_________________________ _ A Program of the Georgia Forestry Commission with support from the U.S. Forest Service Community Wildfire Protection Plan An Action Plan for Wildfire Mitigation and Conservation of Natural Resources Banks County Rural Urban Interface in the vicinity of Duncan and Sims Bridge Roads 1 The following report is a collaborative effort between various entities. The representatives listed below comprise the core decision-making team responsible for this report and mutually agree on the plan's contents. County Representative(s): Name Jimmy Hooper Commission Chairman Signature Name Sammy Reece Member Signature Name Danny Maxwell Member Signature Name David Duckett Member Signature Name Charles Turk Member Signature Local Emergency Services Representative(s): Name Brian Eubanks Fire Chief Signature Name Deidra Moore E911 / EMA Director Signature Local Georgia Forestry Commission Representative(s): Name Doug Andrews Chief Ranger Hall Banks unit Address GA Forestry Commission 5707 Lula Road Lula, Georgia 30554 Phone Number (770)869-3641 Signature Name Address Phone Number Signature Carl Melear CWPP Specialist P.O. Box 31 Armuchee, GA 30105 706 232-8988 Local USDA Forest Service Representative: Name Mike Davis Assistant Fire Management Officer Address US Forest Service Chattahoochee-Oconee NF Gainesville, GA 30501 Phone Number 770-297-3034 Signature 2 PLAN CONTENTS 1. Objectives and Goals 2. County Background, Existing Situation, Interface information 3. Risk Summary 4. Prioritized Mitigation Recommendations 5. Action Plan, Timetables, and Assessment Strategy 6. Wildfire Pre-Suppression Plan 7. County Base and Hazards Maps 8. Appendix 1) OBJECTIVES AND GOALS The mission of the following report is to set clear priorities for the implementation of wildfire mitigation in Banks County. The plan includes prioritized recommendations for the appropriate types and methods of fuel reduction and structure ignitability reduction that will protect this county and its essential infrastructure. Prioritized activities to educate the public are included. It also includes a plan for wildfire suppression. Specifically, the plan includes community-centered actions that will: Educate citizens on wildfire, its risks, and ways to protect lives and properties, Support fire rescue and suppression entities, Focus on collaborative decision-making and citizen participation, Develop and implement effective mitigation strategies, and Develop and implement effective community ordinances and codes. This plan should become a working document that is shared by local, state, and federal agencies that will use it to accomplish common goals. It is intended to become part of the master hazard mitigation plan for the County. An agreed-upon schedule for meeting to review accomplishments, solve problems, and plan for the future should extend beyond the scope of this plan. Without this follow up this plan will have limited value. 3 2) COUNTY BACKGROUND AND EXISTING SITUATION Banks County Banks County, in northeast Georgia, is the state's 129th county, comprising 233 square miles. The county was created from portions of Franklin and Habersham counties in 1858 and was named for Richard E. Banks (1794-1856), a circuit-riding surgeon who treated white settlers and Indians in the area, developing a good reputation among the Cherokees for treating smallpox. The land that became Banks County was originally held by the Cherokees, forming a border territory between the Cherokee Indian Nation and the newly formed United States of America. The western border of Georgia (from the top of Currahee Mountain to the southernmost branch of the Oconee River) was marked by a strip of felled trees, twenty feet wide, established with the Cherokees by the Treaty of Augusta in 1783. The northern boundary was the Chattahoochee National Forest. The county seat is Homer. Its first courthouse was built in 1863, reportedly with $6,600 in Confederate currency; it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Saved from destruction by a campaign to restore the old building initiated by a Banks County High School student, it now serves as a museum and community meeting hall, after a new courthouse was built in 1987. Homer, which replaced New Lebanon as the county seat, was Banks County Courthouse incorporated in 1859, and is reported to have been named after Homer Jackson, an early settler. Parts of other incorporated towns lie in the county: Alto (once known as Lulah), Baldwin, Gillsville, Lula, and Maysville. According to the 2010 U.S. census, the population of Banks County is 18,395, an increase from the 2000 population of 14,422. Commercial forestry has given way to small poultry farms in recent decades, although much of the workforce is employed in the manufacturing sector, mostly in textiles and apparel production. Covered Bridge Well-known former residents include Georgia governor Allen D. Candler, major- league baseball champion Ty Cobb, and Zach S. Henderson, former president of Georgia Teachers College (later, Georgia Southern University). Places of interest include Nails Creek Baptist Church, the Old Banks County Jail, Fort Hollingsworth, and the Atlanta Dragway. Annual events include the Banks County Festival in the fall, the Annual North Georgia Folk Potters Festival in June, and in Homer the "World's Largest Easter Egg Hunt." The above material is courtesy of the New Georgia Encyclopedia 4 The Wildland-Urban Interface There are many definitions of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), however from a fire management perspective it is commonly defined as an area where structures and other human development meet or intermingles with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. As fire is dependent on a certain set of conditions, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group has defined the wildland-urban interface as a set of conditions that exists in or near areas of wildland fuels, regardless of ownership. This set of conditions includes type of vegetation, building construction, accessibility, lot size, topography and other factors such as weather and humidity. When these conditions are present in certain combinations, they make some communities more vulnerable to wildfire damage than others. This "set of conditions" method is perhaps the best way to define wildland-urban interface areas when planning for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and protection activities. There are three major categories of wildland-urban interface. Depending on the set of conditions present, any of these areas may be at risk from wildfire. A wildfire risk assessment can determine the level of risk. 1. "Boundary" wildland-urban interface is characterized by areas of development where homes, especially new subdivisions, press against public and private wildlands, such as private or commercial forest land or public forests or parks. This is the classic type of wildlandurban interface, with a clearly defined boundary between the suburban fringe and the rural countryside. 2. "Intermix" wildland-urban interface areas are places where improved property and/or structures are scattered and interspersed in wildland areas. These may be isolated rural homes or an area that is just beginning to go through the transition from rural to urban land use. 3. "Island" wildland-urban interface, also called occluded interface, are areas of wildland within predominately urban or suburban areas. As cities or subdivisions grow, islands of undeveloped land may remain, creating remnant forests. Sometimes these remnants exist as parks, or as land that cannot be developed due to site limitations, such as wetlands. (courtesy Fire Ecology and Wildfire Mitigation in Florida 2004) Banks County is typical of a county that is undergoing a gradual transition from an isolated rural county to county influenced by multilane transportation corridors connecting it to large metropolitan areas. It is also influenced by its proximity to recreation areas. It contains mixtures of both boundary and intermix interface. 5 Wildland Urban Interface Hazards Firefighters in the wildland urban interface may encounter hazards other than the fire itself, such as hazardous materials, utility lines and poor access. Hazardous Materials Common chemicals used around the home may be a direct hazard to firefighters from flammability, explosion potential and/or vapors or off-gassing. Such chemicals include paint, varnish and other flammable liquids; fertilizer; pesticides; cleansers; aerosol cans, fireworks, batteries and ammunition. In addition, some common household products such as plastics may give off very toxic fumes when they burn. Stay OUT of the smoke from burning structures and any unknown sources such as trash piles. Illicit Activities Marijuana plantations or drug production labs may be found in wildland urban interface areas. Extremely hazardous materials such as propane tanks and flammable/toxic chemicals may be encountered, as well as booby traps. Propane tanks Both large (household size) and small (gas grill size) liquefied propane gas (LPG) tanks can present hazards to firefighters, including explosion. See the "LPG Tank Hazards" discussion for details. Utility lines Utility lines may be located above and below ground and may be cut or damaged by tools or equipment. Don't spray water on utility lines or boxes. Septic tanks and fields Below-ground structures may not be readily apparent and may not support the weight of engines or other apparatus. 6 7 New construction materials Many new construction materials have comparatively low melting points and may "off-gas" extremely hazardous vapors. Plastic decking materials that resemble wood are becoming more common and may begin softening and losing structural strength at 180 F, though they normally do not sustain combustion once direct flame is removed. However, if they continue to burn they exhibit the characteristics of flammable liquids. Pets and livestock Pets and livestock may be left when residents evacuate and will likely be highly stressed, making them more inclined to bite and kick. Firefighters should not put themselves at risk to rescue pets or livestock. Evacuation occurring Firefighters may be taking structural protection actions while evacuations of residents are occurring. Be very cautious of people driving erratically. Distraught residents may refuse to leave their property, and firefighters may need to disengage from fighting fire to contact law enforcement officers for assistance. In most jurisdictions firefighters do not have the authority to force evacuations. Firefighters should not put themselves at risk trying to protect someone who will not evacuate! Limited access Narrow one-lane roads with no turn-around room, inadequate or poorly maintained bridges and culverts are frequently found in wildland urban interface areas. Access should be sized-up and an evacuation plan for all emergency personnel should be developed. 8 Fire History and Existing Situation Wildland Fire has not been a serious problem in Banks County as regards number of occurrences and average size when compared to some counties in the state. This favorable situation can be attributed to rapid initial attack and excellent interagency cooperation. Fire activity for the past 5 complete fiscal years is outlined in the table below. These numbers are based on Georgia Forestry Commission records. Fiscal Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Number of Fires 3 17 7 15 13 Acres 3.40 53.71 67.74 44.62 21.22 Average size (acres) 1.13 3.16 9.68 2.97 1.63 Statewide Average number 34 58 23 34 39 Statewide average size (acres) 4.98 16.16 3.56 3.90 4.56 Causes of wildland fire in Banks County covers most all recognized cause categories. Examination of Georgia Forestry Commission records reveals that machine use, incendiarism, and escapes from debris burning are the leading causes in most years. There is not a significant problem with incendiarism. Thus far in fiscal year 2013 which began on July 1, 2012 there have been three fires. One was attributed to an escaped campfire, one was linked to debris burning, and one was from lightning. 9 The following table outlines fire numbers and cause categories for the most complete fiscal year (2012) on record. County = Banks Cause Fires Campfire Campfire 0 Children Children 0 Debris: Ag Fields, Pastures, Debris: Ag Fields, Pastures, Orchards, Orchards, Etc Etc 0 Debris: Construction Land Clearing Debris: Construction Land Clearing 1 Debris: Escaped Prescribed Burn Debris: Escaped Prescribed Burn 0 Debris: Household Garbage Debris: Household Garbage 0 Debris: Other Debris: Other 0 Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc 0 Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related 0 Incendiary Incendiary 0 Lightning Lightning 0 Machine Use Machine Use 2 Miscellaneous Miscellaneous 0 Smoking Smoking 0 Totals for County: Banks Year: 2012 3 Acres 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.79 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.61 0.00 0.00 3.40 Fires Acres 5 Yr 5 Yr Avg Avg 0.60 1.08 0.40 0.28 0.60 11.20 0.20 0.16 0.80 7.27 0.40 0.34 0.20 0.39 1.20 0.96 0.40 5.02 1.80 5.18 0.40 0.88 2.80 3.43 0.80 0.82 0.40 1.13 11.00 38.14 10 The following map is from Georgia Forestry Commission records and shows the number of fires and where they occurred during the period fiscal 2008 through 2012. There is also a fire occurrence map in the appendix that shows occurrence areas based on Georgia Forestry Commission responses during the period covered by fiscal years 1997 through 2002. 11 3) Risk Summary Following an initial meeting on 10/13/2011 between the Georgia Forestry Commission and officials of the Banks County Fire Department, assessments were made of areas of concern in Banks County. These assessments were made by personnel of the Banks County Fire Services. Assessments were made using the Georgia Forestry Commission Form 140 for Woodland Community Wildfire Hazard Assessment. Areas selected for assessment were based on the communities at risk GIS layer from the Southern Fire Risk Assessment supplemented by local knowledge of potentially hazardous areas. Information from the assessment process is displayed in tabular form in the appendix. This table lists the community name, Map #, Lat / Long, number of homes, hazard rating, risk category, fire department jurisdiction, and the presence or absence of the area in the Southern Fire Risk Assessment. The original assessment documents contain detailed specific information relating to the particular hazards affecting the community and are retained by the Banks Hall office of the Georgia Forestry Commission. These documents would be valuable in mitigating specific hazards should they be able to be changed. These assessment areas are also represented on the Wildland Fire Susceptibility Index map. The colors for the symbols correspond to the colors on the risk summary table. Moderate risk communities are colored purple, and low risk communities are green. Sixteen areas were assessed. Nine (9) areas were recognized as being at moderate risk, and seven (7) were classified as at low risk. It should be recognized that additional opportunities for assessment exist in all response jurisdictions. Principal hazards affecting communities classified as moderate were related to extreme slope of properties and driveways, poor access related to one way access, narrow roads, unpaved roads on steep slopes, lack of defensible space, high structural ignitability factors, and dead end roads. Varying degrees of suppression difficulty exist due to heavy fuel loading and steep slopes. All jurisdictions experience these hazards to some degree. Numerous educational opportunities exist. 12 4) Prioritized Mitigation Recommendations The following recommendations were developed during follow-up meetings with County and State fire response agencies. A priority order was determined based on which mitigation projects would best reduce the hazard of wildland fire to communities and infrastructure. The following priorities were considered. Community Hazard and Structural Ignitability Reduction Wildland Fuel reduction or modification Improvements to capabilities of Wildland response agencies Public Education regarding risk of wildland fire Proposed Community Hazard and Structural Ignitability Reduction Priorities Hazard Lack of defensible space Access problems for initial attack Mitigation Improve defensible space around structures in communities at risk Improve access problems Method All departments should examine structures in communities at risk in their response areas. Improvements to defensible space as referenced in firewise guidelines should be conveyed to residents through media or direct contact. All County response agencies and the Georgia Forestry Commission should closely examine access in all communities identified to be at risk. When problems are identified corrective measures should be made. 13 Proposed Community Hazard and Structural Ignitability Reduction Priorities Hazard Structural Ignitability Mitigation Reduce structural ignitability Local Codes and Ordinances Improve and amend to codes and ordinances pertaining to infrastructure and community protection from wildland fire. Method Citizens in communities at risk should be educated regarding methods to reduce structural ignitability as referenced in firewise guidelines. This can be accomplished through media or direct contact. Examine all existing codes and ordinances for problems regarding direct conflicts to wildland safety or lack of needed codes or enforcement. Proposed Wildland Fuel Reduction or modification Priorities Hazard Fuel Hazards near Communities at risk Fuel Hazard in public or shared spaces Mitigation Prescribed Burning Fuel Modification or reduction Method Determine Communities at risk where Prescribed burning would be appropriate to use. Seek cooperation from adjacent landowners. Find funding to cover cost of burning. Prioritize burn compartments and execute. Determine where hazards exist. Determine appropriate method for modification or reduction. Chipping, raking and piling, County pick-up, Organized Community Clean-up days could be beneficial. Organized burning could be conducted on these days supported by local fire department personnel. 14 Proposed Improvements to capabilities of Wildland Response Agencies Priorities Problem or need Lack of qualification or training Improvement or solution Provide training opportunities Equipment needs Improve or acquire Wildland fire equipment Details Examine training records of all wildland responders to insure training and qualifications match expected duties. Insure that all wildland responders have Basic Wildland Certification. Locate and secure funding for enhanced training from state and federal agencies. Determine specific equipment needs to bring all wildland response equipment to NWCG Standards. Provide appropriate PPE to all County wildland responders. Provide wildland hand tools to County departments. Investigate needs for improvements to all wildland water handing and supply (dry hydrants, brush trucks, hose, etc.) 15 Proposed Public Education Priorities Educational Priority Increase public awareness concerning firewise principles and fire prevention through direct contact Increase public awareness concerning firewise principles and fire prevention through use of media Responsible party Federal, State, County,and municipal governments County, State, and municipal governments Method Conduct firewise meetings by each fire response jurisdiction assisted by Georgia Forestry Commission (state) and USDA Forest Service (federal). Conduct a door to door campaign in particularly hazardous communities Use PSA's in local newspapers and local radio stations. Utilize firewise displays in local post offices and banks. Seek use of local EMC newsletter for firewise message. Create poster sized notices for use in common public places (stores, post offices, etc. adjacent to high hazard areas advising residents about the hazard and how to protect themselves and their property. Distribute public notices concerning firewise at local sporting events and other public gatherings. 16 Proposed Public Education Priorities Increase public awareness concerning firewise principles and fire prevention through formal certification and recognition Federal, State, County, and municipal governments Supported by the USFS and the Georgia Forestry Commission a goal of achieving firewise status for at least one extreme or high risk category community should be realized before the end of calendar year 2013. The goal of adding at least one community annually should extend beyond this initial goal. 17 5) Action Plan, Timetables, and Assessment Strategy POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES: As funding is questionable in these times of tight government budgets and economic uncertainty, unconventional means should be identified whereby the need for funding can be reduced or eliminated. Publications / Brochures FIREWISE materials are available at www.firewise.org. Another source of mitigation information can be found at www.nfpa.org. Access to reduced cost or free of charge copy services should be sought whereby publications can be reproduced. Free of charge public meeting areas should be identified where communities could gather to be educated regarding prevention and firewise principles. Mitigation Community Protection Grant: o USFS sponsored prescribed burn program. Communities with at risk properties that lie within 3 miles of the USFS border may apply with the GFC to have their forest land prescribed burned free of charge. FEMA Mitigation Policy MRR-2-08-01: through GEMA - Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Pre Disaster Mitigation (PDM) o To provide technical and financial assistance to local governments to assist in the implementation of long term cost effective hazard mitigation measures. o This policy addresses wildfire mitigation for the purpose of reducing the threat to all-risk structures through creating defensible space, structural protection through the application of ignition resistant construction, and limited hazardous fuels reduction to protect life and property. o With a complete and registered plan (addendum to the State plan) counties can apply for premitigation funding. They will also be eligible for HMGP if the county is declared under a wildfire disaster. GFC - Plowing and burning assistance can be provided through the Georgia Forestry Commission as a low cost option for mitigation efforts. Individual Homeowners In most cases of structural protection ultimately falls on the responsibility of the community and the homeowner. They will bear the cost; yet they will reap the benefit from properly implemented mitigation efforts. GEMA Grant - PDM (See above) Ultimately it is our goal to help the communities by identifying the communities threatened with a high risk to wildfire and educate those communities on methods to implement on reducing those risks. 18 5) Action Plan Steps to implement Community Hazard and Structural Ignitability Priorities Hazard Lack of Defensible Space Access problems Structural Ignitability Codes and Ordinances Specific Action and Responsible Party Using the risk summaries referenced in section 3, each department should conduct inspections of communities at risk in their jurisdiction or area of response for lack of defensible space. Findings will be conveyed to residents and treatment methods will be recommended in accordance with Firewise principles. This would probably be best accomplished by approaching homeowners associations or organizations. Ultimately, the message should reach individual homeowners in each community. Should local organizations not exist, the builder or developer could be contacted. Such contacts would also influence future projects or developments Using individual Communities at Risk maps for each station, the Georgia Forestry Commission and Banks County Fire officials should visit all identified communities at risk for the purpose of locating and resolving access difficulties. This inspection should extend into the wildland adjacent to the communities at risk looking for hindrances to suppression tactics Banks County Fire officials should examine structures for structural ignitability concerns at the time when the communities at risk are inspected for lack of defensible space. Using firewise guidelines for reducing structural ignitability, (a checklist could be formulated and used) structures should be assessed and findings conveyed to residents. This could be through use of media or by direct contact with residents or homeowners associations. Banks County and municipal Fire Marshalls should closely examine all codes and ordinances for gaps and oversights which could cause problems in the wildland fire arena. Examples include proximity of propane tanks to structures, accumulations of debris, lack of proper identification pertaining address or street names, set back distances from wildland fuels, road widths in new developments. In regard to priority, the above steps should first extend to the higher numbers in the extreme category from the risk summary as these communities are at a higher degree of risk. Another means of reaching homeowners would be to distribute literature on Firewise principles through the building permit office. Checklists for Homeowners are available on the Georgia Forestry Commission public website http://www.gfc.state.ga.us . Look under Forest Fire Wildland Urban Interface- Firewise 19 5) Action Plan Steps to implement Fuel Reduction or Modification Priorities Hazard Hazardous Wildland Fuel Accumulations Fuel Continuity between Wildland and Woodland Communities Hazardous Fuel Accumulations in communities and hindrances to suppression Specific Action and Responsible Party The Georgia Forestry Commission will prioritize prescribed burning projects adjacent to Communities at risk where burning is determined to be appropriate. As Banks County is becoming more densely populated and communities are located in close proximity to transportation corridors burning will have more impact as regards smoke management. This will require changes in how these burns are carried out as regards logistics and technique. In areas where the need exists and fuel reduction by burning is determined to be inappropriate, permanent or semi-permanent fuel breaks could be established. These breaks should be maintained annually prior to the arrival of prime burning times. Their locations should be mapped and made known to local, state, and federal response personnel. Residents of the Communities adjacent to these breaks should be advised of their purpose and their cooperation in protecting them should be gained. These breaks could be installed by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Using the risk summary in section 3, Fire departments could conduct community clean up days in communities at risk in their respective jurisdictions aimed at reducing hazardous fuels and hindrances to suppression in shared community space. Residents would be provided with guidance and access to disposal alternatives for materials removed. Steps to implement improvements to wildland response capability Improvement needed Improve training and qualification of Banks County Wildland firefighters Improve or acquire wildland firefighting equipment Responsible Party and specific action The Banks County Chief Ranger of the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Banks County Fire Chief should examine all training records for personnel under their supervision. All personnel should be certified Georgia Basic Wildland Firefighters or higher in qualification. Additional training and qualification should be sought for personnel identified in the Banks / Hall County Fire plan who are assigned specific Incident Command System (ICS) functions. Sources for available funds for training should be sought at State and Federal levels. All stations for Banks County Fire Departments should inventory their present equipment relating to their wildland capability. Funding sources should be investigated from available grants or other sources. Needs for job specific wildland responses should be examined by the Chief Ranger for Banks County and the Banks County Fire Chief. 20 5) Action Plan Steps to educate or inform the Public regarding wildland fire prevention and responsibilities Opportunity Improve Public Education through direct contact Improve Public Education through use of media Improve Public Education through formal certification Responsible Party and Specific Action Prior to the onset of fire season(s) rangers of the Georgia Forestry Commission and Banks County Fire personnel should conduct firewise meetings in conjunction with normally scheduled fire department meetings. People living in or near extreme and high risk communities should be invited to these meetings by use of door to door campaigns or by mailbox flyers. Notices regarding these meetings could be placed in local post offices or stores near communities at risk. A Firewise display should be acquired and utilized at this meeting. This display would be retained by the Banks Hall Unit of the Georgia Forestry Commission and used for all Firewise meetings in Banks County. Local news media should be invited to these meetings. Goals for potential Firewise certified communities in Banks County could be considered after these meetings are completed. Prior to the onset of fire season(s) or during periods of particularly high fire danger use of the media should be stepped up by personnel of the Georgia Forestry Commission and Banks County Fire Services. This should include use of all available media in the County. PSA's should be run weekly during periods of high to extreme fire danger. Signs or poster boards could be developed for display in public spaces near communities at risk advising residents that they live in areas that are susceptible to wildland fire and directing them to sources of information regarding wildland fire and their role in improving their own personal safety. Before the end of calendar year 2013 at least one community in the high or moderate risk category should be considered for formal certification as a firewise community. Should this goal be realized it should be repeated in following years. 21 5) Action Plan Timetables for Actions Steps to implement Community Hazard and Structural Ignitability Priorities Steps to examine communities at risk for defensible space and structural ignitability should take place during the late winter / early spring of 2013. Pre-planning to examine access and suppression problems should take place at any time during the current burning season. Codes and Ordinances should be examined as soon as possible in order for the legal workings of changes to take place. Steps to implement Fuel Reduction or Modification Priorities Any identified prescribed burn projects should take place in late winter / early spring 2013. Any other priority burn projects or installation of pre suppression fuel breaks should take place during this same window. Steps to reduce fuels in communities at risk should coincide with steps to improve defensible space and reduce structural ignitability. Timing of these actions would be dependent upon Fire station availabity during late winter / early spring 2013. Steps to implement improvements to wildland response capability Cooperation between state and local wildland suppression forces regarding improvements to training and equipment should begin immediately. Steps to educate or inform the Public regarding wildland fire prevention and responsibilities Direct contact with residents in Communities at risk should take place as soon as possible during early calendar year 2013 The use of media should coincide with the above action. Certification of Firewise communities should follow the timetable associated with the action plan 22 5) Action Plan Assessment of Actions Reduction of Community hazard and structural ignitability Direct measurement of the number of communities assessed would be the appropriate measure of success Any meetings that result in cooperation between wildland departments should be logged along with minutes of those meetings. Goals should be set and reviewed after each meeting. Any changes to or additions to codes and ordinances would be an obvious measure of success. Steps to implement Fuel Reduction or Modification Priorities Acres burned would be the appropriate measure for fuel reduction. A direct measure of linear feet of firebreaks would be an appropriate measure for pre suppression breaks. Fuel reduction in communities at risk would be measured by the number of communities affected and number of projects completed. Steps to implement improvements to wildland response capability A direct measure of the number of capabilities or qualifications gained would be the appropriate measure of success. Any equipment acquired or any equipment brought up to national standards would be the appropriate measure of success. Steps to educate or inform the Public regarding wildland fire prevention and responsibilities Direct measurement of the number of persons contacted, literature distributed, public notices posted, news articles published, radio programs aired, etc. would be the best measure of success. The number of communities that achieve Firewise status would be an obvious measure of success. 6) Wildfire Pre-Suppression Plan This document is located in the appendix of this plan 23 7) County Base and Hazards Maps Maps of the Surface Fuels and Fire Occurrence areas are included in the appendix of this plan. As was mentioned in the risk summary, a map of the Wildland Fire Susceptibility Index with points relating to the assessment areas is also included. The surface fuel and fire occurrence maps do not show assessment areas to preserve continuity of displayed information. The surface fuel map is based on the 13 fuel models recognized by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). The Fire Occurrence map is based on Georgia Forestry Commission responses during the period 1997 through 2002. These maps are in PDF format and are available from the Georgia Forestry Commission. When viewed in this electronic format increased magnification and resolution capabilities are realized which will make these maps more useful. This format will also support large format printing. 8) Appendix Risk Summary table County maps of surface fuels, Wildland Fire Susceptibility Index with initial dispatch points, and fire occurrence areas Banks / Halll County Pre-Suppression plan. 24 P. O. Box 819 Macon, GA 31202 1-800-GA-TREES GaTrees.org The Georgia Forestry Commission provides leadership, service, and education in the protection and conservation of Georgia's forest resources. An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider 25