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(17) Reducing the Risk of Wildfires: Woodland Owner Fire Schools in Oregon
Stephen Fitzgerald, Oregon State University Extension Service, Redmond, OR and Rick Fletcher, Oregon State University Extension Service, Corvallis, OR.
Session: Concurrent session A3: Model Teaching Methods
When it comes to threat of forest destruction, there is no greater fear for most family forest owners than wildfire. The big problem for most landowners is that they are unprepared for wildfire. Professional fire-fighters annually participate in “fire schools” to prepare for the up-coming fire season. No such training or “fire schools” have been available in Oregon where woodland owners could obtain similar training.
In 2006 and 2007, we designed, developed and pilot-tested two Woodland Owner Fire Schools in Western Oregon. The goals of the fire schools were: 1) to improve woodland owner understanding about wildfire; and 2) learn steps they can take to reduce the risk of wildfire. These fire schools were conducted in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Forestry, Rural Fire Districts, neighboring industrial and non-industrial forest owners.
The fire schools are a day and half in length and cover such topics as Fire Risk & Wildland-Urban Interface, Fire Behavior and Fuels, Fire Laws & Liability, Fire Control Tools & Techniques, and Creating Fire-Resistant Woodland Properties. The fire schools emphasize hands on learning. For example, they receive training on how to do hose lays, construct fire-lines using a variety of tools, control of fire intensity with water and foam, and fire mop-up.
After participating in this intensive fire school participants, are tired, and dirty, but they are also better able to: develop a fire plan for their property; undertake prevention activities to lessen fire risk; and ultimately apply new knowledge and skills to reduce the risk of wildfires on their land. The presentation will describe the process of creating fire schools, features photos and videos of the training, and share survey results of what landowners learned and how they are applying what they learned on their property to reduce fire risk.
Stephen Fitzgerald
Oregon State University Extension Service
3893 SW Airport Way
Redmond, OR, 97756
Phone: 541-548-6088
Fax: 541-548-8919
stephen.fitzgerald@oregonstate.edu
Rick Fletcher
Oregon State University Extension Service
1849 NW 9th Street
Corvallis, OR, 97330
Phone: 541-766-6750
Fax: 541-766-3549
rick.fletcher@oregonstate.edu