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Title: |
Firewise Virginia -- Model Communities at Risk Subdivision Regulations
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Regulatory
Firewise community recognition programs
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State
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State: |
Virginia
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Program Description: |
Firewise Virginia
Virginia Department of Forestry is (DOF) working with the Firewise Communities/USA program to develop Firewise communities in Virginia. DOF has established a website Firewise Virginia, to serve as a resource for individuals and communities seeking information on reducing wildfire hazard risk. The website includes instructions on how to become a Firewise Community and information on grants available for mitigation work.
Hurricane Isabel Fire Hazard Education
The website features a link to a Hurricane Isabel Commercial to make residents aware of the wildfire risk from timber downed by Hurricane Isabel. Users can view a 30-second commercial which warns of fire risks especially by children playing with matches, and reminds residents to obey all fire laws. This commercial is being aired in high risk areas.
Model Subdivision Ordinance
Another unique feature of the Firewise Virginia website is the Subdivision Ordinance link to model language for counties to regulate new construction in wildfire sensitive areas. Virginia is the first state to post its model ordinance for vegetation management on the internet.
The Sample Subdivision Guidelines/Ordinances for Communities at Risk requires that any new subdivision or new construction in wildfire sensitive areas must include with the preliminary plat a Wildfire Sensitive Area Plan consisting of a map showing defensible space around any proposed building site, areas to be cleared of vegetation adjacent to proposed roads and driveways, and areas to be cleared adjacent to overhead power lines. Wildfire Sensitive Areas are areas that have been identified by the Virginia DOF as moderate to high risk on their most recent wildfire risk analysis. The defensible space area extends 70 feet in all directions around any residential dwelling or to the property line, whichever is less.
Minimum Vegetative Clearance Requirements in Defensible Space
No vegetation or woody growth within 5 feet of any structure. Firewise ornamental vegetative fuels or cultivated ground cover such as green grass, ivy, succulents or similar plants are allowed provided they do not form a means of readily transmitting fire to any structure.
Tree crowns extending to within 10 feet of any structure shall be pruned to maintain a minimum horizontal distance of at least 10 feet.
Trees shall be pruned to remove limbs located less than 6 feet above the ground surface.
Trees are allowed within the defensible space provided that there is space between the crowns that will preclude fire from traveling crown to crown. Horizontal distance between crowns of adjacent trees should be more than 10 feet.
Fuel Modification Requirements
Any pine or cedar trees within 20 feet of any residential dwelling shall be removed.
All dead trees within the defensible space must be removed.
Vegetation and woody growth under trees shall be removed or cut to a height that will preclude its functioning as a ladder for fire to travel from ground vegetation into the tree crown.
Maintenance of Defensible Space
The model ordinance contains language which requires the owners or lessors of structures to maintain the defensible space. In subdivisions provisions for the maintenance of defensive space must be included in the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CCR) of the property. Additionally, where any new construction or new subdivision is going to be developed in a wildfire sensitive area, fuels should be modified in the entire area.
Other Provisions of the Ordinance
Standards for liquefied petroleum gas installations, roads, driveways and private lanes, fire hydrants, and overhead power lines are also set out in the model ordinance.
GIS Mapping
The state-wide wildfire risk map is shown below. Virginia was one of the first states to conduct an analysis of the entire state dividing it into High, Medium and Low Risk areas.
The goal was for the Wildfire Risk Assessment to objectively reflect the potential for wildfire across Virginia by building a GIS model that assigns relative weights and ranks to input layers. This help DOF perform community Firewise outreach, better allocate resources, and increase response preparedness. Input layers include Slope, Aspect, Landcover, Distance to Railroads, Distance to Roads, Population Density, and Historical Fire Occurrence.
For more information view http://www.dof.virginia.gov/gis/index/shtml.
Contact Information
For more information contact, via email, Fred Turck, or by phone 804-834-2300.
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