__________________________
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
Henry County, Georgia

SEPTEMBER 2017

SIGNATURE PAGE

___________________________________ __________________

Honorable June Wood, Chairman

Date

Henry County Board of County Commissioners

___________________________________ __________________

Don A. Ash

Date

EMA Director

Henry County

______________________________________ Brenda Willis Fire Chief Henry County Fire Department

____________ Date

______________________________________ Cheri Hobson-Matthews County Manager Henry County

____________ Date

____________________________________ Michael Sapp Chief Ranger Georgia Forestry Commission

_____________ Date

Prepared by:
Michael Sapp, Newton/Rockdale/Henry Chief Ranger Eric Mosley, Community Wildfire Protection Specialist Beryl Budd, Wildfire Prevention Specialist (revised 2017)
Georgia Forestry Commission 2707 Access Road Covington GA 30016
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:
Honorable June Wood, Chairman County Commission Chair, Henry County
Don A. Ash Henry County Emergency Management Agency Director
Brenda Willis Henry County Fire Chief
Michael Sapp Chief Ranger, Newton/Rockdale County Forestry Unit
Eric Mosley Community Wildfire Protection Specialist

PLAN CONTENTS
I. Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 1 II. Community Collaboration .................................................................................................... 1 III. Community Background and Wildfire History...................................................................... 3 IV. County Base Maps ................................................................................................................. 9 V. Community Wildfire Risk Assessment ............................................................................... 12 VI. Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment & Risk Hazards Maps ................................................ 16 VII. Prioritized Mitigation Recommendations ........................................................................... 20 VIII. Action Plan .......................................................................................................................... 24 IX. Mitigation Assistance & Grant Funding .........................................................27 X. Glossary ....................................................................l.........................28 XI. Sources of Information...............................................................................30
Appended Documents: Henry County Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report (SWRA) Woodland Community Wildfire Hazard Assessment Forms Henry County Wildfire Pre-suppression Plan NFPA 1141 Standard for Fire Protection Infrastructure for Land Development in Suburban and Rural Areas

WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
I. OBJECTIVES
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, homeowners 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 Henry County. The plan includes prioritized recommendations for the appropriate types and methods of fuel reduction and structure ignitability reduction that will 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 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.
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 early March 2013 to assess risks and develop the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The group is comprised of representatives from local county government, local fire authorities, emergency management, and the Georgia Forestry Commission.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

Below are the groups included in the task force:
Henry County Government County Fire Department Emergency Management
Georgia Forestry Commission
It was decided to conduct community assessments on the basis of the high risk communities and the individual fire districts in the county. The Henry County Fire Department Stations and the representative of the local Georgia Forestry Commission office reconvened in late March for the purpose of completing the following:

Risk Assessment

Assessed wildfire hazard risks and prioritized mitigation actions. The wildfire risk assessment will help homeowners, builders, developers, and emergency personnel determine whether the area needs attention, and will help direct wildfire risk reduction practices to the areas at highest risk.

Fuels Reduction

Identified strategies for coordinating fuels treatment projects.

Structure Ignitability

Identified strategies for reducing the ignitability of structures within the Wildland Interface.

Emergency Management Forged relationships among local government and fire districts; and developed/refined a pre-suppression plan.

Education and Outreach Developed strategies for increasing citizen awareness and action; and to conduct homeowner and community leader workshops. Outreach and education programs are designed to raise awareness and improve audience knowledge of wildfire risk reduction needs and practices. In the best cases, education and outreach programs will influence attitudes and opinions and result in effective action.

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
III. COUNTY BACKGROUND AND WILDFIRE HISTORY
County History Henry County, Georgia's fifty-second county, comprises 323 square miles in the Atlanta metropolitan area south of the city. Named for Revolutionary War (1775-83) patriot and orator Patrick Henry, it was created in May 1821 by the Georgia Land Lottery Act of that year. Enacted four months after the Creek Native Americans ceded a large portion of their land in the Treaty of Indian Springs, the act named five new counties, Henry among them. The City of McDonough, laid out by the state legislature on the site of a prominent Indian trading post, was incorporated on December 17, 1823, as Henry County's seat. It was named in honor of Thomas Macdonough, a naval captain who defeated the British fleet on Lake Champlain during the War of 1812 (1812-15). The current courthouse was built in 1897 and restored in 1981. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. According to the 2010 U.S. census, the county population is 203,922, a significant increase from the 2000 population of 119,341.
Communities In addition to McDonough, Henry County's largest communities are Stockbridge, Hampton, and Locust Grove. Stockbridge was founded in 1829 when Concord Methodist Church was built near the present town, attracting people who built their homes nearby. It was named after Levi Stockbridge, a noted agriculturalist from Massachusetts. In 1882 the town was relocated a mile south of its first site because the Southern Railroad needed a railroad stop there. Stockbridge was incorporated as a town in 1895 and then as a city in 1920. Hampton, incorporated in 1872, was named in honor of Confederate General Wade Hampton, grandson and namesake of a major general who fought during the War of 1812. The town had been called Bear Creek before its incorporation. The first Atlanta Pop Festival was held in Hampton in 1969. The town is also home to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the site of several NASCAR events each year. These races are said to draw more visitors than any other sports event in Georgia. Locust Grove was incorporated in 1893; its name is said to have come from a grove of locust trees around the former home of an early resident. (There is another Locust Grove in Taliaferro County.) Locust Grove Institute was opened in 1894 by the local Baptist church and Mercer University. Operating as a college preparatory school until its closure in 1930, the institute's buildings now form the Locust Grove Municipal Complex.
Economy Henry County began as the land of pioneering people who invested their labor and time in exchange for land. Agriculture was the mainstay. From the 1840s until the Civil War (1861-65), a number of new towns were built expressly to accommodate the need for depots by the Monroe Railroad and the Georgia Railroad. New counties were carved from some parts of Henry County's original area, as the railroad towns prospered and gained in population. Henry County suffered the same destruction and impoverishment during the Civil War as the rest of the South, but starting in the 1880s, new railroad construction throughout the county and a major investment in the cultivation of cotton brought the
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
area back to life.
The economy continued to grow vigorously until 1920, when the invasion of the boll weevil brought it crashing to a stop. Five years later, a terrible drought caused an economic downturn that lasted until the beginning of World War II (1941-45), adding to the county's woes. With the war, farming declined, but the population increased as Georgians flocked to Atlanta for employment and began finding homes in Henry County. This trend escalated in 1969, when Interstate 75 opened the entire county and made traveling to Atlanta easier. New shopping centers, schools, housing developments, and churches have sprung up throughout the county to accommodate this new population.
Highlights Among Henry County's points of interest are Panola Mountain State Conservation Park, a 537-acre park surrounding Panola Mountain, east of Stockbridge; the 1826 Brown House, home of the Henry County Historical Society in McDonough; and Shingleroof Methodist Campground in McDonough, a camp meeting site since 1830. Notable persons who once lived in Henry County include Martin Luther King Sr., the father of Martin Luther King Jr., who was born in Stockbridge, and James Weldon Johnson, a poet, teacher, diplomat, and early leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Johnson taught for two summers in Hampton while studying at Atlanta University in the early 1890s.
Wildfire History Recent data show that a majority of the fastest growing areas in the U.S. are in wildfire-prone environments. It is not a surprise that some of these fastest growing areas are in Georgia. In the last decade of the 20th Century, Georgia's population increased substantially. Homeowners in Georgia must contend with natural hazards including wildfire, tornados, and flooding. This combination of factors burgeoning population, abundant natural areas, development pressures, and lack of public awareness about hazards makes Georgia a perfect state for creating solutions to various hazards. Georgia is looked to throughout the southern region as a leader in comprehensive and hazard mitigation planning.
Many of Georgia's existing and new residents living in the urban interface are unaware of the vital role fire plays in our landscape and that their homes are extremely vulnerable to wildfire damage. Balancing development pressures with wildfire risk reduction and education creates a unique challenge for local governments, emergency managers, and wildfire management agencies such as the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Over the past 10 years, Henry County has averaged 17.1 reported wildfires per year, which burned an average of 49.29 acres annually. The occurrence of these fires is fairly uniform throughout the year with a slight peak in the months of February and March which is typical statewide. Also following statewide trends is a slight decrease in wildfires during the fall months. While the numbers of fires remain fairly similar every month, there is a marked difference in the monthly acreage lost. The monthly acres lost during the late winter through summer period show a tenfold increase over the acres lost during the fall and early winter. Additionally, while the annual numbers of fires have not increased noticeably during the 10 year period that records are available, the annual acreage lost appears to have decreased in later years. During the years 2010 and 2014-2016 have seen record breaking low wildfire activity because of above average rainfall furing peak wildfire seasons. More
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

homes are being built outside of traditional communities into the Wildland Urban Interface. With this migration of people to the Wildland Urban Interface the potential for a wildfire disaster continues to increase for Henry County.
The leading causes of wildfires in Henry County, during the last 10 years,was residential debris burning (32%), incendiary/arson (23%), and children playing (14%). Machine Use also accounted for 11% of these fires. These four major causes account for approximately 80 percent of all fires reported. Though these causes are a bit disturbing, local efforts of outreach and education can lower this problem. The table below charts wildfire activity by cause during fiscal year 2017, July 1, 2016 thru June 30, 2017.

County = Henry

Cause

Fires

Campfire

Campfire

0

Children

Children

4

Debris: Household Garbage

Debris: Household Garbage

1

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

Etc

Etc

2

Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related

0

Incendiary

Incendiary

1

Lightning

Lightning

0

Machine Use

Machine Use

2

Miscellaneous: Fireworks/Explosives Miscellaneous: Fireworks/Explosives

1

Miscellaneous: Other

Miscellaneous: Other

1

Miscellaneous: Power lines/Electric Miscellaneous: Power lines/Electric

fences

fences

0

Miscellaneous: Spontaneous Heating/Combustion

Miscellaneous: Spontaneous Heating/Combustion

1

Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle Fires

Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle Fires

2

Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes

Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes

1

Undetermined

Undetermined

1

Totals for County: Henry Year: 2017

17

Acres
0.00 2.46 0.20

Fires 5 Yr Avg
0.80
1.40
0.40

Acres 5 Yr Avg
12.92
1.46
0.42

2.60 1.60 2.35

0.00 2.70 0.00 1.30 12.40 1.00

0.20 0.82 1.80 5.92 0.20 0.76 1.00 1.56 0.20 2.48 0.60 1.90

0.00

0.40 0.34

2.70

0.20 0.54

1.60

0.60 2.30

0.50

0.40 0.46

9.20

0.20 1.84

36.66 10.00 36.07

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

Year
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Acreage Burned /Number of Fires/Average Size For Henry County For FY 2007-2016

Acreage Burned

Number of Fires

Average Size

64.36

45

1.43

71.76

30

2.39

30.34

14

2.17

10.82

6

1,80

76.29

17

4.49

95.65

25

3,83

35.48

14

2.53

17.41

6

2.90

20.55

8

2.57

70.27

5

14.05

Statewide Average Size
18.64 4.56 3.90 3.93 17.56 5.08 4.53 5.02 4.42 6.29

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION Page 7

WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION Page 8

WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
IV. COUNTY BASE MAPS
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION Page 10

WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION Page 11

Henry County Base Map
Published Results Dataset

n

n
n
nn
n

n


IC
n

n n

nnn n

n

n
n


Initial Dispatch Locations - 151-Henry, GA
IC Hospitals - 151-Henry, GA n Schools - 151-Henry, GA
Airports - 151-Henry, GA Roads, Level 1 - 151-Henry, GA Roads, Level 2 - 151-Henry, GA Roads, Level 3 - 151-Henry, GA Roads, Level 4 - 151-Henry, GA County Boundaries - 151-Henry, GA
:
0 0.450.9 1.8 2.7 3.6 Miles
3/14/2013
Disclaimer: The user assumes the entire risk related to their use of the SFRAS application and either the published or derived maps from the application. The Southern Group of State Foresters is providing these data "as is" and disclaims any and all warranties, whether expressed or implied, including (without limitation) any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will the Southern Group of State Foresters be liable to you or to any third party for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary damages or lost profit resulting from any use or misuse of these data.

WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
V. 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 WUI 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 the WUI. Depending on the set of conditions present, any of these areas may be at risk to 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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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
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.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
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 and if they continue to heat 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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WUI is described as the area where structures and other human improvements meet and intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.

WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
The wildland fire risk assessments conducted in 2013 across the Atlanta Metro Area by the Georgia Forestry Commission returned an average score of 88, placing the area in the "moderate risk" hazard range. The risk assessment instrument used to evaluate wildfire hazards to WUI was the Hazard and Wildfire Risk Assessment Checklist. The 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 Henry 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 heavy 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 comprising half the total lots in many rural communities
High occurrence of wildfires in several locations
Distance from fire stations
Lack of homeowner or community organizations .
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

VI. SOUTHERN WILDFIRE COMMUNITY RISK ASSESSMENT & RISK HAZARDS MAPS

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 Henry 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

Community Protection Zones map from the Henry County SWRA

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) map (above) and WUI Population and Acres Graphs (below)
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Risk map and WUI Risk Index-Acres graph (below)
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Prescribed burning of woodlands is the best management practice to reduce hazardous fuel accumulation. The Georgia Forestry Commission can provide a prescribed burning plan, establish fire breaks, and can also provide equipment standby and assist with burning when personnel are available.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
VII. PRIORITIZED MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Executive Summary
As Central Georgia continues to see population increased growth by people seeking less crowded and warmer climes, new development will occur more frequently in forested and wildland areas. The County has an opportunity to significantly influence the wildland fire safety of new developments. It is important that new development be planned and constructed to provide for public safety in the event of a wildland fire emergency.
Over the past 20 years, much has been learned about how and why homes burn during wildland fire emergencies. Perhaps most importantly, case histories and research have shown that even in the most severe circumstances, wildland fire disasters can be avoided. Homes can be designed, built and maintained to withstand a wildfire even in the absence of fire services on the scene. The Firewise Communities Program is a national awareness initiative to help people understand that they do not have to be victims in a wildfire emergency. The National Fire Protection Association has produced two standards for reference: NFPA 1144 Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire, 2008 Edition and NFPA 1141 Standard for Fire Protection Infrastructure for Land Development in Suburban and Rural Areas.
When new developments are built in the Wildland-Urban Interface, a number of public safety challenges may be created for the local fire services: (1) the water supply in the immediate areas may not be inadequate for fire suppression; (2) if the development is in an outlying area, there may be a longer response time for emergency services; (3) in a wildfire emergency, the access road(s) may need to simultaneously support evacuation of residents and the arrival of emergency vehicles; and (4) when wildland fire disasters strike, many structures may be involved simultaneously, quickly exceeding the capability of even the best equipped fire departments. In 2014 Georgia adopted the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) for use in Georgia Counties. This code can be adopted by individual counties as may be necessary to address building codes in the higher risk interface areas.
The following recommendations were developed by the Henry County CWPP Core Team as a result of surveying and assessing fuels and structures and by conducting meetings and interviews with county and city officials. A priority order was determined based on which mitigation projects would best reduce the hazard of wildfire in the assessment area.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

Proposed Community Hazard and Structural Ignitability Reduction Priorities

Primary Protection for Community and Its Essential Infrastructure

Treatment Area

Treatment Types

Treatment Method(s)

1. All Structures

Create minimum of 30feet of defensible space**

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.

3. Community Clean-up Day Cutting, mowing, pruning**

4. Driveway Access

Culvert installation

Cut, prune, and mow vegetation in shared community spaces.
See that adequate lengths of culverts are installed to allow emergency vehicle access.

5. Road Access

Identify needed road improvements

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

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. County resolution to state recommending that the GA Forestry Commission not charge for prescribed burning in WUI areas.

Seek grants for WUI mitigation .

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

2. Railroad Corridors 3. Existing Fire Lines

Reduce hazardous fuels

Encourage railroads to provide better maintenance along their ROW by eliminating brush and grass with the use of herbicide and mowing. Maintain firebreaks along ROWs adjacent to residential areas.

Reduce hazardous fuels Clean and re-harrow existing 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.

2. Fire Stations 3. Water Sources

Equipment Drafting equipment

Wildland hand tools. Lightweight Wildland PPE Gear. Investigate need for "brush" trucks near communities at risk.
Investigate need for additional drafting pumps.

4. Personnel

Training

Obtain wildland fire suppression training for fire personnel to include S130, S190, and S215.
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 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. Workshops 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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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
2. Conduct "Firewise" Workshop for Community Leaders Arrange for GFC Firewise Coordinator 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.
3. Spring Clean-up Event Conduct clean-up event every spring involving the Georgia Forestry Commission, Henry County Fire Departments, and local residences of rural Henry County. National Wildfire Preparedness Day is the 1st Saturday in May. 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 will 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 and insurance agents. Included in the packets are the following:
Be Firewise Around Your Home Firewise Guide to Landscape and Construction Firewise Communities USA materials Fire Adapted Community materials Ready Set Go materials
5. Wildfire Protection Display Create and exhibit a display for the general public at the local events. Display can be independent or combined with the Georgia Forestry Commission display.
6. Press Invite the local and regional news media to community "Firewise" functions for news coverage and regularly submit press releases documenting wildfire risk improvements in Henry County.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

VIII. ACTION PLAN

Roles and Responsibilities The following roles and responsibilities have been developed to implement the action plan:

Role

Responsibility

Hazardous Fuels and Structural Ignitability Reduction

Henry County WUI Fire Council

Create an informal team or council comprised of residents, GFC officials, County fire department officials, a representative from the city and county government, and the EMA Director for Henry County. Meet periodically to review progress towards mitigation goals, appoint and delegate special activities, work with federal, state, and local officials to assess progress and develop future goals and action plans. Work with residents to implement projects and Firewise activities.

Key messages to focus o

1. Defensible space and firewise landscaping 2. Debris burning safety 3. Firewise information for homeowners 4. Prescribed burning benefits

Communications objectives

1. Create public awareness for fire danger and defensible space issues
2. Identify most significant human-caused fire issues
3. Enlist public support to help prevent these causes
4. Encourage people to employ fire prevention and defensible spaces in their communities

Target Audiences

1. Homeowners 2. Forest landowners and users 3. Civic groups 4. School groups

Methods

1. News releases 2. Personal contacts 3. Key messages and prevention tips 4. Visuals such as signs, brochures, and posters 5. Social media

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

Spring Clean-up Day (National Wildfire Preparedness Day, is held annually the 1st Saturday in May.

Event Coordinator

Coordinate day's events and schedule, catering for cookout, guest attendance, and moderate activities the day of the day of the event.

Event Treasurer

Collect funds from residents to cover food, equipment rentals, and supplies.

Publicity Coordinator

Advertise event through neighborhood newsletter, letters to officials, and public service announcements (PSAs) for local media outlets. Publicize post-event through local paper and radio PSAs.

Work Supervisor

Develop volunteer labor force of community residents; develop labor/advisory force from Georgia Forestry Commission, Henry County Fire Departments, and Emergency Management Agency. Procure needed equipment and supplies. In cooperation with local city and county officials, develop safety protocol. Supervise work and monitor activities for safety the day of the event.

Funding Needed to implement Action Plan Project

Estimated Cost Potential Funding Source(s)

1. Create a minimum of 30 feet of defensible space around structures.

Varies

Residents will supply labor and fund required work on their own properties.

2. Reduce structural ignitability by cleaning flammable vegetation from roofs and gutters; appropriately storing firewood, installing skirting around raised structures, storing water hoses for ready access, replacing pine needles and mulch around plantings with less flammable material.

Varies

Residents will supply labor and funds required to work on their own properties.

3. Amend codes and ordinances to provide

No Cost

better driveway access, increased visibility of

house numbers, properly stored firewood,

minimum defensible space brush clearance,

required Class A roofing materials and

skirting around raised structures.

To be adopted by city and county government. Utilize International WildlandInterface Code (IWUIC), which was adopted for use by Ga. Legislature in 2014.

4. Spring Cleanup Day

Varies

Community business donations

5. Fuel Reduction Activities

$95/hour

GFC Fuel Mitigation Program

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Assessment Strategy To accurately assess progress and effectiveness for the action plan, the Henry County WUI Fire Council will implement the following:
Annual wildfire risk assessment will be conducted to re-assess wildfire hazards and prioritize needed actions.
Mitigation efforts that are recurring (such as mowing, burning, and clearing of defensible space) will be incorporated into an annual renewal of the original action plan.
Mitigation efforts that could not be funded in the requested year will be incorporated into the annual renewal of the original action plan.
Continuing educational and outreach programs will be conducted and assessed for effectiveness. Workshops will be evaluated based on attendance and post surveys that are distributed by mail 1 month and 6 months following the workshop date.
The Henry County WUI Council will publish an annual report detailing mitigation projects initiated and completed, progress for ongoing actions, funds received, funds spent, and in-kind services utilized. The report will include a "state of the community" section that critically evaluates mitigation progress and identifies areas for improvement. Recommendations will be incorporated into the annual renewal of the action plan.
An annual survey will be distributed to residents soliciting information on individual mitigation efforts on their own property (e.g., defensible space). Responses will be tallied and reviewed at the next Henry County WUI Council meeting. Needed actions will be discussed and delegated.
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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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
IX. MITIGATION ASSISTANCE & GRANT FUNDING
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. Forest mastication, where it is practical with Georgia Forestry Commission equipment, is also available under this grant program. 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 allrisk 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 GFC as a low-cost 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 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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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
X. 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 with a purpose to reduce 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.
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.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
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 wildfire season. It is held annually on the first Saturday in May. Prescribed Burning (prescribed 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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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
XI. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Publications/Brochures/Websites: FIREWISE materials can be ordered at www.firewise.org 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 Preparedness Day www.wildfireprepday.org
Appended Documents: Henry County Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report (SWRA) All files that make up this plan are available in an electronic format from the Georgia Forestry Commission.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Georgia Forestry Commission 5645 Riggins Mill Rd. Dry Branch, Ga. 31020 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
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