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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).
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Title: Volusia County, FL WUI Wildfire Hazard Assessment Guide
Type: Education
Designation of high risk areas
Jurisdiction: County
State: Florida
Program Description: Background

The Volusia County(Florida) WUI Wildfire Hazard Assessment Guide consists of two sections. The first section defines a methodology for conducting subdivision hazard assessments and includes a Wildland Hazard Severity Checklist. The Volusia County Fire Chiefs Association developed this methodology. The second section is a photographic and descriptive guide for assessing the wildland fuels in Volusia County. The Nature Conservancy created this section for the Volusia County Fire Services. Monies donated during the 1998 wildfire season funded the project. The Guide is available for download on the county web site.

Section 1�Assessment and Checklist

Methodology

The hazard assessment methodology is based on the NFPA 299 model code but has been simplified and tailored to assess hazardous vegetation in Volusia County. The goal of the program is to offer a methodology that will result in a uniform, comparative assessment of all interface areas in the county. A five-step procedure for classifying and rating hazardous fuels is described in the first section of the Guide.

  • Step 1 -- The first step involves the identification of areas to be evaluated. Areas to be assessed include: 1) boundary interface areas -- lots within a subdivision that border wildland areas, and 2) areas of development that are intermixed with wildlands within subdivisions. Areas that may not need assessment are described as: 1) individual undeveloped parcels of less than five acres that are completely surrounded by developed land, and 2) intermix areas that are more than 75 percent built-out. The assessment criteria exclude subdivisions of lot sizes greater than 10 acres; these are considered rural and are not assessed as interface areas. The guide makes the point that owners of such parcels should perform mitigation without government assistance.


  • Step 2 -- In the second step, the fuel type and fuel hazard classification are determined using the photographs and descriptive information provided in the guide. The pictorial guide includes four basic fuel classification categories (low, medium, high, or extreme). These categories and are based on fuel vegetation type, fuel loading, and typical fire behavior during dry conditions. These categories are integrated with the Wildland Hazard Severity Checklist (Section 2 below).


    • The BEHAVE model was used to predict fire behavior for the various fuel types. Pictured vegetation types at different hazard levels include: pine flatwoods, sandhill (longleaf pine/turkey oak), oak scrub, short grass, tall grass, dense pine, hardwood swamp, cypress swamp, bayhead/baygall, and hardwood forests at different hazard levels. The photos include a board marked in 1-foot increments that indicate the depth of the fuel bed.

  • Step 3 -- In step 3, the wildfire risk is determined based on the history of wildfires in the assessment area compared to the county as a whole. If the risk is greater for the assessment area than the county as a whole, risk points will be assigned in the wildfire hazard checklist.


  • Step 4 -- In step 4, the wildfire hazard severity checklist is completed (Section 2 below). If conditions are diverse, the guide suggests that each structure be rated and an average calculated for the subdivision as a whole. If conditions are fairly homogeneous, a rating of every fourth structure is recommended and an average for the subdivision as a whole computed.


  • Step 5 -- In step 5, critical facilities are identified that need special protection from wildfire such as power substations or medical facilities. Protection strategies should be formulated for these areas.

Hazard Mitigation Plan

A plan to mitigate hazards, and/or develop fire response/evacuation plans for each assessed area is developed. Suggested strategies include, fuel reduction, building codes, and subdivision regulations. Soliciting the cooperation of private and public land managers, builders and developers is recognized as an essential element of an effective mitigation program. The guide recommends that interface and intermix areas be reassessed on a three year cycle do to the dynamic nature of vegetative management and development.

Section 2--The Volusia County Wildfire Hazard Severity Checklist

Components of the Checklist include: subdivision design elements such as access, road layout, roadway materials, lot size, and signage; vegetative fuel hazard classification and available defensible space; building characteristics including type of roof and soffit vent materials; and water supply factors such as hydrant capacity and location, and distance to offsite water sources if onsite sources are unavailable. A determination of wildfire risk based on fire history is also included on the Checklist. Points are assigned to each of the above criteria and totaled to determine the rating class. A listing of the type of facilities that may need special protection from wildfire is also provided on the Checklist.

Accomplishments

To date, approximately 75 subdivisions/areas of the county have been identified for assessment. They were identified by reviewing aerial photography and by Fire Services personnel familiar with the area. Assessments have been completed for about 45 of the subdivisions identified. Fuels treatments are in various stages of completion in 6 of these areas. Additional assessments have been halted until the completion of the statewide Florida Wildfire Risk Assessment; data from the statewide assessment may enhance the county's process.

Contact Information

For additional information contact James Burnsed, Fuels Mitigation Manager, Volusia County, FL. Phone: 386-736-5940 ext. 2175; Email: [email protected].

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