Community wildfire protection plan, Twiggs County, Georgia: 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

Community Wildfire Protection Plan
An Action Plan for Wildfire Mitigation and Conservation of Natural Resources
Twiggs County
April, 2017

Prepared by; Greg Coley, Chief Ranger, Twiggs - Wilkinson County Will Fell CWPP Specialist Beryl Budd, Wildfire Prevention Specialist (revised 2017) Georgia Forestry Commission 13168 Hwy 80 Jeffersonvile, GA 31044

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:

William S Stokes Fire Chief/EMA Director, Twiggs County (478) 945-6968 chevy64_92@yahoo.com

Javarez Bryant Fire Chief Balls Church VFD (478) 945-3981 Javarezb@aol.com

Tracy Jackson 911 System Administrator, Twiggs County (478) 945-6968 TracyJackson@yahoo.com

Oscar Basley Jeffersonville Police Chief 478-945-6972 lburnett@yahoo.com

Greg Coley Chief Ranger, Twiggs - Wilkinson County. (478) 945-3575 gcoley@gfc.state.ga.us.

Darren Mitchell Sheriff, Twiggs County (478) 945-3357

Morgan Slay Fire Chief, Jeffersonville VFD Chief (478) 456-6968

Daniel Wimberly Fire Chief, Dry Branch/Pearson VFD (478) 973-9559 TheFonz247@yahoo.com

Andy Thompson Fire Chief, Higgsville/Industrial Park VFD (478) 951-4462 BThompson9801@windstream.com

PLAN CONTENTS
I. Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 1 II. Community Collaboration .................................................................................................... 1 III. Community Background and Existing Situation ................................................................... 2 IV. Community Base Map .......................................................................................................... 7 V. Community Wildfire Risk Assessment ............................................................................... 10 VI. Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment & Hazards Maps (SouthWRAP) ............................... 14 VII. Prioritized Mitigation Recommendations ............................................................................18 VIII. Action Plan .......................................................................................................................... 22 IX. Grant Funding and Mitigation Assistance..........................................................25 X. Glossary................................................................................................26 XI. Sources of Information..............................................................................28

WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

I. OBJECTIVES

The mission of the following report is to set clear priorities for the implementation of wildfire mitigation in Twiggs 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
An initial meeting was held on May 14th 2009 at the Twiggs County Court House attended by the following core planning team;

Will Fell Greg Coley Daniel Wimberly Andy Thompson Oscar Basley David Epps

GFC CWPP Specialist GFC Chief Ranger, Bibb/Twiggs/Wilkinson Counties Fire Chief, Dry Branch/Pearson VFD Fire Chief, Higgsville VFD Jeffersonville Police Chief District Ranger, GFC

After an initial discussion of the processes and goals we hope to accomplish with this report, it was decided that we would identify and evaluate by fire district, communities and areas within the wildland urban interface. At the completion of this we would reconvene and discuss and evaluate the completed community wildfire risk assessments. It was further decided that we would provide general mitigation recommendations for the county. The fire chiefs of the fire departments in the county assessed their districts and reconvened on June 24th, 2009 for the purpose of completing the following:

Risk Assessment

Assessed wildfire hazard risks and prioritized mitigation actions.

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.

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
III. COMMUNITY BACKGROUND AND WILDFIRE HISTORY
Background
Twiggs County, in central Georgia, was created by the state legislature in 1809 by the division of Wilkinson County. The county's name honors John Twiggs, a Revolutionary War (1775-83) general. Located on the fall line, its terrain includes both Upper Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont features. Bounded on the west by the Ocmulgee River, Twiggs County covers 360 square miles and adjoins Bibb, Bleckley, Jones, Houston, and Wilkinson counties.
Places of interest include the Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area, which Twiggs shares with Bleckley County, and the Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which Twiggs shares with Bibb County. According to the 2000 U.S. census, the population was 10,590 (54.9 percent white, 43.7 percent black, and 1.1 percent Hispanic), an 8 percent increase since 1990.
Settlement
Early inhabitants of the area were members of the Mississippian culture that prospered in Georgia centuries before contact with European explorers. The region then became home to Creek Indians, whose towns were located along trading paths and waterways in the area. In 1802 the Treaty of Fort Wilkinson transferred control of the area to the state of Georgia.
Settlements in the area were determined primarily by transportation technologies. Wagon roads widened from existing Creek trails became migration routes for settlers who arrived to establish farms and towns. Their settlements clustered first around river fords, then commercial crossroads and railroad junctions. Towns grew at Rain's Store (later Jeffersonville) and Danville, named for merchant Daniel Hughes, the father of U.S. congressman Dudley Hughes. Bullard was first the site of a steamboat landing on the Ocmulgee River; it later became Bullard Depot on the Southern Railway. Westlake began as a ferry crossing known as Buzzard Roost.
The county seat was originally mandated by the legislature to occupy the most convenient location for the citizenry, toward the center of the new county. A site was surveyed, and the town, named Marion for Revolutionary War general Frances Marion, was incorporated in 1816. Near that site, now deserted, geographers mapped the exact geographic center of the state. In 1868 nearby Jeffersonville became the county seat. That decision necessitated the dismantling of the first courthouse and its removal by oxcart to the new location. The present brick courthouse was completed in 1904. Jeffersonville is the only incorporated city in the county.
Other communities include Huber, an older agricultural settlement renamed in the 1910s to indicate the prominence of the Huber kaolin processing plant nearby, and Adams Park, a realestate investor's planned community and recreation center. The construction of Interstate 16 gave Twiggs County increased access to both the coastal areas of Georgia and the metropolitan areas to the north, once more placing the area in its historic context as a crossroads of commerce and migration.
Economy
Twiggs County farmers became part of the southern plantation system in the nineteenth century with the development of upland cotton, which they grew for export. After the Civil War (186165), agriculture remained a predominant business in the area, along with the later addition of forestry products and, in the twentieth century, kaolin mining.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

Railroads arrived in the county with the construction of the Macon and Brunswick (later Norfolk Southern) line in 1861, which was completed in 1870. The Macon, Dublin, and Savannah Railroad (later CSX), completed in 1891, passed through Dry Branch, Fitzpatrick, and Ripley, bringing increased commercial opportunities to those communities. With the development of the national highway system in the 1920s, local merchants served traffic moving between Atlanta and Savannah on U.S. Highway 80, also known as the Dixie Overland Highway. The Dixie Overland Highway Association's motto was "The Shortest and Only Year Round Ocean-toOcean Highway." (Courtesy New Georgia Encyclopedia)

Wildfire History

Twiggs County, located near the center of the state in the rolling red hills region of the upper coastal plain, is still a largely rural county. While there is some agriculture in the lower reaches of the county, 87% of it's land area is still forested, broken only by Kaolin mines and a few scattered small communities. The county is starting to see some influx of residential development in the northwestern corner adjacent to Macon. Where these homes are, the risks from the wildland urban interface can be significant.

Over the past fifty years, Twiggs County has averaged 89 reported wildland fires per year and 46% of these have occurred during the months of February, March and April. These fires have burned an average of 308 acres annually. Of this annual acreage burned, 56% was lost during the above three months. Despite the advent of the outdoor burning permit law about 20 years ago, the numbers of fires have not changed significantly over the years, perhaps as more residences have moved out of towns into the wildland urban interface.

Over the past 20 years, the leading causes of these fires, was debris burning causing 45% of the fires and 46% of the acres burned. The second leading causes of fires were incendiary or arson fires, causing 15% of the fires, with 23% of the acres burned.

The table below indicates wildfire activity in Twiggs County during the last 10 fiscal years showing the number of wildfires and acreage burned. The average annual size wildfire is compared to the Statewide average. In 2007 and 2011 the Statewide average was influenced by large wildfires and record wildfire activity in SE Georgia and the Okefenokee Refuge.

Fiscal Year
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Number of Wildfires
96 80 77 51 120 50 49 39 36 18

Acres burned Twiggs County
369.15 168.78 265.71 113.49 329.16 251.03 217.37 90.84 72.16 37.80

Average Size
3.84 2.11 3.45 2.23 2.74 5.02 4.44 2.33 2.00 2.10

Statewide Average Size
18.64 4.56 3.90 3.56 17.56 4.98 4.53 5.02 4.42 6.29

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
The table below indicates wildfire activity this 2017 fiscal year, July 1, 2016 thru June 30, 2017. The County has seen an increase so far this year due to drought last fall.

County = Twiggs

Cause

Fires

Campfire

Campfire

0

Children

Children

0

Debris: Ag Fields, Pastures, Orchards, Etc

Debris: Ag Fields, Pastures, Orchards, Etc

0

Debris: Construction Land Clearing Debris: Construction Land Clearing

1

Debris: Escaped Prescribed Burn Debris: Escaped Prescribed Burn

6

Debris: Other

Debris: Other

0

Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc

Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc

0

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

0

Incendiary

Incendiary

0

Lightning

Lightning

2

Machine Use

Machine Use

3

Miscellaneous: Cutting/Welding/Grinding

Miscellaneous: Cutting/Welding/Grinding

0

Miscellaneous: Firearms/Ammunition

Miscellaneous: Firearms/Ammunition

0

Miscellaneous: Other

Miscellaneous: Other

0

Miscellaneous: Power lines/Electric fences

Miscellaneous: Power lines/Electric fences

3

Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle

Fires

Fires

4

Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes

0

Undetermined

Undetermined

22

Totals for County: Twiggs Year: 2017

41

Acres
0.00 0.00

Fires 5 Yr Avg
1.80
0.60

Acres 5 Yr Avg
2.27
0.10

0.00 0.60 1.94

44.72 30.59 0.00

1.40 9.91 9.00 56.55 0.20 0.09

0.00 1.40 3.69

0.00 0.40 0.67 0.00 1.00 7.11 1.76 1.20 0.44 5.01 2.20 4.23

0.00 0.60 0.78

0.00 0.20 0.02 0.00 0.20 0.25 7.16 3.80 6.92

1.33 3.40 1.68

0.00 183.20

1.60 4.24 7.00 37.51

273.77 36.60 138.39

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
IV. COMMUNITY BASE MAP
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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 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.
(courtesy Fire Ecology and Wildfire Mitigation in Florida 2004)
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
WUI is described as the area where structures and other human improvements meet and intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.
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.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
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 "offgas" extremely hazardous vapors. Plastic decking materials that resemble wood are becoming more common and may begin softening and losing structural strength at 180 F, though they normally do not sustain combustion once direct flame is removed. However, if they continue to burn they exhibit the characteristics of flammable liquids.
Pets and livestock
Pets and livestock may be left when residents evacuate and will likely be highly stressed, making them more inclined to bite and kick. Firefighters should not put themselves at risk to rescue pets or livestock.
Evacuation occurring
Firefighters may be taking structural protection actions while evacuations of residents are occurring. Be very cautious of people driving erratically. Distraught residents may refuse to leave their property, and firefighters may need to disengage from fighting fire to contact law enforcement officers for assistance. In most jurisdictions firefighters do not have the authority to force evacuations. Firefighters should not put themselves at risk trying to protect someone who will not evacuate!
Limited access
Narrow one-lane roads with no turn-around room, inadequate or poorly maintained bridges and culverts are frequently found in wildland urban interface areas. Access should be sized-up and an evacuation plan for all emergency personnel should be developed.
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

The wildland fire risk assessments conducted in 2009 by the Twiggs County Fire Departments returned an average score of 105, placing Twiggs County in the "high" hazard range. The risk assessment instrument used to evaluate wildfire hazards to Twiggs County's WUI was the Hazard and Wildfire Risk Assessment Scoresheet. The instrument takes into consideration accessibility, vegetation (based on fuel models), topography, 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 Twiggs County:
Dead end roads with inadequate turn arounds Narrow roads without drivable shoulders Long, narrow, and poorly labeled driveways Significant number of unpaved roads Residential addresses not clearly marked Thick, highly flammable vegetation surrounding many homes Minimal defensible space around structures Homes with wooden siding and roofs with heavy accumulations of vegetative debris. Lack of pressurized or non-pressurized water systems available in rural areas. Dry hydrants and drafting sources unusable. Above ground utilities and unmarked septic tanks. Large, adjacent areas of forest or wildlands Undeveloped lots comprising half the total lots in many rural communities. Missing road signage. High incidence of fire occurrence in areas

Summary of Twiggs County Assessment Ratings

Fire District
Jeffersonville Dry Branch Pearson Danville Balls Church Higgsville Average

Access
11 21 19 2 10 23 14

Site Hazard
10 20 10 15 15 20 15

Bldg Hazard
30 30 25 20 20 20 24

Fire Protection
7 32 32 17 27 27 23

Utilities
7 7 7 4 7 7 6

Add. Hazards
10 35 25 19 25 25 23

Total Risk Score
75 145 118 77 104 122 105

Less than 50 50-74 75-99 100-120 greater than 120

Low Hazard Moderate Hazard High Hazard Very High Hazard Extreme Hazard

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
VI. SOUTHERN WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT & 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 Twiggs 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
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) map from the Twiggs SWRA summary (above) and Wildland Urban Interface Population graph (below)
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Risk map (above) and WUI Risk Index-Acres map (below)
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Community Protection Zones map (above) and Fire Intensity Scale map (below)
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

VII. PRIORITIZED MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS

The following recommendations were developed by the Twiggs 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.
Proposed Community Hazard and Structural Ignitability Reduction Priorities

Primary Protection for Community and Its Essential Infrastructure

Treatment Area

Treatment Types

Treatment Method(s)

All Structures Applicable Structures
Community Clean-up Day Road Signage Road Access Subdivision Access

Create minimum of 30-feet of defensible space**
Reduce structural ignitability**
Cutting, mowing, pruning** At Replacement
Identify needed road improvements Alternate exits

Trim shrubs and vines to 30 feet from structures, trim overhanging limbs, replace flammable plants near homes with less flammable varieties, remove vegetation around chimneys.
Clean flammable vegetative material from roofs and gutters, store firewood appropriately, install skirting around raised structures, store water hoses for ready access, replace pine straw and mulch around plantings with less flammable landscaping materials.
Cut, prune, and mow vegetation in shared community spaces.
New road signage with minimum 4 inch reflective lettering on non flammable poles. Dead end (no outlet or turn-around) should be prominently tagged.
As roads are upgraded, widen to minimum standards with at least 50 foot diameter cul de sacs.
Work with developers to identify and create alternate access and exits routes to subdivisions and communities with only one way in and out.

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

Water Supply

Ordinance

Require new subdivisions to install and maintain water systems and hydrants

Codes and Ordinances

Examine existing codes and ordinances.

Amend and enforce existing building codes as they relate to skirting, propane tank locations, public nuisances (trash/debris on property), Property address marking standards and other relevant concerns
At such time as the development of zoning, planning and subdivision ordinances become practical include fire department and emergency services input in the design of these.

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

2. Existing Fire Lines

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

2. Fire Stations

Equipment

Wildland hand tools. Lightweight Wildland PPE Gear. Larger capacity hose. Investigate need for "brush" trucks.

3. Personnel

Training

Obtain Wildland Fire Suppression training for Fire Personnel.

**Actions to be taken by homeowners and community stakeholders

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Proposed Education and Outreach Priorities
Conduct "How to Have a Firewise Home" Workshop for Twiggs County Residents
Set up and conduct a workshop for homeowners that teach the principles of making homes and properties safe from wildfire. Topics for discussion include defensible space, landscaping, building construction, etc. Workshop will be scheduled for evenings or weekends when most homeowners are available and advertised through local media outlets. Distribute materials promoting firewise practices and planning through local community and governmental meetings.
Conduct "Firewise" Workshop for Community Leaders
Arrange for GFC Firewise program to work with local community leaders and governmental officials on the importance of "Firewise Planning" in developing ordinances and codes as the county as the need arises. Identify "Communities at Risk" within the county for possible firewise community recognition.
Spring Clean-up Event
Conduct clean-up event every spring involving the Georgia Forestry Commission, Twiggs County Fire Departments and community residents. 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. National Wildfire Prevention Day is help annually on the first Saturday in May,
Activities to include the following: Clean flammable vegetative material from roofs and gutters Trim shrubs and vines to 30 feet away from structures Trim overhanging limbs Clean hazardous or flammable debris from adjacent properties Celebrate the work with a community cookout, with Community officials, GFC and
Twiggs County Fire Departments.
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 Ready Set Go material Fire Adapted Community materials
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
Wildfire Protection Display Create and exhibit a display for the general public at Twiggs County festivals. Display can be independent or combined with the Georgia Forestry Commission display. Press Invite the local news media and the Macon Telegraph to community "Firewise" functions for news coverage and regularly submit press releases documenting wildfire risk improvements in Twiggs County.
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

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

Twiggs County Wildland Urban Interface Fire Council

Create this informal team or council comprised of residents, GFC officials, Twiggs County Fire Department officials, a representative from the city and county government and the EMA Director for Twiggs 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 on 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 cause 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 Methods

1 Homeowners 2 Forest Landowners and users 3 Civic Groups 4 School Groups 1 News Releases 2 Personal Contacts 3 Key messages and prevention tips 4 Visuals such as signs, brochures and posters

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Spring Clean-up Day Event Coordinator Event Treasurer Publicity Coordinator
Work Supervisor

Coordinate day's events and schedule, catering for cookout, guest attendance, and moderate activities the day of the day of the event.
Collect funds from residents to cover food, equipment rentals, and supplies.
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.
Develop volunteer labor force of community residents, develop labor/advisory force from Georgia Forestry Commission, Twiggs 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 Needs

The following funding is needed to implement the action plan:

Project

Estimate d 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 fund required work on their own properties.

3. Amend codes and ordinances to provide better driveway access, increased visibility of house numbers, properly stored firewood, minimum defensible space brush clearance, required Class A

No Cost

To be adopted by city and county governments.

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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION

roofing materials and skirting around raised structures, planned maintenance of community lots.

4. Spring Cleanup Day

Varies

5. Fuel Reduction Activities

$35 / Acre

Community Business Donations.
FEMA & USFS Grants

Assessment Strategy
To accurately assess progress and effectiveness for the action plan, the Twiggs 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, 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 1month and 6 months following workshop date.
The Twiggs County WUIFC 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 Twiggs County WUIFC 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
X. 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. 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 all-risk structures through creating defensible space, structural protection through the application of ignition resistant construction and limited hazardous fuel reduction to protect life and property.
3. With a completed registered plan (addendum to the State Plan) counties can apply for pre-mitigation funding. They will also be eligible for HMGP funding if the county is declared under a wildfire disaster.
Georgia Forestry Commission: Plowing and prescribed burning assistance, as well as forest mastication, can be obtained from the 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
X1. 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 fire 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: Twiggs County Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report (SouthWRAP) All files that make up this plan are available in an electronic format from the Georgia
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WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN: AN ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION
P. O. Box 819 Macon, GA 312021 800-GA-TREESGaTrees.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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