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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: |
Kittitas County, WA -- Junior Firewise Educational Program
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Type: |
Education
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Jurisdiction: |
County
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State: |
Washington
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Program Description: |
Junior Firewise Program
In Kittitas County, Washington, the fire professionals, including representatives of US Forest Service, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and Kittitas and Yakima County Fire Marshals, worked together to create an educational program they call "Junior Firewise Workshop".
The program is geared to 8th graders, and introduces them to Firewise principles, (such as maintaining defensible space around a home and building with fire-resistant construction materials), and contributing factors such as: weather, slope, vegetative fuels, building types and construction. A multi-agency teaching group made up of local fire professionals spent one week teaching in the Cle Elum/Roslyn School District. In the first year of the program, 80 students and future homeowners were introduced to firewise living.
Student Firewise Projects
The highlight of the program was the final project, in which the children constructed model houses on a scaled lot, at a predetermined slope, using available construction materials, and landscaped with twigs from local trees and plants. The scale models were designed and built with Firewise principles in mind. Then the children watched as the fire fighters set each lot on fire with a large LPG weed burner torch! All the model firewise homes survived the torch test, but the demonstration house, build by the instructors to display unsafe conditions, burned to the ground. This exciting educational experience will be one the children remember for years.
Contact Information
For more information contact, via email, Derald Gaidos or Matt Eberlein.
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