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(88) Working Together for Community Wildfire Preparedness
Carol F. Mack, WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension, Newport, WA
Session: Poster session
A major goal of the National Fire Plan is to increase communication at the local level between the entities working on wildfire issues. Four years ago, WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension organized a Wildfire Coordinating Committee that includes county, federal and state agency staff, as well as WSU Master Gardeners and fire district volunteers. This committee meets from two to six times yearly as needed, and the 75 members also communicate through a WSU email listserve.
In 2004, this committee sought funding to develop a county-wide community wildfire protection plan (CWPP). With Title II funds, we hired a consultant and in 2005, completed the first county-wide CWPP in Washington State, also tiered to the county FEMA hazard mitigation plan. At least six fuels reduction projects have been applied for based on the prioritization documented in the CWPP, with two having received funding at this point. This plan became the basis of an implementation project in 2006 to develop policy change recommendations for the county building code, and has aided with developing fire district recruitment and retention strategies.
A Fire/Life Safety Cooperative now meets monthly—an outgrowth of education and outreach goals in the plan. Ongoing Extension program evaluation shows increasing public awareness of wildfire issues and implementation of firewise landscaping practices. Community capacity for emergency preparedness and response has increased, even for events other than wildfires. Pend Oreille Wildfire Coordinating Committee members are currently embarking on a cooperative effort to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan by collecting indicator data on a county-wide level.
WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension’s role in facilitating this project has been supported by USFS Title III funds, National Fire Plan funds, Renewable Resources Education Act (RREA), the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, and Pend Oreille County.
Carol Mack
WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension
PO Box 5045
Newport, WA, 99156, USA
Phone: 509-447-2401
Fax: 509-447-2402
cmack@wsu.edu