WORKSHOP

Agenda n Examine Firewise concepts n Learn hazard assessment tools & techniques n Review community development & land use planning processes n Explore opportunities for shared involvement n Learn through “hands on” exercise n Consider future steps toward success

Workshop Objectives n to learn how to understand and identify fire problems through hazard assessment n to develop meaningful fire & life safety programs to reduce risk n to measure the impact of fire & life safety considerations on community development, including land use planning and hazard mitigation.

Concepts

History 1985 Wildland Fires CA FL 1,400 homes lost! lost! 400 in ONE day!!

Wildland/Urban Interface Not a geographical location, A set of conditions that exist in every community.

Interface fires = national problem n Safety in the W/U Interface is affected by all aspects of community –values –desires –stability –sustainability –public security n Everyone has a piece of the solution

$

$

$

$ The “Wildfire Disaster Cycle”

$ Breaking the “Cycle”

A Homeowner Incentive Some 200,000 residents of a large fire- prone wooded area in Colorado are being warned that they may find themselves without insurance if they do not take steps to protect their properties from potential fire damage. Rocky Mountain News May 5, 1999

Breaking the “Cycle” $

Floods Floods Tornadoes Tornadoes Hurricanes Hurricanes Earthquakes Earthquakes Wildfires Wildfires... other natural disasters Floods Floods Tornadoes Tornadoes Hurricanes Hurricanes Earthquakes Earthquakes Wildfires Wildfires... other natural disasters Through Multi-hazard Planning

Who is the community? Architects & Landscapers Homeowners Community Planners Fire & Emergency Organizations Elected Officials Banks, Mortgage Firms Developers & Builders Insurance Professionals Utilities & Public Services

WUI Vision Wildland fires can occur in the future without the loss of homes and structures.

Goals

Goals n 1. Improve safety in the wildland/urban interface by sharing responsibility. n 2. Create and nurture local partnerships. n 3. Integrate FIREWISE concepts into community and disaster mitigation planning.

Shared Responsibilities

Traditional Roles Fire Fighter = Protector “hero” Homeowner = Helpless victim

Fire Protection System Water Dept. Street Dept. Police Dept. Planning Dept. Schools Insurance Builders & Developers Media Communications State/federal gov’ts Homeowners F.D. FireAgency

Re-defined Roles Fire Fighter and Homeowner Partners

But the Partnership includes many others... n insurance professionals n emergency managers n community planners n elected officials n community administrators n architects and builders n and more...

The “Firewise” Goal Homes should be designed, built, and maintained to withstand a wildfire WITHOUT the intervention of the fire department. the intervention of the fire department.

Flexible Planning Process

What is planning? n Looking at what you have n Defining what you need n Developing a strategy to meet present and future needs n Acting on that strategy

Planning is a PROCESS Not the recipe... nor it is the meal... and while the chef is the leader, there are many cooks.

A Descriptive Process n Organize the Planning Group n Assess the Hazards n Define the Problem n Set Goals and Objectives n Generate and Review Alternatives n Select Alternatives n Draft a FIREWISE Development Plan n Adopt the Action Plan n Evaluate and Revise

Planning Tools

GIS Mapping n ArcView 3.1

Hazard Assessment Process n Select the areas to be evaluated n Select the Hazard Components to be considered n Rank the hazard Components n Compile the Hazard Ranking in a Usable Format n Develop future actions

NFPA 299 Standard for the Protection of Life and Property from Wildfire 1997 Edition

NFPA 299 Purpose. This standard provides planning, construction, maintenance, education, and management elements to parties responsible for fire protection, land use planning, property development, property maintenance, wildfire safety training, public fire safety education, and others responsible for … [the protection of life and property from wildfire].

NFPA 299 Appendix A The Hazard Assessment System

Rating Factors n Vegetation n Structure n Location

Table A-3-2(a) Wildfire Hazard Severity Form n Elements A. Subdivision Design Ingress & Egress Primary Road Width Road Accessibility Secondary Road Terminus Average Lot Size Street Signs

Table A-3-2(a) Wildfire Hazard Severity Form n Elements B. Vegetation (Fuel Models) NFDRS Fuel Models Defensible Space

Table A-3-2(a) Wildfire Hazard Severity Form n Elements C. Topography Slope –Less than 9% –Between 10% and 20% –Between 20% and 30% –Between 31% and 40% –Greater than 40%

Table A-3-2(a) Wildfire Hazard Severity Form n Elements D. Additional Rating Factors Rough topography History of fire occurrence Exposure to fire weather & strong dry winds

Table A-3-2(a) Wildfire Hazard Severity Form n Elements E. Roofing Material Class A, B, C, Nonrated F. Existing Building Construction Predominate materials G. Available Fire Protection Water source H. Utilities Placement

Table A-3-2(a) Wildfire Hazard Severity Form n Totals for subdivision Low Hazard <49 points Moderate Hazard points High Hazard points Extreme Hazard >83 points

Structural Ignition Assessment Model (SIAM) n Computer-based model n Another tool in risk assessment & management n Available in 2001 –Download from

Next... Falls County needs your help.