Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/918844
42 WINES&VINES January 2018 WINEMAKING mends that "you know what you are insured for," and that you continually report to your insurer where everything is. Not surprisingly, Fetzer recommends to ei- ther own a water truck or know who has one nearby. Maybe even share the cost among sev- eral neighbors and get trained on how to use it. "You want the ability to water down your winery if something is coming your way"— though in a firestorm, you can only do so much. He also cautions that the window for cutting grass is limited: You can start a fire if you try to do it too late in the season. More backup pumps and data Ernie Ilsley is co-owner of Ilsley Vineyards and owns 23 acres in the Stag's Leap District appel- lation of Napa Valley. The company farms its own vineyard, manages an additional 130 acres of Napa Valley vineyards and produces 500 cases of wine under the Ilsley label. In addition, the extended family lives in four homes on the prop- erty. The Ilsleys grew up in the industry, having grown grapes since the 1950s. Ilsley has first-hand awareness of fire dan- gers, as the 1981 Atlas Peak fire burned right up to the family's property line. The homes on the property are surrounded by vineyards, which act as natural fire breaks. In addition, they create defensible space through weed trimming and cleaning up under trees close to the properties. The steep vineyard hillsides are also mowed. The goal is to do this annually, though some years they are able to be more vigilant than others. He observed that the well- cleaned and plowed areas worked well as a firebreak, but where they missed spots, it was touch and go. As the fire didn't reach his property until mid-day Oct. 9, Ilsley had time to assemble hoses, pumps and other equipment. He didn't have a water truck, but his friends at Piña Vineyard Management loaned him a water truck and bulldozer, which helped a lot. This is also a side benefit to being a good guy like Ernie. You will (a) have friends, and (b) they will help you out in times of need. Having g e n e r a t o r s o n s i t e t o p u m p f r o m t h e i r 10,000-gallon water tank and swimming pool was especially useful, as electrical power was cut off for many hours. For the "next one," Ilsley said he will have a more detailed plan, including making sure all business data is backed up in a cloud-based location. He will buy two or three new gas- powered water pumps, "because the power will go off, either in a planned way by PG&E (the utility company) or otherwise." With these pumps, they can quickly set up sprinklers around houses and build a wet buffer around the property. They will look at changing land- scaping to something more fire resistant, and to increase defensible space to 100 feet. Ilsley offered one last bit of advice: "Make sure your fire emergency supplies are all in one location with dedicated hoses, fittings, etc. Not having to search your whole barn for a fitting reduces stress at a very stressful time." So, whether you are big or small, preparing for disaster requires you to (a) create a plan and be as prepared as possible, and (b) work closely and proactively with your insurance agent. The night of Oct. 8, 2017, proved to all of us that "the worst that could happen" can happen. Andy Starr, founder of StarrGreen (starr green.com), is an entrepreneur, marketing manager and winemaker who provides strategy, management and business develop- ment consulting services. A resident of Napa Valley, Calif., he holds a bachelor's degree in fermentation science from the University of California, Davis, and an MBA from UCLA. " Make sure your fire emergency supplies are all in one location." —Ernie Ilsley, Ilsley Vineyards