How to build a

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How to build a
Program
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Assessment

• Assessment
• Level 1
• Photo Interpretation (structure locations)

• Done by city staff or volunteers
• School students
• Eagle Scout
• Others

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• Assessment
• Level 1
• Photo Interpretation (structure locations)
• Identify potential risk areas

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• Assessment
• Level 1
• Level 2
• Individual home assessments

Only in high risk areas
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A Community Plan
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• Includes
• Community activities

• Access improvements

• Dry Hydrants

• Firebreaks

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• Includes
• Community activities

• Homeowner activities

• Access improvements

• Conifer thinning

• Seasonal cleanup

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• Includes
• Community activities
• Homeowner activities
• Future development

• Development guidelines
• Building codes

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• Includes
• Community activities
• Homeowner activities
• Future development
• Education efforts

• Open houses
• Mailings
• Newsletter articles
• Personal contacts

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• Includes
• Community activities
• Homeowner activities
• Future development
• Education efforts
• Disaster readiness

• Evacuation plan
• Fire suppression plan

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Example project area
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Identify the problems

• The problems
• Homes in dense pine
• Bark beetle killing trees

Andover
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Solution

• Thinning

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Solution

• Thinning
• Reduces fuel
• Improves tree health
• Removes trees too close to homes

• Thinning

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Solution

• Chip slash
• Removes thinning debris
• Reduces fuel

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• City
• Educates homeowners get their approval
• Coordinates the project liaison with
  logger/chipper
• Administers grant funds

Community

• Homeowners
• Participate in the project
• Keep plants green around homes
• Clean up hazards around home

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The first step Get all the community leaders
involved
Form a Firewise committee
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Assembling a Firewise Committee
City Engineer
Fire Chief
Rotary President
City Planner
EM Director
Tree Inspector
School Teacher
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Roles of Firewise Committee

• Prepare Firewise Plan
• Mitigation Plan
• Emergency Action Plan
• Guide mitigation activities
• Grant application
• On the ground mitigation activities
• Education activities
• Propose building and zoning ordinance changes

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Sample Grant Application p.1

• We are applying for a Firewise Community Grant
  to
• Reduce fire hazard through thinning pruning of
  conifers in selected neighborhoods.
• Create neighborhood fire breaks adjacent to wild
  lands managed with fire.
• Improve access signage and clearances where
  needed.

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Sample Grant Application p. 2
Budget Grant Request () Cash Match () In-kind Match
Assessment Planning 1500 1500
Mitigation Activities 4500 1500 Homeowners 3000
Educational Activities 500 800
Totals 6500 1500 5300
Total Project Cost Total Project Cost 13,300 13,300
L2 - Firefighters
L1 - School
Dry Hydrant, Slash disposal
City Equipment, Staff admin time
Printing, mailing
Newsletter article
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Questions?