A Collaborative Approach to Community Wildfire Hazard Reduction

Abstract

This paper highlights the very successful collaborative approach to community wildfire hazard reduction being used in the 5 county NW Region of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. NW Region cooperators have created a successful model to help affected communities reduce their risks to wildland fire. Identified high risk communities have been approached by a multi-agency team with Firewise education and hazard assessment methodology. Participating communities have received mini-Firewise workshops, community hazard assessments and hazard mitigation planning assistance. By working collaboratively with communities, local fire districts, County Conservation Districts, County Fire Marshal’s Offices and Departments of Emergency Management, as well as other State and Federal fire managers, dramatic results in the Region have been achieved. The Firewise Communities/USA model has been used to guide communities through a nationally recognized process of risk assessment, mitigation planning and community specific outcome based solutions. Community fuels reduction efforts have focused on the creation of defensible space and shaded fuel breaks, reducing structural ignitability, as well as implementation of forest stewardship and greenbelt plans. Community recognition by the Firewise Communities/ USA program is the measure of success.

Parent Publication

• Fuels Management-How to Measure Success: Conference Proceedings

Citation

Titus, Marc; Hinderman, Jennifer. 2006. A Collaborative Approach to Community Wildfire Hazard Reduction. In: Andrews, Patricia L.; Butler, Bret W., comps. 2006. Fuels Management-How to Measure Success: Conference Proceedings. 28-30 March 2006; Portland, OR. Proceedings RMRS-P-41. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 691-702