Firewise

[blue80]

Just wondering if anyone has done work through/for the national Firewise program, I think its http://www.firewise.org

65% state grants and then homeowners can get other grants for the rest in some areas. I’m not much for the state paying for homeowners to clean up their own properties, but I don’t have all the solutions either. Can’t “make” people work on their property…..

Locally, we have 2 miles of 30% slope along a bench in town that is “priority” for Bighorn County, and Firewise has already been funded. Now, how to get the homowners to all get together and get the work done so its not 60 separate plans… Some say they want the work done, some want it done if they don’t have to pay anything, some say “stay off my land”
Forester on the project is http://www.wytfs.com, Scott have you done any work with them? Draft animals seemed to be a new idea to them but they seem interested. Thought I’d see if their are any case studies I could use from the/a similar program as leverage…

Thanks, Kevin

[Scott G]

Kevin,

Fire mitigation work has been my bread & butter, although not by choice, both when I had my mechanical operation, and to some extent now with the horse operation. As a forester, it is a huge part of what I deal with on a regular basis. It has become a component of pretty much every project we do.

Firewise is a national program that has slowly but steadily gained momentum through the years. CO was involved to some extent, touting “Firewise Communities”. Now the CSFS pretty much takes the lead not necessarily following the Firewise template. I know NM & WY pretty much use what Firewise provides as program models.

Fuel Management is the #1 driver in the west right now for forestry. Something I don’t necessarily agree with but that would take a long time to explain why. In short, fire is (should be) a component of forestry, not the other way around.

That said, defensible space around homes and strategic shaded fuelbreaks around communities are one of the largest opportunites for horse loggers in the west that there is. These treatments require high aesthetics and low-impact harvesting techniques if they are implemented correctly. In essence, it is backyard forestry…

Ray Pilcher of Devil’s Tower did quite a bit of fuels work in the area with his horses for the Firewise program. You may want to try to track him down for more info if you want a take on the local situation.

Don’t have his contact info handy but if you Google him you’ll get it.

[Author]

Posts