|
Home |
Search the Database |
Display Index |
Contact Us |
Database Login
|
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. If
you would like to submit a program to the national wildfire programs database,
please complete the following form (MS
Word).
Return to your search results or Perform a new search
|
Title: |
Anchorage Wildfire Partnership
|
|
Type: |
Fuelbreaks
Education
Designation of high risk areas
Community Planning
|
|
Jurisdiction: |
City/town
|
|
State: |
Alaska
|
|
Program Description: |
Spruce Bark Beetle Infestation
Anchorage, Alaska faces the threat of catastrophic wildfire caused by the infestation of over 2.3 million acres of Alaskan wildlands by the Spruce Bark Beetle. Large expanses of dead and dying trees exist in the Anchorage Municipal area. With FEMA grant money, in 1999, Anchorage Fire Department removed dead trees from area parks and subdivisions, created a 100 foot wide firebreak around Hillside subdivisions, and cleared dead trees along park trails.
Firewise of Alaska, Anchorage 10 Year Plan: 2001-2011
Fuel reduction work continues with new projects each year to reduce the load of dead trees in high hazard areas. Anchorage Fire Department is coordinating its efforts with other agencies and the Anchorage Soil & Water Conservation District, to create and implement the "Firewise of Alaska, Anchorage 10 Year Plan: 2001-2011." The plan focuses on reducing fuel hazards loads, educating the public, preparing the necessary infrastructure for fire suppression, wood utilization, and restoration and maintenance. The 10 Year Plan can be found on the web site.
Public Education
To facilitate the Plan, committees were formed. The Anchorage Wildfire Partnership is a consortium of organizations working together to mitigate potential fire losses. It focuses on Public Education, Fuel Reduction, Fire Fuel Mapping and Fuel Behavior Modeling, and Wildfire Operations Planning. In addition to distributing literature about Firewise living, the partnership is running news stories and public service announcements on local TV, radio, and in newspapers, and advertises fire safety on bus signs, coffee cup wrappers, and cinema slides. Representatives conduct presentations to homeowner groups and appear at public events such as fairs and festivals. Anchorage is providing free chipping and woodlot disposal to people creating defensible space. In 2001, 10,000 people used this service.
Mapping the Risk
The Fire Science Team of Anchorage (FST) is a local team of experts with experience in fire management, fire prevention, forestry, wildlife and cultural resources. The FST is working with the Modeling & Mapping Committee to determine high risk areas, and create a Wildfire Hazard Assessment Map. The map will be available in May, 2002 and synthesizes information including vegetation, topography, fire response times and other factors to identify high hazard areas.
These high hazard areas will then become Firewise Communities, using the information contained in the Firewise Alaska document to reduce risk through firesafe living.
Defensible Space Education
The Firewise Alaska Booklet contains information on creating defensible space landscaping, firesafe construction, emergency water supply, access and signs, home planning, and what to do when wildfire threatens. A fire-resistant vegetation and landscaping guide is included.
The Fire Education Corps, a division of the Student Conservation Association will distribute the Firewise Alaska information house to house, provide technical assistance, and offer wildfire risk assessments to homeowners this summer.
Contact Information
For more information, call Sue Rodman, of the Anchorage Fire Department, at (907)267-4902, or contact her at her E-mail address: [email protected].
|
|
