Firewise Presentation_New Mexico WUI Summit
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Transcript of Firewise Presentation_New Mexico WUI Summit
Firewise CommunitiesA National Program You Can Use
Agenda
• Why Firewise?
• Some Background
• What’s New for You
Why Firewise?
• Wildfires can put dozens (even hundreds) of homes at risk simultaneously.
• Firefighters may not have the resources to protect each home.
• Residents can take action to increase their homes’ chances of surviving a wildfire.
Why Firewise recognition?
• Wildfires will continue as an ecological phenomenon
• Most homes are located on private property
• Landowners prefer to exercise their right to make choices related to their surroundings
• Often, they are under the impression that there is nothing they can do
Why Firewise recognition?
• Firewise Communities/USA offers communities the information to change this situation
• The program requires sustained community action in order for recognition status to be achieved and maintained
Why do communities participate?
• Firewise Communities/USA provides up-to-date, take-action information to homeowners
Why do communities participate?
• The program provides homeowners with the ability to create their own, unique solutions to their wildfire mitigation challenges
Why do communities participate?
• When people understand there is something they can do, they are more apt to act
Firewise recognition is about community
• Homeowners receive location-specific information and guidance to help them lower their fire risk
• They design and adopt plans that meet their needs
Firewise – A Little History
National Firewise Communities® Program
• VISION: Wildland fires can occur in areas of residential development without the occurrence of disastrous loss.
• MISSION: To promote community-wide responsibility in the use of technology, policy and practices that minimize the loss of life and property to wildland fire independent of fire fighting efforts.
Firewise program sponsors
• USDA-Forest Service
• U.S. Department of the Interior
• National Fire Protection Association
• National Association of State Foresters
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• International Association of Fire Chiefs
• National Association of State Fire Marshals
• National Emergency Management Association
• U.S. Fire Administration
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)• Nonprofit life safety codes and
standards organization
• Founded in 1896
• 80,000+ members worldwide
• 300+ consensus codes and standards documents
• Administers the Firewise program • Partner with USDA Forest Service, US DOI,
US Fire Administration on WUI Fire Protection since 1986
1985 Wildfires – A Call to Action
CACA
FLFL
1,400 homes lost!
1,400 homes lost!
400 in ONE day!!400 in ONE day!!
Firewise Timeline
• 1991: Fire-resistant landscaping articles in Horticulture and Sunset
• 1993: National Fire-Resistant Plant Task Force creates the name ‘Firewise’ at meeting in Ontario, California
• 1996: www.firewise.org was launched
• 1998: Breakthrough research: The International Crown Fire Modeling Experiment
1998 – A Research Breakthrough!
• International Crown Fire Modeling Experiment - Northwest Territories findings• Big crown fire flames burn
out in about 50 seconds
• Crown fire must be less than 100 feet to ignite a wood wall• 33 feet - heavy char; few
ignitions
• 66 feet - no char or scorch
The Firewise ‘Aha’!
• The research convinced us that homeowners COULD take control of their properties and, by working together, their communities
• We had the responsibility of sharing this information with the widest possible audience
Forest Meadows - Murphys, California
Our Focus Turned to the Home Ignition Zone• The concept of the home ignition zone
was created. It refers to the 100-200’ around a house and its attachments• A house burns because of its
interrelationship with everything in its immediate surroundings (100 -200 feet)
• What happens within this zone is critical to structure survival
• A wildfire’s potential relationship with a house can be interrupted here
Recognition CriteriaFirewise Communities/USA®
Firewise Communities/USA Standards
• STEP 1: Complete an assessment• 45 states have
Firewise Communities/USA liaisons to coordinate this service
Firewise Communities/USA Standards
• STEP 2: Form a Firewise Board
• Members should include community residents, fire professionals and other interested parties
• They create a plan using information from the community assessment
Firewise Communities/USA Standards
• STEP 3: Sponsor an event• Called ‘Firewise
Day’, it implements specific action items in the community plan
Firewise Communities/USA Standards
• STEP 4: Invest a minimum of $2/capita• Volunteer hours,
equipment use, time contributed by agency fire staff and grant funding can be included
• A volunteer hour is currently valued at $20.85
• Count any and all work WITHIN the community
Firewise Communities/USA Standards
• STEP 5: Submit an application or renewal• Application/renewal
forms can be downloaded at www.firewise.org/usa
• Deliver to state liaison by December 31
• Receive Firewise communities/USA signs and other recognition materials
Why do we want renewal?
• Steps 3-5 – Firewise Day, $2/capita investment, and report (renewal form) must be repeated annually
• Sustained community action needed to improve fire safety
• Vegetation grows back – emphasis on maintenance
• “One-shot” recognition has little to no long-term impact on a community’s ignition resistance
The Big Idea
• Firewise concepts become ingrained and “normal” because we do them every day• Behavior change models include recycling
and seat belt use
• Firewise concepts can be supported by regulation and codes, but ultimately must be embraced by residents
• Participation is VOLUNTARY. The recognition program has retained nearly 80% of more than 800 communities that have ever initiated the process.
Firewise Communities/USA - Facts
• 1999 pilot; 2002 official launch with 12 sites
• More than 650 sites in 41 states -- and growing!
• Residents are accepting their role in mitigating wildfire hazards
• Communities have invested more than $76 million since 2003
• 245 sites involved 5+ years
'03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 $-
$5,000,000
$10,000,000
$15,000,000
$20,000,000
$25,000,000
Firewise Community Investments
Crystal Lake Club, WisconsinA Recognized Community Since 2004
Engagement in Firewise: By StateStates – Top 10
Active Communities
Arkansas 105
Washington70
California 50
Florida46
Arizona38
Texas36
Virginia33
Kentucky29
Colorado28
Wisconsin25
No active communities• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Nebraska
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
Products for Communities
• Recognition signs, plaque
• Story on the Firewise website
• Using “MyFirewise” network to connect/share
• Media Kit
• Quarterly “How To” Newsletter
• Firewise plant lists
• Firewise Alert (monthly email)
Hill Country near Austin, Texas
Community Benefits
• Recognition ceremonies offer opportunities to showcase success and spread the word about Firewise, including media coverage.
• Improved rankings for FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning and Project Grants
• Generation of a “me-too” attitude in surrounding areas
Oklahoma Firewise
More community benefits
• Residents gain increased sense of safety
• Fire staff forges a bond with the community
• Neighbor-to-neighbor communication is enhanced
• Landscape, greenbelt and common area beautification often results
Big Bear City, California
More community benefits
• CWPPs can incorporate and support Firewise Communities to address structural ignitability
• County/regional entities can and do use the program to reach the resident level
• New Title III county funding promotes Firewise activity
• Long-standing or ongoing efforts can gain increased recognition and attention
Circle Oaks, Napa, California
Resources for You
• Firewise “User Guide”• Includes a template for writing up
community assessments
• Application forms, volunteer forms and more at www.firewise.org/usa
• Free online course on Conducting Community Assessments• Helps advocates help their communities take
the first step
• Social networking at MyFirewise
New at NFPA and Firewise
New at NFPA: Wildland Fire Operations Division
• Keeps Firewise as a core education and advocacy program
• Elevates wildland fire on a par with other public education and advocacy initiatives
• Division Director Dave Nuss based in Colorado
• Advisory Committee has met twice and helped shape strategic plan
Dave Nuss, Director, NFPA Wildland Fire Operations
More New at NFPA:
Firewise Materials on NFPA Catalog: Now with FREE shipping!
More New at NFPA:
Partnership with International Association of Fire Chiefs on “Ready, Set, Go!”
Developments in 2010
• Ready, Set, Go!• Created 1,000 flash drives with RSG and
Firewise materials, distributed at IAFC WUI Conference in Reno and elsewhere
• Prepared talking points for IAFC and Firewise
• Firewise Outreach – NAPS• North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS)
distributed article
• Family Features put it on the web
• NAPS radio has a recorded 60-second PSA for wide use. http://www.napsnet.com/radio/pdfs/010154.pdf
Developments in 2010
• Quick Response Unit – Communications• Designed to work with state forestry and
PIOs at the time of a fire to get Firewise messages out and lend national support in the form of spokespeople
• Targeting California, North Carolina, Texas and Florida
• Already implemented in Michigan successfully in May• http://www.9and10news.com/Category/Story/?id=2
29280&cID=1
• Working to implement in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Texas
Questions? Discussion?
Thank You!
Michele Steinberg
617-984-7487
Karen Lightfoot
505-867-2334 x106