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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,
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Title: |
Alabama WUI Councils
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Type: |
Homeowner assistance
Firewise community recognition programs
Education
Designation of high risk areas
Demonstration projects
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Jurisdiction: |
County
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State: |
Alabama
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Program Description: |
Background
A primary strategy of the Alabama Forestry Commission to address wildfire prevention in the WUI has been the development of WUI Councils. Two councils have been formed, the Jefferson-Shelby County WUI Council in northern Alabama, and the Southwest Alabama WUI Council representing Baldwin and Mobile counties.
WUI Council--Northern Alabama
The Jefferson-Shelby County WUI Council, formed in 1993, was Alabama�s first coordinated WUI effort. Since then, this council has developed several brochures and other literature to inform the public about fire prevention and home protection in the interface. This council has also trained hundreds of firefighters and land management professionals in National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) courses through the Wildland Fire Academy. Alabama�s first Firewise Community/USA, English Trace, was initiated through the efforts of the Jefferson-Shelby WUI Council.
WUI Council--Southwest Alabama
The Southwest Alabama WUI Council, (SW Council) organized in 2001, has initiated numerous public education programs, as well as homeowner and community assistance projects in Baldwin and Mobile counties.
Education/Outreach
Through efforts of the SW Council, elected officials in Mobile and Baldwin County were informed of the potential for wildfire in their area and briefed on Firewise opportunities. The SW Council also presented WUI information to regional planners. A model planning and development ordinance will be presented to regional planners at the next strategic planning conference.
To assist homeowners, the SW Council has published and distributed several brochures including: Something You Should Know Before You Burn, Are You Firewise?, and a South Alabama Risk Assessment and Hazard Rating Guide.
To promote Firewise education in the classroom, the Council has purchased a portable table-top education display and Smokey Bear costume. Other public outreach/education projects conducted by the SW Council include:
- a Firewise Awareness Day in the Calcedeaver Community,
- an Outdoors Teachers� Workshop on WUI in Baldwin County,
- an essay contest in Mobile County about invasive species in the WUI,
- a WUI exhibit at the Greater Gulf Coast Fair in Mobile, and
- a media blitz reaching over 250,000 people using radio, TV, newspapers and magazine articles about fire prevention in the WUI.
Homeowner and Community Assistance
The SW Council has been very active in assisting communities and homeowners in reducing wildfire risk. These efforts include:
- Assisting homeowners and businesses in the Crossroads Community of Baldwin County with creating defensible space using brush removal, firebreaks, prescribe burning, mowing and chipping.
- Mobilizing the Mobile Botanical Gardens Board of Directors to use hazardous fuel reduction (forestry mowing) and prescribed burning to relieve the wildfire hazard on their property. This situation had threatened an adjacent neighborhood in Spring Hill (Mobile County). Along with reducing fire risk, the project also restored 30 acres of natural longleaf pine.
- Conducting a GIS based hazard assessment in the fire-threatened community of Fort Morgan in Baldwin County.
- Conducting wildfire mitigation treatments at Gulf State Park following Hurricane Ivan; these practices included fuel removal, incineration, prescribed burning, firebreak construction and alternate access rehabilitation.
- In a collaborative effort, the Alabama Forestry Commission, SW Alabama WUI Advisory Council, Gulf Coast Resource Conservation & Development Council, Canterbury Property Owners Association and the Bay Minette Fire Department, are working together to transform an existing sub-division (Canterbury Estates) near Bay Minette in Baldwin County into a safer community. Using education and demonstration projects, these groups are striving to propel the community toward Firewise Communities/USA recognition status.
Future Projects
In the future, the SW Council plans to focus on further development of community hazard assessments and fire mitigation plans. In addition, the Council plans to promote the Firewise Communities/USA program along with the adoption of firewise covenants and firewise land use planning and development ordinances in high fire-risk communities.
Contact Information
Contact Stanley Anderson at [email protected] for more information about the Southwest WUI Council and Gerald Steeley at [email protected] for the Jefferson/Shelby County Council.
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