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Community Wildfire Protection Plans Title Slide: Fires are inevitable. You can plan for them ahead of time or you can wait until the fire comes and hope you have time to wrap your house in tin foil like a baked potato.

What is a CWPP? A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a written and agreed upon document that identifies how a community will reduce its risk from wildland fire. The community defines its own values, objective and goals. Technical advisors help the community with advice and support. This is the definition of a CWPP. It is written by the community to meet the needs of that community.

Benefits of a CWPP Establish a localized definition of the wildland—urban interface. Assesses the fire hazards within the community --The community risk assessment. Gives the community a prioritized plan to reduce their wildfire hazard. Makes the community eligible for cost sharing programs to reduce their wildfire risk. -- All of The Black Forest FPD can reasonably be considered WUI -- Assessment of the fire hazard is one of the most important functions of the plan. Most people have an intuitive idea of the fire risk, but an actual assessment can often shatter some preconceived notions. -- The community can determine how the fire hazard can be best addressed on a community wide scale. -- Some examples are cost share programs to mitigate fire hazard on a neighborhood scale, grants to the Slash and Mulch site.

Requirements. . . Collaboration with the local government, local fire authority, and the Colorado State Forest Service. The plan must prioritize areas for fuel treatments and recommend the types and methods of treatment to protect the community. The plan must recommend measures to reduce the ignitability of structures. -- The Collaboration is already in place. -- The priority and type of treatment is determined by the community itself based on the results of the community assessment. -- This is usually defensible space.

The Eight Steps: 1. Establish the “core group”. 2. Engage state and county land managers for technical support and assistance. 3. Seek involvement from stakeholders. 4. Create a working map of the community. 5. Conduct a community risk assessment. 6. Establish treatment priorities. 7. Develop an implementation strategy. 8. Finalize and share the plan with the community. Steps one through four are already started. The community risk assessment will require assistance from the community.

In the Real World a CWPP. . . Determines the community values at risk to wildfire; Becomes the road map to protect your values; Persuades your neighbors that the risk is real and action is needed; Improves the health and resiliency of the natural environment.

Firewise Communities/USA® is a national recognition program that provides instructional resources to inform people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action to reduce their wildfire risk.

Requirements for Firewise Recognition Form a Firewise committee. Develop a Community Assessment. Develop an Community Action Plan. One Community Firewise Event each year. Expend at least 24.14 per dwelling each year.

1) Form a Firewise Committee Should have two people minimum, the resident leader and a member; A subcommittee of the HOA; The HOA Board Itself; Or a group of independent residents.

2 ) Community Assessment Similar to a CWPP, but not as detailed. Usually a drive through between the CSFS, Firewise committee and maybe the Fire Department. Doesn’t require entering private property.

3) Form an Action Plan The Action Plan is a roadmap to address the problems found in the assessment. A CWPP will fulfill both of these.

4) One community event each year Some Examples: A community Slash Collection Day. A firewise presentation at the HOA Picnic. Clearing fuel from evacuation routes. Helping elderly or disabled residents. A community home evaluation. A community walk through the woods with a forester or firefighter. Something that hasn’t been thought of yet.

5) Expend a Minimum of $24.14 Per Dwelling Replaces the $2.00 per capita rate used previously. Can be cash (Contractors material or equipment rental). Your own labor at $24.14/per hour

Questions? Dave Root, Forester, 113 South Boundary Woodland Park, Co 80863 (719) 687-2921 david.root@colostate.edu WWW.csfs.colostate.edu