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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
Coweta County

July 2016

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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 Representatives:

Name Address Phone Number

Paul Poole Commissioner District 1 22 East Broad St. Newnan, GA 30263 770 301-6250

Signature

Name Address Phone Number
Signature

Tim Lasseter Commissioner District 2, Chairman 2016 22 East Broad St. Newnan, GA 30263 770 253-4259

Name Address Phone Number
Signature

Bob Blackburn - Commissioner District 3 22 East Broad St. Newnan, GA 30263 770 683-2787

Name Address Phone Number
Signature

Rodney Brooks - Commissioner District 4 22 East Broad St. Newnan, GA 30263 404 557-5942

Name Address Phone Number
Signature

Al Smith Commissioner District 5, Vice Chairman 2016 22 East Broad St. Newnan, GA 30263 404 409-7557

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Emergency Services Representatives

Name Address Phone Number
Signature

Deron "Pat" Wilson Chief, Coweta County Fire/Rescue/EMS 483 Turkey Creek Road Newnan, GA 30263 770 254-3901

Name Address Phone Number
Signature

Jay Jones, Emergency Management Agency Director 195 Walt Sanders Memorial Dr. Newnan, GA 30265 770 254 2650

Georgia Forestry Commission Representatives

Name
Address Phone Number
Signature

Terry Quigley, Chief Ranger, Coweta/South Fulton/Fayette County Unit 137 Corinth Rd Newnan, GA 30263 770 254-7217

Name Address Phone Number
Signature

Beryl Budd, Wildfire Prevention Specialist 245 Dixie Trail, Covington, Ga. 30014 404-357-0827

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PLAN CONTENTS

Page #

1. County Signatures:

2

County Representative

Georgia Forestry Commission,

Emergency Services

2. Community Background & Wildfire History:

5

Coweta County History

Wildfire History

Wildfire Data,

Wildland Urban Interface and Hazards

3. Community Wildfire Risk:

13

Risk Summary

Southern Fire Risk Assessment (SouthWRAP)

Community Risk Maps

4. Mitigation Recommendations:

16

5. Action Plan:

17

Community Protection

Wildland Fuel Reduction Priorities

Wildland Fire Response Priorities

Education and Outreach Priorities

6. Potential Funding Sources:

20

Grant Funding and Mitigation Assistance

7. Glossary:

21

8. Sources Of Information:

23

9. Appendix: Coweta County Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment

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2. Community Background & Fire History

Coweta County:
Coweta County, Georgia's sixty-fourth, encompasses 443 square miles in west central Georgia, bordered by Carroll, Fayette, Fulton, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup counties. It was one of five counties created by the 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs, when Chief William McIntosh relinquished Creek Indian lands to the United States. Coweta was named after McIntosh's tribe and their town, one of the largest centers for the Creek Nation. The new county established its seat in the settlement of Bullsboro in 1826, with Walter Colquitt as the first superior-court judge.

Because no clearly defined roads led to the settlement, a new site was located roughly two miles west. It was named for General Daniel Newnan, a Revolutionary War (1775-83) hero and Georgia's secretary of state at the time the county was established. Newnan ultimately became the main economic center for the county, although smaller communities were scattered throughout the region.

Coweta County Courthouse

By 1860 the county had grown to almost 15,000 people, evenly divided between whites and blacks, with plantations and farms the main means of income. The Civil War (1861-65)
brought changes to Coweta County.

Cotton Gin, 1905

Although the county had some war activity (the Battle of Brown's Mill was fought outside Newnan in 1864), Newnan became known as "the hospital city of the Confederacy." Because of its location on the Atlanta and West Point Railroad, and its distance from the heaviest battles, the largest town in Coweta was selected to host a hospital for treating the wounded. Eventually Newnan would have seven hospitals and treat more than 10,000 soldiers from both sides. Many soldiers, including 269 Confederates who died in the town's hospitals, were buried in nearby Oak Hill Cemetery.

Before the war one in four county farmers owned slaves and land. After the war the southern economy changed. The textile industry found its way to the South and Coweta County. In 1866 the Willcoxon Manufacturing Company was the first cotton plant built in the county. By the early 1900s more cotton factories had opened. Textile mills continued to be built in the county. Together with such manufacturing firms as R. D. Cole, builder of Newnan's first water tower and manufacturer of war supplies, they made the county quite prosperous.

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In the twentieth century Newnan became known as "the City of Homes." Many of the historic homes that line the streets of the town are listed on the National Register. Historic preservation has become an important part of life in Coweta County, and other communities, including Grantville, Moreland, Roscoe, Senoia, and Sharpsburg are involved in efforts to preserve regional heritage.

According to the 2000 U.S. census, Coweta's population was 89,215 (78.9

percent white, 18 percent black, and 3.1 percent Hispanic). The Central

Educational Center, which opened in 2000, serves as a satellite campus of West Georgia Technical College and as a charter high school.

Historic Newnan

Some prominent natives of Coweta County include New York classical musician and conductor Charles Wadsworth, Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Buford

Boone, country singers Alan Jackson and Doug Stone, writers Lewis Grizzard and Erskine

Caldwell, and former Georgia governors Ellis Arnall and William Y. Atkinson.

Wildfire History:
Wildland fire traditionally has not been a serious problem in Coweta County when compared to other areas of the state. Fire activity in the county is reduced by excellent county wide fire protection and agency cooperation resulting in rapid response and suppression. During FY 2016 (July 2015 through June 2016) there have been 9 wildfires that burned about 9.91 acres for an average size of 1.1 acres. During this same period the statewide average is 4.11 acres. Fire activity statewide has been the lowest recorded record to date because of above average rainfall. For fiscal year 2016 the number of wildfires statewide is down 52% with the acreage burned down by 78%.
The following table outlines wildfires by cause in Coweta County during FY 2016 and also shows the 5 year average number of fires and acreage burned:

County = Coweta

Cause

Fires

Campfire

Campfire

1

Children

Children

2

Debris: Ag Fields, Pastures, Orchards, Etc Debris: Ag Fields, Pastures, Orchards, Etc

0

Debris: Construction Land Clearing

Debris: Construction Land Clearing

0

Debris: Escaped Prescribed Burn

Debris: Escaped Prescribed Burn

1

Debris: Household Garbage

Debris: Household Garbage

0

Debris: Other

Debris: Other

1

Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc

2

Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related

Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related

0

Incendiary

Incendiary

0

Acres
4.80 1.10 0.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 0.01 0.70 0.00 0.00

Fires 5 Yr Avg 1.80 0.80 0.20 0.40 1.40 0.60 0.40 6.20 0.20 1.40

Acres 5 Yr Avg 5.91 0.42 0.68 0.07
14.35 3.17 0.29 23.28 0.40 33.17

Wildfire Protection Plan: An Action Plan For Wildfire Mitigation

Lightning

Lightning

0

Machine Use

Machine Use

1

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

0

Miscellaneous: Cutting/Welding/Grinding Miscellaneous: Cutting/Welding/Grinding

0

Miscellaneous: Power lines/Electric fences

Miscellaneous: Power lines/Electric fences

1

Miscellaneous: Spontaneous Heating/Combustion

Miscellaneous: Spontaneous Heating/Combustion

0

Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle Fires Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle Fires

0

Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes

Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes

0

Railroad

Railroad

0

Undetermined

Undetermined

0

Totals for County: Coweta Year: 2016

9

7

0.00

1.00

2.46

1.20

2.00 17.57

0.00

0.60

1.26

0.00

0.40

0.30

0.10

0.60

3.22

0.00

0.20

0.20

0.00

0.20

0.00

0.00

1.80

2.73

0.00

0.20

0.48

0.00

0.40

0.48

9.91 20.80 110.46

The following table outlines fire activity in Coweta County for 2005 through 2015. It should be remembered that the State experienced its worst wildfire season in 2007. Prolonged drought caused increased wildfire activity statewide. Huge wildfires in the Okefenokee and SE Georgia region greatly increased the statewide acreage burned. Again in 2011 large fires in the Okefenokee and SE Georgia influenced the State averages and was another record breaking year. During the 10 year period in the table below careless debris burning is consistently the primary cause accounting for 49% of all wildfires. Machine use (12%) is the second leading cause followed by children playing (8%). The remaining 31% of wildfires are caused from campfires, incendiary, lightning, railroad, and other miscellaneous causes.
Number of Fires by Cause for Coweta County for CY 2005 to 2015

Year

Campfire

Children

Debris Burning

Incendiary (arson)

Lightning

Machine Use

Miscellaneous Railroad Smoking

2005

3

1

21

1

0

10

7

2

4

2006

4

5

39

0

6

5

3

1

5

2007

3

12

25

3

4

6

2

0

1

2008

0

6

20

2

1

3

7

0

0

2009

0

1

12

0

1

4

1

0

0

2010

2

1

13

1

0

7

2

1

0

2011

1

1

17

5

3

9

1

0

0

2012

1

0

11

1

3

3

10

1

0

2013

0

0

9

1

0

0

4

0

0

2014

6

1

17

1

0

1

5

0

0

2015

0

1

5

3

0

0

1

0

0

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The following graphs represent number of wildfires and acreage burned during 2005 through 2015:

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This map above indicates the number and location of wildfires occurring within the County during the last 5 years.

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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 wildland-urban 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.
Coweta County is typical of a County in the Southeastern United States in that it contains areas of both boundary and intermix WUI. Proximity to a large metropolitan area with rapid and continuous development results in communities near extensive unbroken wildland fuel and also sited such that wildland fuels are present within the community.

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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 offgassing. 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.

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Utility lines

Utility lines may be located above and below ground and may be cut or damaged by tools or equipment. Natural Gas underground lines may be extremely hazardous. 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.

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.

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3. Community Wildfire Risk:

Risk Summary:
Following a meeting between Georgia Forestry Commission representatives Terry Quigley, Chief Ranger Coweta County, Carl Melear, CWPP Specialist, Coweta County Emergency Services representatives Dennis Hammond (retired) and Jay Jones,EMA Director, on April 16, 2009 an assessment of representative communities at risk was undertaken. In all 18 eighteen communities at risk were assessed for their risk from wildfire during the months of July and August of 2009. Of these eighteen, fifteen areas assessed were included in the communities at risk layer in the Southern Fire Risk assessment. Three areas were not recognized by the risk assessment but were assessed due to their recognized degree of risk. It should be noted that these communities represent typical communities at risk in Coweta County and the number sampled is representative of a larger number that presently exists and will undoubtedly be added to due to rate at which the county is growing. Fourteen areas were found to be in the moderate range of risk and four areas were classified as low risk. The map numbers assigned to these areas are represented on the maps of level of concern, fire occurrence, and surface fuel. The original copies of the assessments are retained by the Coweta office of the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Community
Arnco Mills Meadowview Park Cannongate Trace GlenBrok Cliff Payton Cir. Welcome Woods Slippery Rock Ct. Chatsworth Prestigious Place Kingsbrooke Emerald Hills Odell Ridge
Oak Crest Garrison Chase O'Tara Woods Orchard Hills Ivy Trace Peek Crossing

Map #
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18

Location
Arnco-Seargent Lake Circle Joe Lee Dr. Wagon Wheel Trail Cliff Payton Cir. Welcome Woods Slippery Rock Ct. Chatsworth Pt. Prestigious Place Kingsbrooke Cir. Emerald Hills Ln. Smokey Rd and Odell Ridge Oak Crest Dr. Garrison Chase O'Tara Woods Dr. Orchard Hills Blvd. Ivy Trace Blvd. Peek Crossing Dr.

Score
107 91 91 90 85 82 82 82 82 80 78 77

Risk Category Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate

Station Jurisdiction Station 2 Station 2 Station 7 Station 3 Station 8 Station 8 Station 12 Station 12 Station 10 Station 14 Station 14 Station 8

77

Moderate Station 7

77

Moderate Station 10

74

Low

Station 2

72

Low

Station 12

72

Low

Station 7

71

Low

Station 3

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Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SouthWRAP):

The Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment tool, developed by the Southern Group of State Foresters, was released to the public in July 2014. This tool allows users of the Professional Viewer application of the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SWRA) web Portal (SouthWRAP) to define a specific project area and summarize wildfire related information for this area. A detailed risk summary report is generated using a set of predefined map products developed by the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment project which have been summarized explicitly for the user defined project area. A risk assessment summary was generated for Coweta County. The SouthWRAP (SWRA) products included in this report are designed to provide the information needed to support the following key priorities:

Identify areas that are most prone to wildfire

Identify areas that may require additional tactical planning, specifically related to mitigation projects and Community Wildfire Protection Planning

Provide the information necessary to justify resource, budget and funding requests

Allow agencies to work together to better define priorities and improve emergency response, particularly across jurisdictional boundaries

Define wildland communities and identify the risk to those communities

Increase communication

and outreach with local

residents and the public

to create awareness and

address

community

priorities and needs

Plan for response and suppression resource needs

Plan and prioritize hazardous fuel treatment programs

Wildland Urban Interface map from the Coweta County SWRA Report

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Wildland Interface Risk Map above and Fire intensity Scale Map below.

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4. MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS:
The mission of the following report is to set clear priorities for the implementation of wildfire mitigation in Coweta 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. 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.
Develop and implement effective community ordinances and codes
Proposed Wildland Fuel Reduction or Modification Priorities: 1. Reduction or modification of wildland fuel in proximity to communities at risk 2. Reduction or modification of fuel concentrations in shared spaces inside
communities at risk
Proposed Improvements to capabilities of Wildland Response agencies:
1. Identify needs and improve training and qualification of wildland response agencies
2. Identify needs and recommend equipment acquisitions for wildland response agencies

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5. Action Plan:

Primary Protection for Community and Its Essential Infrastructure

Treatment Area

Treatment Types

Treatment Method(s)

1. All Structures 2. Applicable Structures

Create minimum of 30feet of defensible space**
Reduce structural ignitability**

Trim shrubs and vines to 30 feet from structures, trim overhanging limbs, replace flammable plants near homes with less flammable varieties, remove vegetation around chimneys.
Clean flammable vegetative material from roofs and gutters, store firewood appropriately, install skirting around raised structures, store water hoses for ready access, and replace pine straw and mulch around plantings with less flammable landscaping materials.

3. Community Clean-up Cutting, mowing,

Day

pruning**

Cut, prune, and mow vegetation in shared community spaces.

4. Driveway Access 5. Road Access 6. Codes and Ordinances

Right of Way Clearance
Identify needed road improvements
Examine existing codes and ordinances.

See that adequate clearance is maintained to allow emergency vehicle access.
As roads are upgraded, widen to minimum standards with at least 50 foot diameter cul de sacs or turn arounds.
Amend and enforce existing building codes as they relate to skirting, propane tank locations, public nuisances (trash/debris on property), Property address marking standards and other relevant concerns
Review Subdivision and development ordinances for public safety concerns.
Continue Enforcement of uniform addressing ordinance.

7. Burn Permits

Education and Enforcement

Greater Burn Permit enforcement and education from the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Proposed Community Wildland Fuel Reduction Priorities

Treatment Area

Treatment Types

Treatment Method(s)

1. Adjacent WUI Lands

Encourage prescribed burning for private Reduce hazardous fuels landowners and industrial timberlands particularly
adjacent to residential areas.

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Coordinate land management activities,

particularly fuel reduction, with state and federal

managers on public lands adjacent to WUI areas.

2. Railroad Corridors 3. Existing Fire Lines

Reduce hazardous fuels

Encourage railroads to better maintain their ROW eliminating brush and grass through herbicide and mowing. Maintain firebreaks along ROW adjacent to residential areas.

Reduce hazardous fuels Clean and re-harrow existing lines. Utilize roads, trails, utility ROW, etc. as fire lines.

Proposed Improved Community Wildland Fire Response Priorities

1. Water Sources

Dry Hydrants

Inspect, maintain and improve access to existing dry hydrants. Add signage along road to mark the hydrants.
Locate additional dry hydrants as needed.
Locate and pre-clear helicopter dip sites

2. Fire Stations

Equipment

Wildland hand tools. Lightweight Wildland Nomex PPE Gear.

3. Water Sources

Water Handling

Investigate need for additional tenders and overhead storage tanks at stations.

4. Road Names

Road Signage

Improved Road Signage at Crossroads. "Dead End" or "No Outlet" Tags on Road Signs

5. Personnel

Training

Obtain Wildland Fire Suppression training for Fire Personnel. Ready Set Go training.

**Actions to be taken by homeowners and community stakeholders

Proposed Education and Outreach Priorities
1. Conduct "How to Have a Firewise Home" Workshop for Coweta County Residents
Set up and conduct a workshop for homeowners that teach the principles of making homes and properties safe from wildfire. Topics for discussion include defensible space, landscaping, building construction, etc. Workshop will be scheduled for evenings or weekends when most homeowners are available and advertised through local media outlets. Distribute materials promoting firewise practices and planning through local community and governmental meetings.

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2. Conduct "Firewise" Workshop for Community Leaders

Arrange for GFC Firewise program to work with local community leaders and governmental officials on the importance of "Firewise Planning" in developing ordinances and codes as the county as the need arises. Identify "Communities at Risk" within the county for possible Firewise Community USA program recognition.

3. Spring Clean-up Event
Conduct clean-up event every spring involving the Georgia Forestry Commission, Coweta County Fire Departments and community residents. National Wildfire Preparedness Day, started in 2014, is the first Saturday in May each year. Set up information table with educational materials and refreshments. Initiate the event with a morning briefing by GFC Firewise coordinator and local fire officials detailing plans for the day and safety precautions. Activities to include the following:
Clean flammable vegetative material from roofs and gutters Trim shrubs and vines to 30 feet away from structures Trim overhanging limbs Clean hazardous or flammable debris from adjacent properties

4. Informational Packets
Develop and distribute informational packets to be distributed by building inspectors, realtors and insurance agents, welcome centers, and others. Included in the packets are the following:
Be Firewise Around Your Home Firewise Guide to Landscape and Construction Firewise Communities USA Fire Adapted Communities
5. Wildfire Protection Display
Create and exhibit a display for the general public at Coweta County Festivals, Fairs, and other local events. Display can be independent or combined with the Georgia Forestry Commission display. Hold Open House at individual Fire Stations during Fire Prevention Month to promote Community Firewise Safety and develop community support and understanding of local fire departments and current issues.

6. Press
Invite the local news media and to community "Firewise" functions for news coverage and regularly submit press releases documenting wildfire risk improvements in Coweta County. Utilize community access channel on CATV systems and city and county websites to distribute "Firewise" information to residents. Utilize utility and other newsletters for firewise message. Use prrevention messages on electronic signs and other types of advertising media.

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6. Sources of Funding

GRANT FUNDING AND MITIGATION ASSISTANCE
Community Protection Grant: U.S.F.S. sponsored prescribed fire program. Communities with "at-risk" properties that lie within ten miles of a National Forest, National Park Service, or Bureau of Land Management tracts, may apply with the Georgia Forestry Commission to have their land prescribe burned free-of-charge.
FEMA Mitigation Policy MRR-2-08-01: through GEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM).
1. To provide technical and financial assistance to local governments to assist in the implementation of long term, cost effective hazard mitigation accomplishments.
2. 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 fuel reduction to protect life and property.
3. With a completed registered plan (addendum to the State Plan) counties can apply for pre-mitigation funding. They will also be eligible for HMGP funding if the county is declared under a wildfire disaster.
Georgia Forestry Commission: Plowing and prescribed burning assistance, as well as forest mastication, can be obtained from the Georgia Forestry Commission as a lowcost option for mitigation efforts.
The Georgia Forestry Commission Firewise Community Mitigation Assistance Grants Nationally recognized Firewise Communities can receive up to $5000 grants to help address potential wildfire risk reduction and mitigation projects. Grant submission can be made through local Georgia Forestry Commission offices or through a Wildfire Prevention Specialist.

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7. Glossary:

Community-At-Risk A group of two or more structures whose proximity to forested or wildland areas places homes and residents at some degree of risk.
Critical Facilities Buildings, structures or other parts of the community infrastructure that require special protection from an approaching wildfire.
CWPP The Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Defensible Space The immediate landscaped area around a structure (usually a minimum of 30 ft.) kept "lean, clean and green" to prevent an approaching wildfire from igniting the structure.
Dry Hydrant - A non-pressurized pipe system permanently installed in existing lakes, ponds and streams that provides a suction supply of water to a fire department tank truck.
FEMA The Federal Emergency Management Agency whose mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Fire Adapted Community A community fully prepared for its wildfire risk by taking actions to address safety, homes, neighborhoods, businesses and infrastructure, forest, parks, open spaces, and other community assets.
Firewise Program A national initiative whose purpose is the reduction of structural losses from wildland fires.
Firewise Community/USA A national recognition program for communities that take action to protect themselves from wildland fire. To qualify a community must have a wildfire risk assessment by the Georgia Forestry Commission, develop a mitigation action plan, have an annual firewise mitigation/education event, have dedicated firewise leadership, and complete the certification application.
Fuels All combustible materials within the wildland/urban interface or intermix including, but not limited to, vegetation and structures.
Fuel Modification Any manipulation or removal of fuels to reduce the likelihood of ignition or the resistance to fire control.
Hazard & Wildfire Risk Assessment An evaluation to determine an area's (community's) potential to be impacted by an approaching wildland fire.

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Healthy Forests Initiative - Launched in August 2002 by President Bush (following passage of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act by Congress) with the intent to reduce the risks severe wildfires pose to people, communities, and the environment.
Home Ignition Zone (Structure Ignition Zone) - Treatment area for wildfire protection. The "zone" includes the structure(s) and their immediate surroundings from 0-200 ft. Mitigation An action that moderates the severity of a fire hazard or risk.
National Fire Plan National initiative, passed by Congress in the year 2000, following a landmark wildland fire season, with the intent of actively responding to severe wildland fires and their impacts to communities while ensuring sufficient firefighting capacity for the future.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - An international nonprofit organization established in 1896, whose mission is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.
Prescribed Burning (fire) The use of planned fire that is deliberately set under specific fuel and weather condition to accomplish a variety of management objectives and is under control until it burns out or is extinguished.
National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day A day for communities to raise wildfire awareness, promote collaboration and bring neighbors together to work on projects that can help protect homes, neighborhoods and entire communities from future wildfire risk. Started in 2014 by the National Fire Protection Association and held annually on the first Saturday in May.
Ready, Set, Go - A program fire services use to help homeowners understand wildfire preparedness, awareness, and planning procedures for evacuation.
Southern Group of State Foresters Organization whose members are the agency heads of the forestry agencies of the 13 southern states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Stakeholders Individuals, groups, organizations, businesses or others who have an interest in wildland fire protection and may wish to review and/or contribute to the CWPP content.
Wildfire or Wildland Fire An unplanned and uncontrolled fire spreading through vegetative fuels.
Wildland/Urban Interface - The presence of structures in locations in which the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) determines that topographical features, vegetation, fuel types, local weather conditions and prevailing winds result in the potential for ignition of the structures within the area from flames and firebrands from a wildland fire (NFPA 1144, 2008 edition)

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8. Sources Of Information:

Publications/Brochures/Websites FIREWISE materials can be ordered at www.firewise.org . These materials can be ordered
at no cost. Georgia Forestry Commission www.georgiafirewise.org Examples of successful wildfire mitigation programs can be viewed at the website for
National Database of State and Local wildfire Hazard Mitigation Programs sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the Southern Group of State Foresters www.wildfireprograms.com Information about a variety of interface issues (including wildfire) can be found at the USFS website for Interface South: www.interfacesouth.org Information on codes and standards for emergency services including wildfire can be found at www.nfpa.org Information on FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) can be found at www.firegrantsupport.com Information on National Fire Plan grants can be found at http://www.federalgrantswire.com/national-fire-plan--rural-fire-assistance.html Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment website SouthWRAP www.southernwildfirerisk.com Fire Adapted Communities www.fireadapted.org Ready, Set, Go www.wildlandfirersg.org National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day www.wildfireprepday.org
9. Appended Documents:
Coweta County Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SouthWRAP) Summary Report
All files that make up this plan are available in electronic format from the Georgia Forestry Commission.

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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
This plan should become a working document that is shared by local, state, and federal agencies that will use it to accomplish common goals. 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.