayers
for guidance, in July 2007, Defensible Space Solutions was born.
Meri's ASV tracked loader, only 69” wide, has an FAE masticating
head that mulches material up to 10” in diameter and travels
on slopes up to 18%.
Meri’s other experiences:
“I am trained and eager to help you in creating
the necessary defensible space on your property with attention
to wildlife, regulations, visual screening and plants of special
interest.”
