…Can Motivate People to Prepare, Stay, & Defend FACES FOR FIREWISE… …Can Motivate People to Prepare, Stay, & Defend

Interface Survival Strategies Fire Prevention Restoring Ecosystems Homeowner Responsibility Emergency Response FireWise Robert W. Mutch Fire Management Applications Missoula, Montana

Lives Lost, Lessons Learned Faces of the 2003 Fire Siege Lives Lost, Lessons Learned

Lagadec, in “Preventing Chaos in a Crisis”: “…the ability to deal with a crisis situation is largely dependent on the structures that have been developed before chaos arrives.”

“The event (like the Okanagan Fire) can in some ways be considered as an abrupt and brutal audit at a moment’s notice.”

“Everything that was left unprepared becomes a complex problem, and every weakness comes to the forefront.”

After Action Reports Silent on Civilian Deaths

Andrea Tuttle, Former Director, CDF

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Report Prepared for: Tucson, Arizona

Late Evacuations Cause Fatalities

Cedar Fire Fatalities

Paradise Fire Fatalities

Site Where Ashleigh Roach Died

There Were Survivors

Fire Resistant Home Survived Cedar Fire

Christmas Day Flood Killed Sixteen

Success Stories During the Siege Ventura County Vegetation Mgt. MAST in San Bernardino County Lytle Creek Fire Safe Council Sherilton Valley Fuel Treatment

Aussies: “FireWise Only 1/3 of Solution!”

Prepare, Stay, and Defend—the Ultimate in Teamwork (AFAC) The Dream: houses are able to survive fires even when Fire Service personnel are not available. The Team: consists of the effective partnership between Fire Services and home dwellers. The Theme: comprises the dual strategy of adequate defendable space coupled with the home dweller’s motivation to remain on-site.

Wedge Fire, Montana, USA, 2003

Lady of the House Makes OJ

The Reason to Stay

The Ember Shower

Neighbors protected homes in 2000

Painted Rocks Fire District, Montana The Painted Rocks Fire Rescue Company has adopted Prepare, Stay, and Defend (PSD) for its isolated Montana community. Will use PSD to work with homeowners to achieve FireWise standards. The first retro-community in the United States to adopt this system.

Before the Next Round of Fires Rehabilitate forests affected by fires and/or suppression actions. Restore and maintain ecosystems. Ensure that homes are fire safe. Initiate Prepare, Stay, and Defend strategy.

Lessons Learned from 2003 Siege Organize & issue timely information Plan for early evacuation People protect houses, houses protect people Plan for multiple safety zones Plan for needs of livestock & pets Fewer jurisdictions = better command

Lessons Learned (con’t.) Plan for long term stress treatment Use the FACES to motivate others Educate society in fire prone areas Encourage informal information networks

Fire Safe Councils Produce Results

Educate all Segments of Society

Pass Through a Portal to Safety FACES OF THE 2003 FIRE SIEGE: EACH HUMAN LIFE IS PRECIOUS Prepare Now! Pass Through a Portal to Safety Protect Family, Property & Animals In the Interface Contact: www.firewise.org