Community wildfire protection plan, Randolph 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
Randolph County, Georgia

May 2018
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Prepared by; Jon Lee Wright, Chief Ranger, Randolph County Will Fell, CWPP Specialist (Initial Plan 2010) Beryl Budd, Wildfire Prevention Specialist (Revised Plan 2018)
Georgia Forestry Commission 2538 Calhoun St. Shellman, GA 39886
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:
Steve Jackson Chair, Randolph County Commission (229) 732-6214
Paul Langford Mayor, Shellman, GA. (229) 679-5306 shellmandrugco@windstream.net
Lori Moore County Manager/Code Enforcement Randolph County (229) 732-5212
Kenneth Burns Director, Randolph County EMA/Fire Rescue (229) 310-3588
Greg Fairbanks Chief, Cuthbert Fire Department (229) 732-6454
Kenny Bentley Chief, Shellman Fire Department (229) 317-0051
Jon Lee Wright Chief Ranger, Randolph County Forestry Unit (229) 679-5472 jwright@gfc.state.ga.us
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PLAN CONTENTS
I. Objectives ...............................................................................................................................4 II. Community Collaboration.......................................................................................................4 III. County History & Wildfire Data.............................................................................................5 IV. County Base Maps ..................................................................................................................13 V. Community Wildfire Risk Assessment...................................................................................16 VI. Southern Wildfire Risk assessment & Risk Hazard Maps.........................................18 VII. Prioritized Mitigation Recommendations............................................................22 VIII. Action Plan............................................................................................................ ..............27 IX. Mitigation Assistance & Grant Funding..............................................................30 X. Glossary...................................................................................................31 XI. Sources of information..................................................................................33
Appended Documents: Randolph County Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report Randolph County Wildfire Pre-suppression Plan NFPA 1141 Standard for Fire Protection Infrastructure for Land Development in Suburban and Rural Areas.
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I. OBJECTIVES

The mission of the following report is to set clear priorities for the implementation of wildfire mitigation in Randolph 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
The core team convened on May 12th, 2009 to assess risks and develop the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The group is comprised of representatives from local government, local fire authorities, and the state agency responsible for forest management. Below are the groups included in the task force:

Randolph County Government County Fire Rescue Emergency Management Board of County Commissioners
City of Cuthbert Cuthbert Fire Department,
City of Shellman Shellman Fire Department
Georgia Forestry Commission

It was decided to conduct community assessments on the basis of the individual fire districts in
the county. The chiefs of the ten fire departments in the county assessed their districts and reconvened on Oct 21st, 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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III. COMMUNITY BACKGROUND AND EXISTING SITUATION
Background Randolph County, in southwest Georgia, was created from Lee County by an act of the state legislatureon December 20, 1828.
Georgia's seventy-fifth county was named for Virginia congressman John Randolph (1773-1833) of Roanoke, one of the more controversial statesmen of the early federal period. The land lotteryof 1827 had opened the southwest Georgia lands to settlers, who continued to have troubles with the Native Americans until the Creek Indian War of 1836, part of which was fought on Randolph County soil. Lumpkin served as the county seat until 1830, when it became the county seat for Stewart County, which was formed from Randolph. Cuthbert was named Randolph's county seat by an act of the legislature in 1831. Agriculture became the mainstay of the region. By 1850 the population of Randolph County totaled 12,868. During this decade two colleges, Baptist Female College (1852) and the United Methodistaffiliated Andrew Female College (1854), later as Andrew College, were established. By 1859 the railroad had come to Randolph County, opening the doors for better transportation and quicker trade. Some minor skirmishes occurred in Randolph County during the Civil Old Main, Andrew College War(1861-65), but the region was spared much military action. Many refugees came to the area for protection. Both of the colleges were used as hospitals during the war years.
After the Civil War, Randolph County continued its educational reputation when Howard Normal School, established by the American Missionary Association, opened its doors to area African Americans in 1867. Richard R. Wright became the first black headmaster in 1876. During his four-year tenure, he organized the Georgia State Teacher's Association and edited the Weekly Journal of Progress. Fletcher Hamilton Henderson Sr. became the headmaster in 1880 and remained until 1942. Henderson's son, bandleader Fletcher Henderson, was one of Cuthbert's Historic Randolph County Courthouse most famous citizens. He received his education at Howard Normal School and eventually went to New York, where he signed with W. C. Handy's music firm. The band Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra served as the principal model for the Big Band style. The Fletcher Henderson Jazz Festival, held every spring in Cuthbert, celebrates this innovative band leader and his legacy. In the twentieth century Randolph County has been the home of two Georgia Supreme Court justices, Charles William Worrill and Jesse Groover Bowles Jr., as well as one U.S. congressman, Bryant T. Castellow. The county also produced two internationally known athletes--Roosevelt Grier, known as one of the "Fearsome Foursome" of the Los Angeles Rams football team in the 1960s, and Larry Holmes, who has held the World Boxing Council heavyweight title.
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U.S. Highways 82 and 27 traverse Cuthbert, which is one of the few municipalities in the country with a water tower in the middle of a federal highway (U.S. 82). The Cuthbert Historic District boasts architectural styles spanning most of the county's history. Randolph County, encompassing 429 square miles, has seen a decline in population since 1980, with 7,791 people, according to the 2000 U.S. census. By 2010 the population had decreased slightly to 7,719. Randolph is a rural county and was the number-one wheat and sorghum grower in the state, according to the 2003 Farm Gate Value
"Fearsome Foursome" report. Peanuts, cotton, soybeans, and corn are also important crops for Randolph.
Wildfire History
Randolph County located in the heart of Southwestern Georgia, despite its well known agricultural presence, is still 66% forested. With the exception of the large block of woodlands in the western part of the county, there are homes and communities scattered throughout the county. The risks and hazards from the wildland urban interface are fairly general and substantial throughout the county even on the edges of the two major population centers of Cuthbert and Shellman.
Randolph County is protected by organized fire departments within the cities of Cuthbert and Shellman and seven widely spaced fire departments in the unincorporated areas, Carnegie, Coleman, Springvale, Trinity-Patchitla, Benevolence, Ft Bridge and 4th District. The Georgia Forestry Commission maintains a county protection unit located about one mile south of Shellman on Hwy 41 to respond to wildfires throughout the county. The cities of Cuthbert and Shellman and the adjacent areas of the county are serviced by a pressurized water system with well placed hydrants throughout.
Over the past fifty years, Randolph County has averaged 30 reported wildland fires per year. The occurrence of these fires shows a slight peak in the months of February and March. These fires have burned an average of 170 acres annually. The monthly acreage burned fairly well corresponds with the number of fires. Using more recent data, the average annual number of fires over the past 10 years has decreased slightly to 28 burning with an average loss of 131 acres. This reduction in numbers and average size from 5.6 acres per fire 4.3 acres per fire is perhaps the result of better response and equipment from both the Georgia Forestry Commission and the increased presence of rural fire departments. Despite this welcome trend in fire behavior, more homes are being built outside of traditional communities into the wildland urban interface.
The leading causes of fire during the last 10 years (2007 2016), was debris burning causing 49% of the fires and 45% of the acres burned. The second leading cause was machine use (27%) which burned 33% of the total acreage. The following page 7 has Randloph County wildfire data for FY 2017.
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County = Randolph

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

4

Debris: Other

Debris: Other

2

Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc

Debris: Residential, Leafpiles, Yard, Etc

1

Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related Debris: Site Prep - Forestry Related 6

Incendiary

Incendiary

0

Lightning

Lightning

0

Machine Use

Machine Use

8

Miscellaneous: Other

Miscellaneous: Other

0

Miscellaneous: Power lines/Electric Miscellaneous: Power

fences

lines/Electric fences

1

Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle Miscellaneous: Structure/Vehicle

Fires

Fires

1

Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes Miscellaneous: Woodstove Ashes

2

Undetermined

Undetermined

2

Totals for County: Randolph Year: 2017

28

Acres
0.00 0.00 0.00

Fires 5 Yr Avg
0.20
0.20
1.20

Acres 5 Yr Avg
0.46
0.08
6.46

2.25 155.98
19.10 0.01 33.45 0.00 0.00 89.52 0.00 0.16

0.60

0.65

3.80 68.42

0.40

3.82

0.40

0.00

3.40 15.45

0.20

1.75

0.60

1.03

2.40 23.61

0.40

0.51

2.00

6.84

0.01 8.90 0.11 309.49

1.20

0.31

0.40

1.78

1.20

6.83

18.60 138.00

On the following pages, 8 12, is wildfire data from the preceding 10 year period (FY 2007 thru FY 2016). This data includes Randolph County wildfire numbers, acreages, causes, and fire occurrence maps from 2007-2011 and 2012 -2016.

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Year
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Acreage Burned /Number of Fires For Randolph County For FY 2007-2016

Acreage Burned

Number of Average Size Fires

260.71

28

9.31

158.94

53

3.00

68.50

29

2.36

23.21

17

1.37

359.32

66

5.44

59.75

29

2.06

267.84

29

9.24

83.86

12

6.99

18.28

17

1.08

10.52

7

1.50

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

Acreage Burned /Number of Fires by Fire Cause For Randolph County For FY 2007-2016

Fire Cause

Acreage Burned

Number of Fires

Campfire

16.73

5

Children

3.05

4

Debris Burning

584.85

142

Incendiary

11.52

4

Lightning

156.41

21

Machine Use

432.00

78

Miscellaneous

69.17

28

Railroad

0.00

0

Smoking

3.14

1

Undetermined

34.06

4

Total

1,310.93

287

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IV. COUNTY BASE MAPS
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V. COMMUNITY WILDFIRE RISKASSESSMENT
The Wildland-Urban Interface
There are many definitions of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), however from a fire management perspective it is commonly defined as an area where structures and other human development meet or intermingles with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. As fire is dependent on a certain set of conditions, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group has defined the wildland-urban interface as a set of conditions that exists in or near areas of wildland fuels, regardless of ownership. This set of conditions includes type of vegetation, building construction, accessibility, lot size, topography and other factors such as weather and humidity. When these conditions are present in certain combinations, they make some communities more vulnerable to wildfire damage than others. This "set of conditions" method is perhaps the best way to define wildland-urban interface areas when planning for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and protection activities.
There are three major categories of wildland-urban interface. Depending on the set of conditions present, any of these areas may be at risk from wildfire. A wildfire risk assessment can determine the level of risk.
1. "Boundary" wildland-urban interface is characterized by areas of development where homes, especially new subdivisions, press against public and private wildlands, such as private or commercial forest land or public forests or parks. This is the classic type of wildland-urban interface, with a clearly defined boundary between the suburban fringe and the rural countryside.
2. "Intermix" wildland-urban interface areas are places where improved property and/or structures are scattered and interspersed in wildland areas. These may be isolated rural homes or an area that is just beginning to go through the transition from rural to urban land use.
3. "Island" wildland-urban interface, also called occluded interface, are areas of wildland within predominately urban or suburban areas. As cities or subdivisions grow, islands of undeveloped land may remain, creating remnant forests. Sometimes these remnants exist as parks, or as land that cannot be developed due to site limitations, such as wetlands.
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The wildland fire risk assessments conducted in 2009 by the Randolph County Fire Departments returned an average score of 84, placing Randolph County in the "high" hazard range. The risk assessment instrument used to evaluate wildfire hazards to Randolph County's 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 Randolph County:
Dead end roads with inadequate turn arounds Narrow roads without drivable shoulders Narrow inaccessible private drives 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 Undeveloped lots comprising half the total lots in many rural communities. High occurrence of wildfires in the several locations Lack of homeowner or community organizations

Summary of Randolph County Assessment Ratings

Fire District
Shellman
Coleman
Carnegie 4th District Fountain
Bridge
Benevolence TrinityPatchitla
Springvale

Access 4 4 4 13
4 4
4 4

Surrounding Vegetation
15 15 20 15
15 15
15 15

Bldg Construction
20 20 20 20
20 20
20 20

Fire Protection
12 15 15 18
18 18
18 18

Utilities 5 9 9 9
9 9
9 9

Additional Factors 13 15 12 20

Score 69 78 93 95

Hazard Rating Moderate High High High

20

86

High

20

86

High

20

86

High

20

86

High

.

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VI. SOUTHERN WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT & RISK HAZARD 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 Randolph 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 Randolph County SWRA

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Above: Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) map Below: WUI population (left) and WUI Acres (right)
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Above: Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Risk map Below: WUI Risk Index Acres
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Above: Fire Intensity Scale map Below: Flame Length map
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VII. PRIORITIZED MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Executive Summary As Southwest Georgia continues to see increased growth from other areas seeking less crowded and warmer climes, new development will occur more frequently on forest and wildland areas. Randolph County will have 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 National Firewise Communities program is a national awareness initiative to help people understand that they don't 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.
In 2012 the International Code Council developed the International Wildland Urban Interface Code (IWUIC). This Code was adopted by the State of Georgia in 2014 for counties to use with land use planning and zoning to reduce risk and help prevent structure losses from wildfire.
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 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.
The following recommendations were developed by the Randolph 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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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 30- feet 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

Private ROW

Cut, prune, and mow vegetation in shared community spaces.
Maintain adequate clearance 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 turn arounds.

6. Codes and Ordinances

Examine existing codes and ordinances.
Utilize the International Wildland Urban Interface Code
(IWUIC)

Amend and enforce existing building codes as they relate to skirting, propane tank locations, public nuisances (trash/debris on property), Property address marking standards and other relevant concerns
Review Subdivision and development ordinances for public safety concerns.
Enforce uniform addressing ordinance.

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Proposed Community Wildland Fuel Reduction Priorities

Treatment Area

Treatment Types

Treatment Method(s)

1. Adjacent WUI Lands

Reduce hazardous fuels

Encourage prescribed burning for private landowners and industrial timberlands particularly adjacent to residential areas.
Seek grant for prescribed burning in WUI areas.

2. Additional Certified Prescribed Burning managers

Classes

Locate prescribed burning classes in the area.

2. Railroad Corridors 3. Existing Fire Lines

Reduce hazardous fuels Reduce hazardous fuels

Encourage railroads to better maintain their ROW eliminating brush and grass through herbicide and mowing. Maintain firebreaks along ROW adjacent to residential areas.
Clean and re-harrow existing lines. Utilize forestry mowers and other equipment to reduce fuels in areas adjacent to developments.

Proposed Improved Community Wildland Fire Response Priorities

1. Water Sources

Dry Hydrants and Drafting Sites

Inspect, maintain and improve access to existing dry hydrants. Add signage along road to mark the hydrants.
Locate additional drafting sites as needed.
Create maps of dry hydrant & Drafting locations.

2. Fire Stations

Equipment

Wildland hand tools. Lightweight Wildland PPE Gear. Dump Tanks for rural stations.

3. Water Sources

Drafting equipment

Investigate need for additional drafting pumps.

4. Road Names

Road Signage

"Dead End" or "No Outlet" Tags on Road Signs

5. Personnel

Training

Obtain Wildland Fire Suppression training for Fire Personnel.

Ready Set Go training.

**Actions to be taken by homeowners and community stakeholders

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Proposed Education and Outreach Priorities
1. Conduct "How to Have a Firewise Home" Workshop for Randolph 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.
2. Conduct "Firewise" Workshop for Community Leaders Arrange for GFC Firewise program to work with local community leaders and governmental officials on the importance of "Firewise Planning" in developing ordinances and codes as the county as the need arises. Identify "Communities at Risk" within the county for possible firewise community recognition.
3. Spring Clean-up Event (National Wildfire Preparedness Day annually1st Saturday in May )
Conduct clean-up event every spring involving the Georgia Forestry Commission, Randolph 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. 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 Randolph County Fire Departments discussing and commending the work accomplished.
4. Informational Packets
Develop and distribute informational packets to be distributed by realtors, building permit office 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 information Fire Adapted Community information
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5. Wildfire Protection Display Create and exhibit a display for the general public at the Halloween Fall Festival and other local events. Display can be independent or combined with the Georgia Forestry Commission display. Hold Open House at individual Fire Stations to promote Community Firewise Safety and develop community support and understanding of local fire departments and current issues.
6. Media Invite the local news media to community "Firewise" functions for news coverage and regularly submit press releases documenting wildfire risk improvements in Randolph County. Utilize radio and social media to reach new audiences.
Prescribed burning is a best management practice to reduce hazardous fuel buildup. The Georgia Forestry Commission can assist by developing a prescribed burning plan, installation of firebreaks, and can provide equipment standby and burning assistance when personnel are available. Consulting Foresters and land use contractors can also provide this service.
Forestry mowing and mastication equipment, such as seen above, can be practical to reduce fuel in areas near structures. This is most useful in areas where prescribed burning may not be practical. The Georgia Forestry Commission and private contractors can provide these types of services.
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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

Randolph County WUI Fire Council

Create this informal team or council comprised of residents, GFC officials, Randolph County Fire department officials, a representative from the city and county government and the EMA Director for Randolph 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 5 Fuel reduction practices

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 & Homeowner Associations 2 Forest Landowners and users 3 Civic Groups 4 School Groups 5 Hunting Clubs 6 Forest industry 1 News Releases 2 Radio and TV PSAs 3 Personal Contacts 4 Key messages and prevention tips 5 Visuals such as signs, brochures and posters 6 Social media

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Spring Clean-up Day (National Wildfire Preparedness Day)

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, Randolph 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

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

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

No Cost

Residents will supply labor and fund required work on their own properties.
To be adopted by city and county government. International Wildland Urban Interface Code IWUIC

4. Spring Cleanup Day (National Wildfire Preparedness Day)
5. Fuel Reduction Activities

Varies $35 / acre

Community Business Donations.
State Farm grant
FEMA & USFS Grants

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Assessment Strategy To accurately assess progress and effectiveness for the action plan, the Randolph 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 workshop date.
The Randolph 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 Randolph 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 thisplan will have limited value.
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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 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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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.
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Healthy Forests Initiative - Launched in August 2002 by President Bush (following passage of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act by Congress) with the intent to reduce the risks severe wildfires pose to people, communities, and the environment. Home Ignition Zone (Structure Ignition Zone) - Treatment area for wildfire protection. The "zone" includes the structure(s) and their immediate surroundings from 0-200 ft. Mitigation An action that moderates the severity of a fire hazard or risk.
National Fire Plan National initiative, passed by Congress in the year 2000, following a landmark wildland fire season, with the intent of actively responding to severe wildland fires and their impacts to communities while ensuring sufficient firefighting capacity for the future.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - An international nonprofit organization established in 1896, whose mission is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.
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 approaching 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).
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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:
Randolph County Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report (SWRA) Randolph County Wildfire assessment scoresheets All files that make up this plan are available in an electronic format from the Georgia Forestry Commission.
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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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