 United
States Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service |
 Southern Research Station200 W.T. Weaver Boulevard Asheville, NC 28804 |
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Web Site Offers Wildfire Planning Assistance
New Orleans,LA -- The U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station, in cooperation with Louisiana State University, recently developed a new information section in the National Database of State and Local Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Programs Web site, www.wildfireprograms.usda.gov. The section assists community leaders and fire officials develop community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs) and provides a central location to review key features of existing CWPPs.
"Through the CWPP process, community stakeholders can address a wide range of concerns and establish priorities that reduce wildfire risk," says Peter J. Roussopoulos, Station Director. "These plans are critical in helping protect citizens, homes, infrastructure, and natural assets from catastrophic wildfire events."
The user-friendly Web site features a searchable format that allows stakeholders to review existing CWPPs as they formulate strategies to address wildfire vulnerability in their communities. The 2003 Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) promotes development of CWPPs by offering communities that meet HFRA criteria priority consideration for projects and treatment areas identified in CWPPs, as well as a voice in the Federal government's process for selecting wildfire mitigation projects on adjacent public lands. The minimum requirements for a HFRA compliant CWPP include, 1) collaboration of stakeholders in plan development,
2) identification and prioritization of areas for fuel reduction treatments, and 3) recommendation of measures communities and homeowners can take to reduce structure ignitability.
The National Database of State and Local Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Programs serves as a clearinghouse of information about nonfederal policies and programs that seek to reduce the risk of loss of life and property through the reduction of hazardous fuels on private lands. Additional content will be added in the coming months.
For additional information contact Terry Haines, research forester, at (504) 589-6652 or by email at thaines01@fs.fed.us.
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