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Wildfires are natural events as old as the land itself. Every year wildfires in the United
States burn millions of acres of forests and grasslands.
Today thousands of people live in areas where these natural wildfires have historically
shaped the landscape over the centuries. Problems arise when residents do not know
how to live compatibly with wildfire, in an area known as the wildland urban interface.
The thicker structure was an “L” shaped structure that came out to this open area
in the front. Behind it was the backdrop of the hill, and it had the natural vegetation
for the area. Unfortunately it was too close to the house and it created an indefensible
space for our crews to get in and protect the structure.
The loss of homes amounts to a problem of national scale, but one that can be solved
only at the local level. First of all, you have to get the citizens
involved. It can’t be agency driven. It has to, we have to have grassroots support
from planners in the planning community, from mayors, councilmen, neighborhood groups and
you have to get buy in. For over 10 years the national firewise program
has provided homeowners with the knowledge and techniques necessary to create an environment
so their homes can survive a wildfire. Firewise is like a clearing house, they get
all the good information, what’s working, what’s not working. So that’s where it’s
really been an advantage for us to participate in the program.
In 2001 the federal register published a list of 11,000 communities determined to be at
risk. Yet the fire season occurs around the country at different times each year. Making
nearly all communities at risk to wildfire. One of the difficulties of the wildland urban
interface is that it cannot be defined as a geographic location. But a set of conditions
that can exist anywhere. But the good news however is that homes don’t
have to burn. The Firewise Communities USA program encourages
homeowners to take the initiative in protecting themselves and their homes, as they continue
to enjoy the beauty of nature and the reasons they came to live in these areas around the
country. The Firewise Communities USA recognition draws
on a community’s spirit, its resolve and its willingness to take responsibility for
its ignition potential. It provides national recognition to homeowners by rewarding their
efforts to protect their homes from wildfire. Communities that are “firewise” are active,
dynamic and attractive places to live. Becoming a Firewise Community USA requires
the commitment and cooperation of civic leaders, fire staff and homeowners.
By addressing local wildfire issues, individuals and neighborhoods across America are encouraged
and acknowledged. The Firewise Communities USA program helps
communities address their unique wildland and urban interface fire issues, by promoting
self-sufficiency and inter-agency cooperation. Becoming firewise is a process and like many
processes it is most effective when begun at the smallest scale.
A participating Firewise Community USA need not be an incorporated jurisdiction. Any neighborhood,
subdivision, or homeowner association may participate by reducing the threat of wildfire
to their homes, by charting their own course at their own pace.
Becoming recognized as a Firewise Community USA, begins when the homeowners recognize
the wildfire threat and decide to accept and share the responsibility to make necessary
changes. Once a community decides to adopt a firewise
attitude, it sets a continuum of firewise plans and practices into action.
Participating communities are encouraged to create the best combination of local solutions,
by adopting programs of education and action. Specific wildfire protection challenges are
addressed. Wildland urban interface residents are well
educated people who seek factual information to help them make good firewise choices. Firewise
communities also learn from each other, by sharing their information and achievements.
Achieving recognition as a Firewise Community USA means that the community has met five
basic standards: Complete a community hazard assessment, create
a firewise organization, observe a firewise day, financial commitment and annual report
and renewal application. Meeting these standards helps instill the principles of firewise into
the existing community values. The Firewise Communities USA concept and template
has already been completed in several pilot communities across the United States.
Like your community, each pilot site is unique, in physical characteristics and in its approach
to garnering civic interest and commitment. The flexibility of the firewise program proved
to be a motivating factor for each of the pilot sites.
The first step is to complete a hazard assessment, with the cooperation of a wildland urban interface
specialist. This assessment is used to create a plan that
identifies locally agreed upon, achievable solutions that the community can implement.
Well an assessment is an inventory of the area. In order to determine, you know how
bad the fire hazard is, what areas that we need to treat, and then after we do an assessment,
then we have the ingredients to put together a plan.
At an agreed upon time, a wildland urban interface specialist, schedules a site visit and gathers
information. The visit is coordinated with local fire officials.
Having a recent history of serious wildfire damage, the Ormond Beach Florida Fire Department
helped the Briargate subdivision become the first site to be constructed to firewise specifications.
Well we really don’t know whether we have a problem unless we can conduct an assessment,
and what we use is what’s known as NFPA 299 standard which is a national fire protection
association standard. And that allows us to look at the fuels, and
look at the demography and make an assessment as to whether not this community would be
at risk. After a community assessment, the firewise
work group helped create a blue print of action items for a subsequent firewise pilot projects.
The work group was also successful in locating a million gallon water tank and three manmade
lakes for firefighting resources and thinning common area pine forests.
The 25 year old community of Sorrel Springs located in French Town, Montana, is still
developing as new homes are being constructed within its borders.
In May of 2001 a Firewise Community USA assessment was conducted. And a $50,000 grant for brush
thinning was awarded to the French Town Fire District by the Montana Department of Natural
Resources. Throughout the year, progress was made in
local fuel modifications. Second step is the creation of a permanent
local firewise task course, committee, commission or department that will function as the focal
point for firewise efforts and be responsible for maintaining the Firewise Community USA
program. Tracking its progress and reporting its status.
All successful sites form an interdisciplinary firewise board, commission or committee. Regardless
of its name the local organization includes: homeowners, fire professionals, planners,
land managers, urban foresters and/or members of other interest groups.
Potential board members are expected to commit up to six month of time to develop a local
wildland urban interface plan. Located near Prescott, Arizona the community
of Timber Ridge began approximately 18 years ago and is still growing.
The homes are close enough together to affect each other should ignitions occur.
Therefore it was important to the community to begin the firewise process. Upon completion
of the site assessment the local firewise board uses the evaluation to create agreed
upon area specific solutions to its wildland urban interface fire issues.
Their recommendations are presented to and approved by the wildland urban interface specialist,
who may work with the community to identify project implementation funds.
Local solutions are implemented according to a schedule designed by the local firewise
board and interface specialist. In Timber Ridge the homeowners association
appointed a firewise committee, created a lot inspection program, organized a pine needle
clean up in common areas, incorporated fire resistant signage, and provides firewise information
to homeowners through email. The third requirement of firewise communities
is to observe a Firewise Communities USA day each spring that is dedicated to a local firewise
project. The public event should be designed to increase
awareness throughout the community about fire ecology, firewise techniques, landscaping
demonstrations or provide an opportunity for homeowners to share information and skills.
Since its beginnings in the 1970’s, the residents of Sundance, Utah have had a high
awareness of wildland urban interface fire issues.
The firewise community efforts have provided improved public safety service for emergency
or disaster events, a fuels management programs an emergency action plan and continuing education
for the citizenry, volunteers and professionals. In Glendale, California the subdivision of
Whiting Woods lies at the base of nearly vertical hill sides of the Vertical Mountains. The
residents of Whiting Woods understand they live in a hazard area for wildland fire and
thus they were quick to address safety issues and several firewise projects.
Due in part to its fire wise participation, homeowners association was awarded a grant
by the California Firesafe Council to develop a community plan, a fuel reduction plan, and
an information and education program. Participating communities meets standard number
four by investing a minimum of two dollars annually per capita, in local Firewise Communities
USA efforts. These funds remain in the community and they
are not necessarily cash. Work by municipal employees or volunteers
using municipal and other equipment can be counted as can state or federal grants dedicated
to that purpose. Wedgefield a 5,000 acre development east of
Orlando, Florida is at risk of wildfire activity due to accumulative vegetative fuels compounded
by a lack of fire hydrates and the fact that the nearest fire station is ten miles away.
A board was created, assessments were conducted, and plans were implemented that reduced fuels
on both developed and undeveloped lots, educated homeowners in basic fire safety, adapted firewise-oriented
codes and covenants and ultimately, created a community fuel break.
Near Santa Fe, New Mexico Hyde Park Estates and Aztec Springs are composed of 73 homes
and roughly 200 residents. In May of 2001 a group of 25 citizens met
with forestry representatives to discuss implementation of the Firewise Communities USA pilot project.
After the assessment the group divided the community into clusters to improve communication,
created a community evacuation plan, and held a chipping day in which large amounts of brush
were removed. Finally the local firewise board or committee
completes the last standard by summiting an annual report, documenting compliance with
the program. Each year every recognized community must
renew its commitment to firewise by reapplying and documenting its continuing efforts to
reduce the wildfire hazard. Firewise Communities USA recognition is granted
after an implementation plan has been presented to the local firewise representative and at
least one firewise event or project has been completed.
Continued participation in the program requires the adherence to the local firewise plan and
ongoing firewise community maintenance. Once a community is recognized as a firewise
community, they are awarded with a recognition kit of signs, banners, flags and other items
so they can proudly demonstrate the benefits of their efforts.
In addition recognized Firewise Communities USA participants may receive preferential
consideration for mitigation grants and funding for continuing their work.
Because remaining firewise, like natural changes, is a continuing process.
Year 2000 when the Los Alamos fires happened, ok this is real, it’s going to happen here.
We use that to, as an example for people in the community that what happen in Los Alamos
can happen right here. Wildfires will happen, but homes can survive.
Managing the wildland urban interface fire issue at home within a community is the key
to creating a safer more wildfire compatible America.
If your community is interested in becoming firewise, contact www.firewise.org/USA or
your state forestry agency for more information.