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• Wildfire... Are You Prepared?

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  "Wildfires often begin unnoticed. They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees and homes. Reduce your risk by preparing now -- 'before' wildfire strikes. Meet with your family to decide what to do and where to go if wildfires threaten your area. Follow the steps listed in this brochure to protect your family, home and property."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2007?
• Southern Group of State Foresters: Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal [website]

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  "SouthWRAP [South Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal] is the primary mechanism for the SGSF [Southern Group of State Foresters] to make wildfire risk information available and create awareness about wildfire issues for the Southern states"

  Southern Group of State Foresters
• Wildfire Mitigation Policy for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program

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  The purpose of this document is to "[e]stablish the wildfire mitigation policy for the HMGP [Hazard Mitigation Grant Program] and PDM [Pre-Disaster Mitigation] program and establish the parameters to implement wildfire mitigation under sections 203 and 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207. This policy will ensure national consistency in the use of HMGP and PDM funds for wildfire mitigation projects. In particular, it describes the availability of these funds for (1) defensible space, (2) structural protection through the application of ignition-resistant construction, and (3) limited hazardous fuels reduction to protect life and property."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2008-09-08
• Draft Environmental Assessment: Deschutes and Crook Counties Wildfire Mitigation

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  "Deschutes and Crook Counties have applied to the US Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program for assistance with a wildfire fuel load reduction project in Central Oregon. The project will build upon activities outlined in both Counties' respective Natural Mitigation Plans to assist the region in reducing risk and preventing loss from future wildland fires. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 1500 through 1508) direct FEMA and other federal agencies to fully understand and take into consideration environmental consequences of proposed federally funded projects. [...] NEPA requires federal agencies to make a series of evaluations and decisions that anticipate significant effects on environmental resources. This requirement must be fulfilled whenever a federal agency proposes an action, grants a permit, or agrees to fund or otherwise authorize any other entity to undertake an action that could possibly affect the human environment. In compliance with NEPA and its implementing regulations, FEMA prepared this draft environmental assessment (EA) to analyze potential environmental impacts of alternatives. The primary goal of this project is to protect surrounding lands, structures, critical facilities, and residents from potential loss of life and property due to wildfires in Deschutes and Crook Counties. The project will accomplish this by removing wildfire fuel in the form of undergrowth and other vegetative debris through ladder fuels reduction, brush mowing, and tree thinning from 757 acres of publicly-owned land and 871 acres of privately-owned land within areas of high fire risk in these counties."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2008-01
• Serial No. 115-42: Impacts of the 2017 Wildfires in the United States, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session, March 20, 2018

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  This is the March 20, 2018 hearing on "Impacts of the 2017 Wildfires in the United States," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. From the opening statement of Lou Barletta: "The purpose of today's hearing is to explore the lessons learned from the catastrophic 2017 wildfire season that led to a record number of deaths and destroyed land and critical infrastructure throughout 10 Western States, especially California. [...] It is imperative that we address the destruction caused by the 2017 wildfire season and work to inform long-term policy solutions while highlighting the importance of mitigation and resiliency." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert J. Fenton, Mark Ghilarducci, Susan Gorin, Eric W. Holly, and Thomas Jenkins.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2019
• 2017 Hurricanes and Wildfires: Initial Observations on the Federal Response and Key Recovery Challenges, Report to Congressional Addressees

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  "In 2017, four sequential disasters--hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and the California wildfires--created an unprecedented demand for federal disaster response and recovery resources. According to FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency], 2017 included three of the top five costliest hurricanes on record. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that the cumulative damages from weather and climate related disasters in the United States were over $300 billion in 2017 alone. As of June 2018, Congress had appropriated over $120 billion in supplemental funding for response and recovery related to the 2017 hurricanes and wildfires. Further, in October 2017, close to 14,000 federal employees were deployed in response to the disasters. Given the scale and cost of these disasters, Congress and others have raised questions about the federal response and various recovery challenges that have arisen since the disasters. This report provides GAO's [Government Accountability Office] observations on: (1) federal and state preparedness and response coordination for hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and Florida, and the California wildfires; (2) federal preparedness for and response to hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and (3) existing and emerging disaster recovery challenges highlighted by these disasters."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2018-09
• Urban Wildland Interface Communities Within the Vicinity of Federal Lands That Are at High Risk from Wildfire, Notice

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  From the Document: "This notice provides an initial list of urban wildland interface communities in the vicinity of Federal lands that are at high risk from wildfire. The list, compiled from information provided by States and Tribes, and prepared for publication by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, responds to Congressional direction to identify communities within the vicinity of Federal lands that are at high risk from wildfire, and publish a list of these communities in the Federal Register. [...] This notice also provides the Federal Government's initial definition of urban wildland interface communities at high risk from wildfire, and preliminary criteria for risk evaluation and risk management that will be used by the Secretaries to rank and prioritize communities and focus implementation of fuels treatments to most effectively reduce risks."

  United States. Office of the Federal Register

  2001-01-04
• Colorado Wildfire Resource Guide

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  From the Document: "As these wildfires continue to rage through our great state, I have been humbled by the immense strength Coloradans have shown over these past few weeks. I have seen the incredible resilience of the people of the 2nd congressional district of Colorado, and it is what inspires me. While Colorado is no stranger to wildfires, this wildfire season has hit our state especially hard, all while we are still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Due to these challenges, I want to ensure every one of my constituents have the resources they need, as well as any assistance you may require. My office is here to help. If you lose important federal documents, such as Social Security cards or passports, we can help you. If you need information about evacuations or resources, we can help. If you have questions about how to make a plan to evacuate, how to access your mail, or how to vote, please call us. If my office is not able to assist you directly, we will get you in contact with the people who can. Thank you once again to all the first responders and volunteers at the front lines of these fires for working day and night to keep everyone safe. And thank you to everyone who has taken in friends and family, as well as animals big and small in support of your community. We will get through this together."

  United States. Congress. House

  Neguse, Joe

  2020-10-21?
• Wildfire Fuels and Fuel Reduction [September 4, 2012]

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  "Severe wildfires have been burning more acres and more houses in recent years. Some assert that climate change is at least partly to blame; others claim that the increasing number of homes in and near the forest (the 'wildland-urban interface') is a major cause. However, most observers agree that wildfire suppression and historic land management practices have led to unnaturally high accumulations of biomass in many forests, particularly in the intermountain West. While high-intensity conflagrations (wildfires that burn the forest canopy) occur naturally in some ecosystems (called crown-fire or stand-replacement fire ecosystems), abnormally high biomass levels can lead to conflagrations in ecosystems when such crown fires were rare (called frequent-surface- fire ecosystems). Thus, many propose activities to reduce forest biomass fuels."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2012-09-04
• Wildfire Damages to Homes and Resources: Understanding Causes and Reducing Losses [March 12, 2012]

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  "Wildfires are getting more severe, with more acres and houses burned and more people at risk. This results from excess biomass in the forests, due to past logging and grazing and a century of fire suppression, combined with an expanding wildland-urban interface--more people and houses in and near the forests--and climate change, exacerbating drought and insect and disease problems. Some assert that current efforts to protect houses and to reduce biomass (through fuel treatments, such as thinning) are inadequate, and that public objections to some of these activities on federal lands raise costs and delay action. Others counter that proposals for federal lands allow timber harvesting with substantial environmental damage and little fire protection. Congress is addressing these issues through various legislative proposals and through funding for protection programs. Wildfires are inevitable--biomass, dry conditions, and lightning create fires. […] Homes can be ignited by direct contact with fire, by radiative heating, and by 'firebrands' (burning materials lifted by the wind or the fire's own convection column). Protection of homes must address all three. […] Wildland and resource damages from fire vary widely, depending on the nature of the ecosystem as well as on site-specific conditions. […] Prescribed burning (intentional fires) and mechanical treatments (cutting and removing some trees) can reduce resource damages caused by wildfires in some ecosystems. However, prescribed fires are risky, mechanical treatments can cause other ecological damages, and both are expensive. Proponents of more treatment advocate expedited processes for environmental and public review of projects to hasten action and cut costs, but others caution that inadequate review can allow unintended damages with few fire protection benefits."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2012-03-12
• Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery [May 8, 2013]

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  From the Document: "Raging wildfires, burned homes, and the evacuation of thousands make headlines nearly every fire season. More than 9.3 million acres burned in 2012, the third-largest acreage burned annually since 1960. Severe wildfires in 2012 occurred in Oregon and New Mexico, including the Whitewater-Baldy fire, which was the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. Options for federal support and assistance--during the fires, in the aftermath, and aimed at preventing a recurrence--have been considered by many concerned about the ongoing disasters. This report briefly describes these federal options."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2013-05-08
• Wildfire Damages to Homes and Resources: Understanding Causes and Reducing Losses [May 23, 2013]

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  "Wildfires are getting more severe, with more acres and houses burned and more people at risk. This results from excess biomass in the forests, due to past logging and grazing and a century of fire suppression, combined with an expanding wildland-urban interface--more people and houses in and near the forests--and climate change, exacerbating drought and insect and disease problems. Some assert that current efforts to protect houses and to reduce biomass (through fuel treatments, such as thinning) are inadequate, and that public objections to some of these activities on federal lands raise costs and delay action. Others counter that proposals for federal lands allow timber harvesting with substantial environmental damage and little fire protection. Congress is addressing these issues through various legislative proposals and through funding for protection programs. Wildfires are inevitable--biomass, dry conditions, and lightning create fires. […] Homes can be ignited by direct contact with fire, by radiative heating, and by 'firebrands' (burning materials lifted by the wind or the fire's own convection column). Protection of homes must address all three. […] Wildland and resource damages from fire vary widely, depending on the nature of the ecosystem as well as on site-specific conditions. […] Prescribed burning (intentional fires) and mechanical treatments (cutting and removing some trees) can reduce resource damages caused by wildfires in some ecosystems. However, prescribed fires are risky, mechanical treatments can cause other ecological damages, and both are expensive. Proponents of more treatment advocate expedited processes for environmental and public review of projects to hasten action and cut costs, but others caution that inadequate review can allow unintended damages with few fire protection benefits."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2013-05-23
• Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery [December 9, 2013]

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  From the Document: "Raging wildfires, burned homes, and the evacuation of thousands make headlines nearly every fire season. As of early November 2013, approximately 4.1 million acres have burned, with the largest acreage burned occurring in the state of Alaska. More than 9.3 million acres burned in 2012, the third-largest acreage burned annually since 1960. Severe wildfires in 2012 occurred in Oregon and New Mexico, including the Whitewater-Baldy fire, which was the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. Options for federal support and assistance--during the fires, in the aftermath, and aimed at preventing a recurrence--have been considered by many concerned about the ongoing disasters. This report briefly describes these federal options."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bracmort, Kelsi

  2013-12-09
• 2017 California Wildfires

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  "Wildfires are burning across much of northern California counties, threatening the lives of tens of thousands of people. The resources below can help individuals, families, communities and professionals stay safe in the face of the wildfires.​"

  United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

  2017
• Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials, Revised 2019

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  From the Executive Summary: "Wildfire smoke events can occur without warning - but we can be prepared. This Guide is intended to provide state, tribal, and local public health officials with information they need to be prepared for smoke events and, when wildfire smoke is present, to communicate health risks and take measures to protect the public. Although developed for public health officials, the information in this document could be useful to many other groups including health professionals, air quality officials, and members of the public. The document is divided into five Chapters and five Appendices."

  United States. Environmental Protection Agency

  Stone, Susan Lyon; Sacks, Jason; Lahm, Peter . . .

  2019-08
• Home Builder's Guide to Construction in Wildfire Zones: Technical Fact Sheet Series

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  "The purpose of these Technical Fact Sheets is to provide information about wildfire behavior and recommendations for building design and construction methods in the wild land/urban interface. Implementation of the recommended design and construction methods can greatly increase the chances of a building's survival in a wildfire."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2008-09
• U. S. Fire Administration: Wildfire... Are You Prepared?

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  This information booklet from the U.S. Fire Administration of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offers information on what to do prevent wildfire damage and keeping your family safe before, during and after a Wildfire.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Cross-Boundary Wildfire and Community Exposure: A Framework and Application in the Western U.S.

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  From the Abstract: "In this report we provide a framework for assessing cross-boundary wildfire exposure and a case study application in the western U.S. The case study provides detailed mapping and tabular decision support materials for prioritizing fuel management investments aimed at reducing wildfire exposure to communities located proximal to national forests."

  United States. Department of Agriculture; Rocky Mountain Research Station (Fort Collins, Colo.); United States. Forest Service

  Ager, Alan A.; Day, Michelle A.; Palaiologou, Palaiologos . . .

  2019-05
• FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Wildfire Mitigation in Matanuska - Susitna Borough, Alaska

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  This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. The Best Practices Portfolio is a collection of true stories about people and communities who have experienced disasters, and what mitigation they used to survive, rebuild, and prepare for disasters. From the document: "The Miller's Reach Wildland Fire destroyed or damaged nearly 450 structures, and caused extensive damage to public infrastructure in June 1996. In cooperation with local businesses, several local, state, and federal entities created a Wildfire Mitigation Plan to implement aggressive fire prevention programs rather than continue to rely upon fire fighting and suppression. The Wildfire Mitigation Plan proposed programs such as preventative land treatments that reduce fuels and break up large contiguous urbanizing fire-prone zones, the creation of defensible space around buildings, and improvements to existing buildings." This and other individual FEMA Best Practices documents are also combined in "Mitigation Best Practices: Public and Private Sector Best Practice Stories for All Activity/Project Types in All States and Territories Relating to All Hazards [August 10, 2011]," which can be accessed at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=683132]

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2005-03-09
• Fact Sheet: Reducing the Threat of Catastrophic Wildfires and Improving Forest Health [December 11, 2002]

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  "The Bush Administration today announced a series of new administrative steps to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires and improve the health of our nation's forests. President Bush today met with Interior Secretary Norton, Agriculture Secretary Veneman and Council on Environmental Quality Chairman Connaughton and directed them to take several important steps to implement the President's Healthy Forests Initiative. These actions will reduce unnecessary red tape and needless delays that have too often delayed efforts to reduce the threat devastating wildfires and insect infestations that damage both public and private lands. The new procedures will ensure that needed environmental reviews and public review processes are conducted in the most efficient and effective way possible."

  United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary

  2002-12-11
• National Wildfire Coordinating Group [website]

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  "The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) is made up of the USDA Forest Service; four Department of the Interior agencies: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS); and State forestry agencies through the National Association of State Foresters. The purpose of NWCG is to coordinate programs of the participating wildfire management agencies so as to avoid wasteful duplication and to provide a means of constructively working together. Its goal is to provide more effective execution of each agency's fire management program. The group provides a formalized system to agree upon standards of training, equipment, qualifications, and other operational functions. The people who originally made up the group were then, and are today, basically staff leaders in agency programs. They are not line officers. In most cases these leaders are the people who have a large influence on the policy and funding of an agency program. Agreed-upon policies, standards, and procedures are implemented directly through regular agency channels. The NWCG elected to operate through 'Working Teams,' a rather nondescript term that doesn't do justice to a tremendous effort. The working team concept has had the greatest effect of NWCG in that it has provided a means for the exchange of knowledge about all dimensions of fire management. Originally, there were 13 working teams. The number of Working Teams and Advisory Groups have been changed to reflect the current NWCG emphasis."

  National Wildfire Coordinating Group (U.S.)
• Wildfire Origin & Cause Determination

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  "Accurate origin & cause determination is an essential first step in a successful fire investigation, and successful fire investigations are necessary in preventing unwanted wildfires. Proper investigative procedures which occur with initial attack can more accurately pinpoint fire causes and can preserve valuable evidence that might otherwise be destroyed by suppression activities. If the fire is human-caused, the protective measures described in this handbook can preserve evidence that may lead to effective and fair administrative, civil, or criminal actions. The investigation must start at the time a fire is reported or discovered. First responders play an important role in protecting evidence, so it is important for the origin and cause investigator to help train all first responders to identify and protect the area of origin of the fire. The NWCG course, FI-110, Wildland Fire Observations and Origin Scene Protection for First Responders, has been developed for first responders and helping deliver that training should be a priority for all investigators. As investigators, we must impress upon firefighters, law enforcement officers and other first responders that the preliminary protection of the general origin area and any associated evidence on any wildfire is their responsibility, and emphasize to them that they are the most important link in the subsequent origin and cause determination. Not only is it important for the first responders to recognize the need for an accurate origin and cause determination, it is important that they understand how their actions, both during and following suppression, can enable a qualified investigator to accurately determine the origin and cause."

  National Wildfire Coordinating Group (U.S.)

  2005-03
• S. Hrg. 113-250: Shortchanging Our Forests: How Tight Budgets and Management Decisions Can Increase the Risk of Wildfire, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, November 5, 2013

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  This is from the November 5, 2013 hearing "Shortchanging Our Forests: How Tight Budgets and Management Decisions Can Increase the Risk of Wildfire" before the Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Using examples and witnesses from Colorado, this hearing examines the risks to forest lands from wildfire as a result of environmental strain: both within the government and within nature. Testimony supports claims that as government finances are strained and forest lands are not properly maintained as a result, risk to infrastructure and nature are greatly affected -- from water supply shortage, erosion and flooding, to invasive plants and wildlife habitat destruction. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jim Hubbard, Sallie Clark, Davey Pitcher, Chris Topik, and Tom Troxel.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• S. Hrg. 113-498: Wildfires: Assessing First Responder Training and Capabilities, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, June 5, 2014

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  This is from the June 5, 2014 hearing on "Wildfires: Assessing First Responder Training and Capabilities" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the hearing webpage: "Given the increasing prevalence of wildfires, primarily in the Southwest and West, it is important that Congress takes a comprehensive look at the training and resources currently provided to firefighters and first responders in at-risk communities. The focus of the hearing was to bring together leaders from state, local, and federal levels to assess present capabilities and discuss ways to ensure robust and adaptable fire prevention and response throughout the country." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jim Hubbard, William Dougan, Kevin O'Connor, and Mike Navarre.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Disaster Information Management Research Center: Fires and Wildfires

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  This web page, provided by the National Institutes of Health Specialized Information Services, features information on fires and wildfires. Information and links are categorized in the following manner: Overview; Preparing for Wildfire; Air Quality; First Responders; Environmental Cleanup and Recovery; Resources from the National Library of Medicine; Información en español; State Information; Animals in Disasters; and Disclaimer. Also included on the page is a "Featured Site".

  National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
• Rising Cost of Wildfire Operations: Effects on the Forest Service's Non-Fire Work

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  "This report documents the growth over the past 20 years of the portion of the Forest Service's budget that is dedicated to fire, and the debilitating impact those rising costs are having on the recreation, restoration, planning, and other activities of the Forest Service. In 1995, fire made up 16 percent of the Forest Service's annual appropriated budget--this year, for the first time, more than 50 percent of the Forest Service's annual budget will be dedicated to wildfire. Along with this shift in resources, there has also been a corresponding shift in staff, with a 39 percent reduction in all non-fire personnel. Left unchecked, the share of the budget devoted to fire in 2025 could exceed 67 percent, equating to reductions of nearly $700 million from non-fire programs compared to today's funding levels. That means that in just 10 years, two out of every three dollars the Forest Service gets from Congress as part of its appropriated budget will be spent on fire programs. As more and more of the agency's resources are spent each year to provide the firefighters, aircraft, and other assets necessary to protect lives, property, and natural resources from catastrophic wildfires, fewer and fewer funds and resources are available to support other agency work--including the very programs and restoration projects that reduce the fire threat."

  United States. Department of Agriculture; United States. Forest Service

  2015-08-04
• LLIS Innovative Practice: Mass Care: Tracking Animals During the Black Forest Wildfire

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  "During the 2013 Black Forest Wildfire in Colorado, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) successfully utilized existing technology to develop a system that tracked and reunited evacuated animals with their owners. On June 11, 2013, the Black Forest Wildfire in El Paso County, Colorado, forced the mandatory evacuation of 500 homes, making it the single most destructive fire in Colorado history in terms of residential properties lost. Animal evacuation and reunification in such situations usually presents considerable logistical and organizational challenges. El Paso County and CDPHE adapted a patient tracking system designed for the Veteran's Administration (VA) to assist with tracking rescued animals. […] El Paso County and CDPHE successfully used the system to track rescued animals throughout the entire event, including back and forth between El Paso and Elbert Counties as the fire moved, and then reunite them with their respective owners during the disaster. Moving forward, CDPHE intends to make minor modifications to this existing system and proposes sharing this resource with local jurisdictions."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2015-09-04?
• FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Nontraditional Wildfire Mitigation in Bastrop County, Texas

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  "On Sunday, September 4, 2011, a firestorm engulfed Bastrop County, Texas, destroying 1,688 homes, burning more than 34,000 acres, and claiming two lives. The Bastrop County Complex Fire was the most devastating wildfire in Texas' history and steps are being taken to protect residents and prevent history from repeating itself. Mike Fisher, Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management Coordinator, says fuel reduction is one action the county is taking to minimize the threat. As dead, fallen vegetative, and tree material accumulates on the ground, it creates a continuous source of understory fuel. When ignited, the resulting fire burns hotter, spreads faster, lasts longer, and covers more ground. When fuel is reduced, fires are less intense. […] The county received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to fund the hazardous fuels mitigation project. 'We targeted nearly 4,000 acres, which we are developing into a north project and a south project,' says Fisher. 'For each project, we conducted an in-depth study of the wildland urban interface to identify the line, area, or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.' He says the developed areas feature a mix of houses located on small, medium, and large lot sizes. […] The HMGP grant has a two-year performance period so Fisher says the county is focusing on what it can do in that timespan. With the funds, the county has designed a mechanical thinning process using skid steers, which are low-impact machines with a mulching head on the front with teeth. Operators grind up the understory and remove undesirable species growing under the tree canopy. In a wildfire outbreak, the fire stays on the ground and does not go into the trees."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2015-09-01?
• Wildland Urban Interface Wildfire Mitigation Desk Reference Guide

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  "The Wildland Urban Interface Wildfire Mitigation Desk Reference Guide is designed to provide basic background information on relevant programs and terminology for those, whether community members or agency personnel, who are seeking to enhance their community's wildfire mitigation efforts. Mitigation happens at all levels -- local, state, tribal, and federal. A combined approach helps achieve fire adapted communities. Individuals, communities, and organizations working together to share and leverage resources and build partnerships are the keys to success. This guide defines terms and identifies resources that are useful in mitigation planning efforts for all lands."

  National Wildfire Coordinating Group (U.S.)

  2014-08
• Wildfire Risk and Hazard: Procedures for the First Approximation

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  "This report was designed to meet three broad goals: (1) evaluate wildfire hazard on Federal lands; (2) develop information useful in prioritizing where fuels treatments and mitigation measures might be proposed to address significant fire hazard and risk; and (3) develop risk-based performance measures to document the effectiveness of fire management programs. The research effort described in this report is designed to develop, from a strategic view, a first approximation of how fire likelihood and fire intensity influence risk to social, economic, and ecological values at the national scale. The approach uses a quantitative risk framework that approximates expected losses and benefits to highly valued resources from wildfire. Specifically, burn probabilities and intensities are estimated with a fire simulation model and are coupled with spatially explicit data on human and ecological values and fire-effects response functions to estimate the percent loss or benefit. This report describes the main components of the risk framework, including the burn probability models, highly valued resource data, and development of response functions, and illustrates the application to the State of Oregon. The State of Oregon was selected for prototype due to the wide range of variability in ecoregions represented in the state. All of the highly valued resource themes were represented in the mix of developed and natural resources present in the state. National risk and hazard approximation results for the Continental United States are available at the following location: www.fs.fed.us/wwetac/wflc/."

  United States. Department of Agriculture; United States. Forest Service

  Calkin, David E.; Ager, Alan A.; Gilbertson-Day, Julie . . .

  2010-03