Community wildfire protection plan, Houston County, Georgia: an action plan for wildfire mitigation and conservation of natural resources

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

An Action Plan for Wildfire Mitigation and Conservation of Natural Resources

A Program of the Georgia Forestry Commission with support from the U.S. Forest Service

Houston County, Georgia

September, 2016

W I L D F I R E P R O T E C T I O N P L A N: A N A C T I O N P L A N F O R W I L D F I R E M I T I G A T I O N
SIGNATURE PAGE

Honorable Tommy Stainaker, Chairman Houston County Board of Commissioners, Post 1 ___________________________________
Robbie Dunbar, Director of Operations Houston County __________________________________
James W. Williams Jr., Chief Houston County Fire Department Director, Houston County Emergency Management ___________________________________
Rodney Pickle, Deputy Chief Houston County Fire Department ___________________________________
Nick Tresco, Chief Ranger Crawford, Houston, Peach Counties Georgia Forestry Commission ___________________________________
Beryl Budd, Wildfire Prevention Specialist Georgia Forestry Commission ___________________________________

_____________ Date
_____________
_____________ _____________
______________ ______________

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Prepared by: Nick Tresco, Chief Ranger Georgia Forestry Commission Crawford, Houston, Peach County Unit 2454 Hwy 41 South Perry, Ga. 31069 James O'Dell, Ranger 1 Georgia Forestry Commission Crawford, Houston, Peach County Unit Beryl Budd, Wildfire Prevention Specialist Georgia Forestry Commission 245 Dixie Trail Covington Ga. 30014
The following report is a collaborative effort among various entities; the representatives listed below comprise the core decision-making team responsible for this report and mutually agree on the plan's contents:
Houston County, Board of Commissioners Houston County Fire Department Houston County Emergency Management Nick Tresco, Chief Ranger
Crawford, Houston, Peach County Unit Georgia Forestry Commission Beryl Budd, Wildfire Prevention Specialist Georgia Forestry Commission
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PLAN CONTENTS

PAGE

I. Objectives & Goals ...........................................................................................................................5
Il. Community Collaboration ...........................................................................................................................6
Ill. Community Background and Wildfire History ............................................................................................................................8
lV. Community Base Maps ...........................................................................................................................14
V. Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SouthWRAP) & Hazard Maps ...........................................................................................................................17
Vl. Community Wildfire Risk Assessment ......................................................................................................20
Vll. Mitigation Recommendations and Action Plan ......................................................................................................26
Vlll. Grant Funding & Mitigation Assistance .......................................................................................................30
lX. Glossary .........................................................................................................31
X. Sources of Information .......................................................................................................33
Appended Documents:
Houston County Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report (SouthWRAP)

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I. OBJECTIVES & GOALS
A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) provides a community with a road map to reduce its risk from wildfire. A CWPP is designed through collaboration between state and local fire agencies, homeowners and landowners, and other interested parties such as city councils, utilities, home owner associations, environmental organizations, and other local stakeholders.
The plan identifies strategic sites and methods for risk reduction and structural protection projects across jurisdictional boundaries.
Comprehensive plans provide long-term guidance for growth, reflecting a community's values and future expectations. The plan implements the community's values and serves to protect natural and community resources and public safety. Planning also enables communities to address their development patterns in the Wildland Urban Interface and determine how they can reduce their risk through alternative development patterns. The formal legal standing of the plan and its central role in local government decision making underscores the opportunity to use this planning process as an effective means for reducing wildfire risk.
The mission of the following plan is to set clear priorities for the implementation of wildfire mitigation in Houston County. The plan includes prioritized recommendations for the appropriate types and methods of fuel reduction and structure ignitability reduction that will help protect this community and its essential infrastructure. It also includes a plan for wildfire suppression. Specifically, the plan includes community-centered actions that will:
Educate citizens about 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.
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II. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
Wildfire risk reduction strategies are most effective when approached collaboratively involving groups of residents, elected officials, community decision makers, emergency managers, and natural resource managers and when combined with effective outreach approaches.
Collaborative approaches make sense as the initial focus of any community attempting to work toward wildfire risk reduction. In all Community Wildfire Protection Plan collaborations, the goal is to cooperatively identify problems and reach a consensus for mutual action. In the case of wildfire mitigation, a reduction in the wildfire risk to the community's lives, houses, and property is the desired outcome.
The collaborative core team convened in 2015 to initiate development of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The group is comprised of representatives from local Houston County Board of Commissioners, Houston County Fire Department, Houston County Emergency Management, and the Georgia Forestry Commission. The benefits that will be gained from the development of this CWPP are summarized below:
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
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Georgia Forestry Commission contact information:

Menu

County

Houston

Name:

Crawford-Houston-Peach County; District 2

Contact:

Nick Tresco, Chief Ranger

Address:

2454 Hwy 41 South

City: Coordinates:

Perry GA 31069 Latitude: 32 23' 18.05" Longitude: -83 47' 16.57" (click to see location on Google Map)

Phone:

478-988-7124

Fax Number: 478-988-7123

E-mail Address:

ntresco@gfc.state.ga.us

Org Number: 4203102039 - Crawford-Houston-Peach

Maps & Locations

Location:

US 41, 5 Miles S. Perry

Yahoo Map

Click Here for a Yahoo Map

The Statistics below are for Houston County

Total Land Area:

241,100 Acres

Total In Forest: 120,419 Acres

Percent In Forest:

49.95 %

Forester for this County

Forester:

Davis, Matt

Email:

mdavis@gfc.state.ga.us

Phone:

478-946-2457

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III. Community Background and Wildfire History

Houston County, in central Georgia just south of Macon, was created on May 15, 1821, through a treaty with the Creek Indians. Named for Governor John Houstoun, the spelling of the county later evolved to "Houston." The pronunciation, however, remains to this day "howston." Perry, the county seat, was incorporated in 1824. Warner Robins, the largest city, was incorporated in 1943, when a major military base was established nearby during World War Il (1941-45). Centerville was incorporated in 1958. Houston County was carved from the wilderness by an act of the state legislature as one of five huge counties.

The geographic center of the county was given the name Wattsville, which was later changed to Perry. Land was lost to the formation of Bibb, Crawford, DeKalb, and Pike counties. Later, more land was lost to Macon and Peach counties. Early settlers, mostly winners of the land lottery of 1821, came from the Georgia coast and from the Carolinas and Virginia to grow corn, wheat, potatoes, and

Pecan Orchard, Perry

garden vegetables in the rich sandy loam that makes up most of the county. Proximity to the Ocmulgee River

made the exporting of cotton and the importing of manufactured goods a reality.

Log cabins gave way to sturdy white farmhouses and

plantations. Many of the settlements previously

mentioned appeared and flourished as the railroad came,

later in the nineteenth century.

Houston County sent its militias to engage both the

Seminoles in Florida and the Creeks in Alabama in 1836,

and to fight in the Civil War (1861-65), the Spanish-

American War (1898), and World War I (1917-18). In

1875 the development of the Elberta peach brought a viable new industry to the county; by 1889 the Georgia

Houston County Courthouse

Department of Agriculture concluded that Houston was the largest peach-

growing county in the United States. In 1912 electricity came to Perry, followed

by Rural Free Delivery of the U.S. mail in 1917. In 1924 the Clinchfield cement

plant was opened at Coreen due to the rich deposits of limestone and kaolin

there. The abundance of yellow pine also spurred a prosperous lumbering

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industry in the 1920s. After each of these events, life in Houston County settled back down to its quiet agrarian routine.

Houston County's participation in World War II, however, had a very different outcome. Not only did its men go out to war, but war efforts entered the north end of the county. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took possession of cotton fields on the vast plain at the railroad stop of Wellston and built an army depot named Robins Field, in memory of General Augustine Warner Robins. The depot became a critical site for the war effort, and a town rapidly grew adjacent to the depot. On March 5, 1943, this town was incorporated as the city of Warner Robins.

Fairground's Lake, Perry

There were about fifty permanent residents living

in the area when Wellston's transformation began. By the time the devastating tornado of 1953 struck, the population had grown to more than 8,000. The

physical damage done by the tornado only strengthened the spirit of the town,

which continued to grow along with the importance of the base. In the twenty-first century Robins Air Force Base fuels the economy of much

of middle Georgia.

Houston County was further transformed in the early 1960s by Interstate 75, which runs north-south through the

county, touching the city of Perry. In recent years citizens

of the county have played a variety of parts on the state and national scene, most notably Sam Nunn, of Perry,

who served as U.S. senator from 1972 to 1996 and

chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee. Other

Sonny Perdue

well-known natives of the county include architect Charles Choate and Nathan Toomer, the father of writer Jean

Toomer.

The educational opportunites in the county were expanded in 1974, when the first classes were held at the Houston Vocational Center (later Central Georgia

Technical College). In 2002, Sonny Perdue a native of Bonaire and graduate of

Warner Robins High School, was elected the first Republican governor of Georgia since 1872.

According to the 2010 U.S. census, the population of Houston County is 139,900, an increase from the 2000 population of 110,765.

Courtesy of the New Georgia Encyclopedia

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WILDFIRE HISTORY

County = Houston Fiscal Year 2016 (July 2015 thru June 2016)
Campfire
Children
Debris: Ag Fields, Pastures, Orchards, Etc
Debris: Construction Land Clearing
Debris: Escaped Prescribed Burn
Debris: Household Garbage
Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc
Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related
Incendiary
Lightning
Machine Use
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous: Cutting/Welding/Grinding
Miscellaneous: Other
Miscellaneous: Spontaneous Heating/Combustion
Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle Fires
Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes
Railroad
Smoking
Undetermined
Totals for County: Houston Year: 2016

Cause
Campfire Children Debris: Ag Fields, Pastures, Orchards, Etc Debris: Construction Land Clearing Debris: Escaped Prescribed Burn
Debris: Household Garbage
Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related
Incendiary
Lightning Machine Use Miscellaneous Miscellaneous: Cutting/Welding/Grinding Miscellaneous: Other Miscellaneous: Spontaneous Heating/Combustion Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle Fires Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes Railroad Smoking Undetermined

Fires
0 0 1
0
4 1 1
0 2 0 5 0 0 0 0
1
0 0 0 1 16

Acres
0.00 0.00

Fires 5 Yr Avg
0.80
3.00

Acres 5 Yr Avg
2.91
5.02

1.63 1.60 9.89

0.00 0.20 3.05

25.83 1.20 7.93 0.10 0.60 1.48 0.50 2.60 10.52

0.00 0.60 3.76 4.58 0.80 1.90 0.00 1.00 4.46 1.63 8.00 20.71 0.00 0.40 0.78 0.00 0.20 0.94 0.00 0.20 2.03 0.00 0.20 0.08

1.50 0.40 0.36

0.00 1.00 3.21 0.00 0.20 3.48 0.00 0.20 2.25 2.92 2.40 19.70 38.69 25.60 104.47

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Year

Number of Fires Acreage Burned Average size Statewide Average size

2006

46

202.72

4.41

3.93

2007

43

171.35

3.98

18.64

2008

43

68.61

1.60

4.56

2009

36

99.93

2.78

3.90

2010

30

52.35

1.75

3.56

2011

51

365.55

7.17

16.16

2012

42

129.61

3.09

4.98

2013

16

130.48

8.16

4.75

2014

34

177.04

5.21

5.02

2015

20

46.55

2.33

4.50

Average

36

144.42

4.05

7.00

The table above indicates the County average number of wildfires, acreage burned and average size compared to the statewide average size for the 10 year period 2006-2015. In 2007 and 2011 Georgia had record breaking wildfire activity due to drought and large wildfires in SE Georgia and the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge area. In 2010 and 2015 the exact opposite was seen with record breaking low wildfire occurrence and acreage burned due to extremely wet seasons.

The table below indicates the number of wildfires by cause during the last 10 year period. The primary cause of these wildfires was machine use accounting for 32%. The second highest cause was debris burning (23%). Typically careless debris burning is the primary cause of wildfires statewide.
Number of Fires by Cause for Houston County for CY 2006 to 2015

Year

Campfire

Children

Debris Burning

Incendiary Lightning

Machine Use

Miscellane ous

Railroad

Smoking

2006

0

9

14

12

4

10

6

0

0

2007

2

5

6

6

1

15

2

0

2

2008

3

3

8

5

4

14

6

0

3

2009

0

4

9

1

0

7

2

0

0

2010

1

7

8

1

2

13

2

0

0

2011

2

10

11

2

0

26

7

0

1

2012

1

2

10

0

2

11

5

0

0

2013

1

3

3

0

0

6

6

1

1

2014

2

2

10

1

2

8

5

0

0

2015

0

2

3

0

1

5

6

0

0

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The following graphs indicate the # of fires and acres burned FY 2005 2015. Map on the following page indicates where wildfires occurred 2011-2015.
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W I L D F I R E P R O T E C T I O N P L A N: A N A C T I O N P L A N F O R W I L D F I R E M I T I G A T I O N
IV. COMMUNITY BASE MAPS:
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W I L D F I R E P R O T E C T I O N P L A N: A N A C T I O N P L A N F O R W I L D F I R E M I T I G A T I O N 16

W I L D F I R E P R O T E C T I O N P L A N: A N A C T I O N P L A N F O R W I L D F I R E M I T I G A T I O N

V. Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary (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 Houston 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 Houston County SouthWRAP report

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W I L D F I R E P R O T E C T I O N P L A N: A N A C T I O N P L A N F O R W I L D F I R E M I T I G A T I O N Wildland Urban Interface risk map (above) and WUI Risk Index acres graph 18

W I L D F I R E P R O T E C T I O N P L A N: A N A C T I O N P L A N F O R W I L D F I R E M I T I G A T I O N Fire Intensity Scale map (above) and Flame Length map from the report 19

W I L D F I R E P R O T E C T I O N P L A N: A N A C T I O N P L A N F O R W I L D F I R E M I T I G A T I O N
VI. COMMUNITY WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
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.
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The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) reflects housing density depicting where humans and their structures meet or intermix with wildland fuels. For the Houston County project area, it is estimated that 132,369 people or 95 percent of the total project area population (139,737) live within the WUI.
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. Some of these hazards are listed below:
Hazardous Material 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. These areas may also contain some type of booby trap.
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Propane Tanks Both large (household size) and small (gas grill size) liquefied propane gas (LPG) tanks can present hazards to firefighters, including explosion.

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.

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 structure strength at 180 degrees Fahrenheit 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.

Abandoned wells Found around old home sites, open wells can be a hazard for firefighters, especially while working a wildfire during the night.

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Wildfire Risk Assessments

The wildland fire risk assessments conducted by the Georgia Forestry Commission returned an average score of 81, placing Houston County in the "moderate risk" hazard range. The risk assessment instrument used to evaluate wildfire hazards was the GFC Community Wildfire Risk Assessment. This instrument takes into consideration accessibility, vegetation (based on fuel models), roofing assembly, building construction, and availability of fire protection resources, placement of gas and electric utilities, and additional rating factors. The following factors contributed to the wildfire hazard score for the higher risk communities and developments in Houston County:
Dead end roads with inadequate turn arounds
Narrow roads without drivable shoulders Long, narrow, and poorly labeled driveways Limited street signs and homes not clearly addressed Thick, highly flammable vegetation surrounding many homes Minimal defensible space around structures Homes with wooden siding and roofs with accumulations of vegetative
debris
No pressurized or non-pressurized water systems available Above ground utilities Large, adjacent areas of forest or wildlands Heavy fuel buildups in adjacent wildlands Undeveloped lots High occurrence of wildfires in several locations Distance from fire stations Lack of homeowner or community organizations Wildfire Risk (rating scale):

Low Risk:

Total Wildfire Risk Rating is 0 - 75 points:

The chances of your home surviving a wildfire are GOOD. Little is needed to

improve your situation.

Moderate Risk: Total Wildfire Risk Rating is 76 - 130 points: The chances of your home surviving a wildfire are FAIR. Some Minor improvements will make your home more fire resistant.

High Risk:

Total Wildfire Risk Rating is Over 130 points:

Your home is at risk and improvements are necessary to reduce risk!

Extreme Risk:

Total Wildfire Risk Rating is Over 140 points:

Your home MAY NOT SURVIVE if a wildfire passes through the area.

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Pictured here is a map showing the location of communities where the Georgia Forestry Commission completed community wildfire risk assessments in Houston County. The communities are color coded with red-extreme risk, burgundy-high risk, yellow-moderate risk and green-low risk. The table on the following page is a summary of the community risk assessments.
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Subdivision/Community
Kovac Rd. County Line Rd. (North) Henderson Spring Rd. Kimberly Rd. Bear Branch Estates Creekside Flat Creek Gates at Sandefur Klondike Rd. Mossy Creek Northside Dr./Cedar Ridge Pebble Creek Sanford Place Southfield Plantation/Tivol Statham's Landing Wooden Eagle Carlton Ridge Charlestown China Berry Cross Creek Devonwood Eagles Bluff Georgian Mill Grand Reserve Holly Hills Hunt's Landing Joshua St/Hwy 224 Links View Longbridge River Oaks South Bend Southern Trace Stable Run Rd. The Tiffany Timberlea Dr. White Columns Wind River Wisteria

Number of Lots
25 15 10 43 20 45 39 35 64 35 150 35 60 100 200 80 125 81 24 75 42 100 70 85 75 20 55 53 75 100 60 45 12 150 50 45 75 21

Subdivision Design Hazard Rating
20 16 17 7 10 5 13 13 3 11 5 13 8 8 13 6 5 8 10 5 7 10 5 11 6 11 8 11 13 5 11 8 11 8 5 5 11 4

Site Hazard Rating
80 62 72 67 37 47 67 50 57 52 50 30 42 50 72 32 21 11 30 25 35 35 25 25 42 26 32 25 22 25 21 25 32 16 30 25 20 30

Building Construction Hazard Rating
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Additional Factor Hazard Rating
50 54 52 46 27 25 37 35 41 30 22 27 32 25 33 30 20 21 22 17 22 20 17 20 15 12 17 25 24 22 25 17 22 17 18 17 17 15

Overall Wildfire Hazard Rating
160 Extreme 142 Extreme 151 Extreme 120 Moderate 84 Moderate 87 Moderate 127 Moderate 108 Moderate 111 Moderate 101 Moderate 87 Moderate 80 Moderate 92 Moderate 93 Moderate 128 Moderate 78 Moderate 56 Low 50 Low 72 Low 57 Low 74 Low 75 Low 57 Low 66 Low 72 Low 59 Low 67 Low 71 Low 69 Low 62 Low 67 Low 60 Low 75 Low 51 Low 63 Low 57 Low 58 Low 59 Low

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VlI. MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS & ACTION PLAN

Prescribed burning is a best management practice to reduce hazardous fuel buildup. The Georgia Forestry Commission can assist with developing a prescribed burning plan, installation of firebreaks, and can provide equipment standby and burning assistance when personnel are available.

Primary Protection for Community and Its Essential Infrastructure

Treatment Area 1. All Structures

Treatment Types

Treatment Method(s)

Create minimum of 30-feet of defensible space in home ignition zone.*

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.

2. Applicable Structures

Reduce structural ignitability*

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.

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3. Community Clean-up Day

Cutting, mowing, pruning*

Cut, prune, and mow vegetation in shared community spaces.
(National Wildfire Preparedness Day is recognized annually on the 1st Saturday in May)

4. Driveway Access

Culvert installation

See that adequate lengths of culverts are installed to allow emergency vehicle access. Remove trees or limbs that may restrict access for fire equipment.

5. Local Codes and Ordinances

Improve and amend codes and ordinances pertaining to infrastructure and community protection from wildland fires.

Examine all existing codes and ordinances for problems regarding direct conflicts to wildland safety or lack of needed codes. The International Wildland Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) was adopted in Georgia in 2014.

6. Road Access

Identify needed road improvements

As roads are upgraded, widen to minimum standards with at least 50 foot diameter cul-de-sacs or turn arounds.

Proposed Community Wildland Fuel Reduction Priorities

Treatment Area

Treatment Types

Treatment Method(s)

1. Adjacent WUI Lands

Reduce hazardous fuels

Encourage prescribed burning for private landowners and industrial timberlands particularly adjacent to residential areas. Seek grants for WUI fuel mitigation.

2. Railroad and utility Corridors
3. Existing Fire Lines

Reduce hazardous fuels
Reduce hazardous fuels

Encourage railroads and utilities to better maintain their Right of Way (ROW) by eliminating brush and grass through herbicide and mowing. Maintain firebreaks along ROW adjacent to residential areas.
Clean and re-harrow existing fuel breaks. Maintain existing logging roads, trails, etc. as fuel breaks in high risk areas.

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Proposed Improved Community Wildland Fire Response Priorities

1. Water Sources

Water lines and Hydrants

Inspect, maintain and improve access to existing water lines and hydrants. Add signage along road to identify location if needed. Install dry hydrants if need is established.

2. Fire Stations
3. Water Sources
4. Personnel
5. Community developments and subdivisions

Equipment Drafting equipment

Provide fire personnel with wildland hand tools and lightweight Wildland PPE Gear. Upgrade and outfit existing "brush" trucks as needed. Acquire ATV for fire and rescue in remote areas.
Acquire additional drafting pumps and other equipment that may be needed to meet department needs.

Training

Obtain Wildland Fire Suppression training for fire personnel to include basic Incident Command System (ICS) courses S130, S190, and S215. Ready, Set, Go, training

Firewise Certification

Seek certification in the National Firewise Community USA program. The program encourages residential risk reduction activities, while engaging community neighbors to become active participants in building a safer place to live. Certification requires a wildfire risk assessment, developing an action plan, organizing a community firewise board and having an annual community firewise event.

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Actions to be taken by homeowners and community stakeholders
1. Conduct "How to Have a Firewise Home" Workshop for County Residents
GFC and Houston County Fire education specialist should set up and conduct a workshop for homeowners that teach the principles of making homes and properties safe from wildfire. Topics for discussion include home ignition zone, 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. Utilize local cable TV channels to promote and broadcast the workshop. Distribute materials promoting Firewise practices and planning through local community and governmental meetings.
2. Conduct "Firewise" Workshop for Community Leaders
Arrange for GFC Wildfire Prevention Specialist to work with local community leaders and governmental officials on the importance of "Firewise Planning" in developing ordinances and WUI codes in the county as the need arises. Identified "communities-at-risk" should be contacted and encouraged to participate and become certified in the National Firewise Communities USA Program.
3. Spring Clean-up Event (Wildfire Preparedness)
Conduct clean-up event every spring involving the Georgia Forestry Commission, Houston County Fire Department, and local County residents. National Wildfire Preparedness Day, promoted by the National Fire Protection Association, is the first Saturday of May. Set up information table with educational materials and refreshments. Initiate the event with a morning briefing by GFC and local fire officials detailing plans for the day and safety precautions. Activities may 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 realtors, insurance agents, etc. Included in the packets are the following:
Be Firewise Around Your Home Firewise Guide to Landscape and Construction Firewise Communities and Fire Adapted Community information Ready, Set, Go, program information
5. Wildfire Protection Display
Create and exhibit a display for the general public at local events. Display can be independent or combined with a Georgia Forestry Commission exhibit.
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6. Media
Invite the local and regional news media to community "Firewise" functions for news coverage and regularly submit press releases documenting wildfire risk improvements in Houston County. Utilize local cable Television for promotion of all prevention education programs.
VlIl. GRANT FUNDING AND MITIGATION ASSISTANCE
Community Protection Grant: US Forest Service 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.
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 projects. Grant submission can be made through local Georgia Forestry Commission offices or your Regional Wildfire Prevention Specialist.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and American International Group, Inc. (AIG) offer grants to assist local fire departments in establishing or enhancing their community fuels mitigation programs while educating members of the community about community wildfire readiness and encouraging personal action.
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IX. 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.
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.
Healthy Forests Initiative - Launched in August 2002 by President Bush (following passage of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act by Congress) with the
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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.
National Wildfire Preparedness Day Started in 2014 by the National Fire Protection Association as a day for communities to work together to prepare for the fire season. It is held annually on the first Saturday in May.
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.
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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X. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Publications/Brochures/Websites
FIREWISE materials can be ordered at www.firewise.org
Georgia Forestry Commission www.georgiafirewise.org
Houston County Fire Department www.houstoncountyfd.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-fireassistance.html
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment website SouthWRAP www.southernwildfirerisk.com
Fire Adapted Communities www.fireadapted.org
Ready, Set, Go www.wildlandfirersg.org National Wildfire Preparedness Day www.wildfireprepday.org Appended Documents:
Houston County Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report (SouthWRAP)
Community Wildfire Risk Assessments for individual communities are maintained at the Crawford, Houston, Peach County Unit of the Georgia Forestry Commission.
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P. O. Box 819 Macon, GA 31202 1-800-GA-TREES www.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.
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