Each year wildland fires burn millions of acres across the
United States. After the disastrous fires of the year 2000, Congress
appropriated funding initiatives through the land management agencies
to address this issue. We have initiated several of these programs here
in Dorchester County through Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).
Although we often hear of wildfires in the western United
States, the eastern region gets little attention, so a wildfire threat
is not recognized. However, this year alone, Blackwater responded to 18
wildfires to date. The wildland urban fire threat on the Delmarva is
exemplified in the following fires that threatened residences this
year.
- 3/10/02 - Cedar Creek – 1100 acres - threatened Toddville
- 3/10/02 - Prime Hook Delaware – 1200 acres - threatened
400 homes
- 4/26/02 - Shorters Wharf – 20 acres - threatened 9
residences
Rural Fire Department Assistance Grant Program
One of the programs initiated through Blackwater NWR was the
Rural Fire Department Assistance Grant Program. Volunteer Fire
Departments (VFD) with protection responsibilities serving 10,000
people or less adjacent to federal lands were given the opportunity to
apply for grants for assistance. The funds would be used for wildland
fire in the form of training, equipment, supplies, education, and
prevention. In a cost share program, the federal government provided
90% of the funds and the VFD provided 10%.
In 2001, we met with 5 VFD’s and each submitted proposals.
In the Northeast Region of the Fish and Wildlife Service, 20 grants
were awarded. Dorchester County VFD’s were awarded 5 of the 20 grants.
In 2002, 6 proposals were submitted by VFD’s. The funding for 2002 is
not certain.
Communities at Risk
Another program initiated at Blackwater NWR is the
Communities at Risk program. All communities at risk are listed on a
national list on the Federal Register. The following are communities in
Dorchester County that are considered Communities at Risk.
Communities -
- Robbins/Shorters Wharf
- Bishops Head/Crocheron
- Madison/Smithville Rd
- Maple Dam/Bucktown/Key Wallace
Wildland Urban Interface Projects
The final project initiated by Blackwater NWR, were the
Wildland Urban Interface Projects (WUI). In 2002, WUI projects were
submitted through the State. In 2003, WUI projects were submitted
independently of the state. The projects could be on federal or private
lands adjacent to a community at risk. Blackwater submitted proposals
for 6 WUI projects. Four were selected and the other 2 were
accomplished with other funding. The selected projects are listed below
with the proposed acreage, treatment, and the current status.
Projects |
Proposed Acres |
Treatment |
Status |
Robbins/Shorters Wharf |
400 acres |
burn |
501 acres accomplished |
Bishops Head/Crocheron |
10 acres |
contract (burn/mech) |
in progress |
Madison/Smithville Rd |
50 acres |
mechanical |
in progress |
Bucktown/Greenbriar |
115 acres |
burn |
85 acres accomplished |
Maple Dam |
177 acres |
burn |
0 acres |
One of the WUI projects proved successful on April 26, 2002.
A wildfire started by fireworks threatened 9 residences on Shorters
Wharf. These residences were protected from the fire because of the WUI
project that was accomplished earlier in the year.
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