Project Summary Form
Id Number 2006-129
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Prevention & Education Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Clark County Fire District 3
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
B
360-892-2331
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
360-892-7603
Please Call Ahead For FAX
H. Independent School District
I. State-Controlled Institution of Higher Learning
J. Private University
K. Indian Tribe
L. Nonprofit Organization
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
17718 NE 159th Street Brush Prairie, WA 98606
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mr. Ray Steiger Public Information Officer
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Clark County Fire District 3
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
360-892-2331
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
360-892-7603
Call Ahead For FAX
Email:
ray@clarkcofd3.org
Project Information
Project Title:
Wildfire Risk Surveys in the Interface
Proposed Project Start Date:
05/15/2006
Federal Funding Request:
$
7,000
Proposed Project End Date:
10/31/2006
Total Project Funding:
$
9,000
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Brief Project Summary: Who, What, Where, Desired Outcomes in relation to NFP Goals and Community Risk Assessment and
Mitigation Plans (This should summarize page 2).
Conduct Fire Risk Surveys in the wildland/urban interface of Eastern Clark County Washington. This will be a continuation of a
program started in 1991. The area is one of twelve areas in the state at high risk of a major wildland fire with potential for major
property loss. Surveys will be conducted in the presence of the homeowner and advice on improvements will be given at that time.
A goal of 400 homeowner contacts has been established.
Project Location:
Latitude: 45.73792
Longitude: -122.48
County:
Clark
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Congressional District:
3
Telephone number of Contact:
503-231-6234
Describe project, including, but not limited to:
x type of project to be delivered
x project location
x method of delivery
x project relationship to community or natural
landscape fire plans
x target audience
x timeliness
x tools and/or skills needed to complete project
x projected timelines and cost estimation
x monitoring and evaluation procedures
For this project, explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning, through a “Local Coordination
Group.” If you haven’t worked with a local coordination group, why not?
Response:
Much of the eastern half of Fire District 3 is in the forested foothills of the Cascade Range. The area is relatively accessible and is in private ownership. Clark
County is the fastest growing county in the state. Many people are building and living in what has become 1 of 12 areas in the state likely to experience a major
wildfire with major property damage and potential loss of life. This project, if funded, will be year eleven [11] of a program to contact homeowners in this
interface area, and with them conduct a fire risk survey of their home and property.
The area has many homes tucked away amongst the trees, some with very poor access and with no visible addresses. The area is also subject to occasional
strong, drying east winds. We feel a real urgency to inform homeowners of the risks and what they might do to improve their chances of survival.
Previous surveys were conducted through grants provided by USDA Forest Service, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Natural Resources and
Southwest Washington Independent Forward Thrust [SWIFT]. Limited staffing and funding, combined with increasing emergency responses has put a
premium on the time of personnel at the Fire District. It is this that requires we hire at least two temporary summer employees to carry out this program. The
program creates two local jobs. College students have proven to be a good resource for the survey team.
Our goal is to make personal contact with at least 400 homeowners this summer.
Valuable statistical information for pre-fire planning purposes was acquired during the course of the surveys. More importantly was the opportunity to educate
and inform homeowners in the "interface" about ways they can protect themselves and help defend against wildfire. The one-on-one contact was very effective
in convincing homeowners to make necessary fire safety corrections.
The primary objective of this project is public education, about the means homeowners can use to protect their property from wildfire, and to prevent a house
fire from spreading into the forest.
A secondary objective for the Fire District is to gain a more comprehensive vision of problem areas in the event of fire. Factors relating to evacuation,
resources needed, and values involved are critical in pre-fire planning.
Benefits are reduction of loss of natural resources, private property, and human lives.
Short-term outcome is many people will become informed as to what they can do to protect their home. A large percent will take immediate steps to correct
problems.
Long-term outcome is a more fire conscious population and an improvement in conditions in our interface area.
This project is relatively easy to administer and can be used by other communities or agencies. We are willing to help others with the development of their own
program.
The success of this project can be measured by the degree of acceptance of the recommendations given to the homeowner. In previous years, a very high
percentage of homeowners contacted in follow up phone calls either had or said they would make the recommended improvements. The personal contact,
ease and inexpensive nature of simple improvements, combined to make this program a success in the past.
1. Prevention of Wildland Urban Interface Fire (40 points)
Describe how the proposal will lead to:
A. Reduction of wildland urban interface fire
B. Reduction of structural losses
C. Homeowner action and personal responsibility to reduce fire loss of private land.
Response:
The major emphasis of this program is to reduce fire risk and property loss in the wildland/urban interface area of Fire District 3, an
area of approximately 83 square miles. This area has been designated, by the State, as 1 of 12 areas in Washington at high risk of
a major fire with potentially major property loss.
Reduction of fuels around homes, more fire resistant construction, better access and address signing will lead to better fire
protection for homes, land resources and wildlife. It also reduces chance for fire to spread to nearby state and federal lands.
This year's project goal is to contact and work with 400 homeowners.
In the past this program has allowed us to contact about 7,000 homeowners, a high percentage of whom have or committed to
make recommended improvements.
Over the past years, we have seen a remarkable improvement in defensible space around many of the homes in the interface area,
due in large to our effort to inform, educate, and involve the property owners. It is evident that many homeowners have taken steps
to improve their chances of survival. We have been gratified by public acceptance of the program in past years.
Based on the estimated population in the wildland-urban interface and adjacent area we believe 16,000 people directly and
indirectly benefit from this program.
2.
Community Participation (30 points)
Detail the community participation and collaboration for this project. Define clearly why you believe your group
will be successful in delivering the proposal to the target audience. How will the project be sustained or carried
forward beyond project timelines? How will the project be monitored and evaluated?
Response:
This is a program that Fire District 3 has conducted for 11 years, and will continue, as funding is available. We are committed to the
program as we have seen the benefits from it.
As in the past, our outreach will consist of news releases, and our own Fire District Newsletter that reaches everyone within the
District's boundaries. Included in these news releases are local and Portland based media, who have given the fire district excellent
coverage in the past years. This has led to a better-informed public about the need for homeowners to be involved in helping protect
their communities from fire.
In-kind contributions consist of volunteer time estimated at 80 hours, for program coordination, media contacts, homeowner
contacts, and some follow-up after the survey team is finished. It also consists of clerical, benefits, vehicle fuel, uniforms, vehicle
insurance, supplies, and some managerial salary costs.
Our program has become a model for other Fire Districts in Southwest Washington and we have been requested by local federal
agencies to help train others.
This project will be sustained by volunteer employee participation. The Project coordinator through random field checks and
homeowner contacts will do monitoring. The evaluation is completed by the Fire Chief and staff.
3.
Partnerships (30 points)
Detail the level of involvement of any local multi-agency, emergency services, non-profit coordination group, and
provide a list of partners for this project with their current and expected level of involvement, including any kind of
contributions or matching funds. What is the project relationship to a community risk assessment or mitigation
plan? Include the name of the plan, date it was prepared, and local contact to get a copy of the plan if requested.
Response:
State and Federal agencies, including the Pacific Northwest Interagency Fire Prevention Group developed the guidelines we are
using for our surveys. The expertise of these groups in developing the necessary guides for fire safe homes and communities is the
technology we transfer to the private land and homeowners.
The success of this program in helping to prevent the spread of fire and reduce fire loss, can have an immense effect on the
resources of ours as well as other local fire jurisdictions including State and Forest Service.
Our program is a partnership between Fire District 3, our taxpayers and homeowners. We provide the knowledge and
encouragement, they provide the labor.
We have always coordinated our program with projects and programs conducted by Washington State Department of Natural
Resources.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Media Contacts (Ongoing)
Responsible Party
Ray Steiger, Public Information Officer
June 1, 2006 - Oct 1, 2006
Recruit and Hire
Steve Wrightson, Fire Chief
May 15, 2006 - June 1, 2006
Training
District Personnel
June 20, 2006 - June 30, 2006
Survey Team
Start Homeowner Contacts
July 1, 2006 - Sept 1, 2006
Progress Review
Steve Wrightson, Fire Chief
Ray Steiger, Public Information Officer
July 30, 2006
Survey Team
Complete Contacts and Reports
August 25, 2006
Release Survey Team
Steve Wrightson, Fire Chief
September 1, 2006
District Personnel
Follow up as needed
Sept 1, 2006 - Oct 31, 2006
Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Partner 3
Personnel
650 Hours @ $10 hour
Supervision, Clerical
Subtotal
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$1,100
$0
$0
$0
$1,100
$6,500
$1,100
$0
$0
$0
$7,600
$0
$0
$200
$6,500
$6,500
Fringe Benefits
Social Security, Ind. Ins
$0
$200
$0
Unemployment
$0
$0
$200
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$200
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
$500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
$0
$0
$0
$500
$0
$200
$0
$0
$0
$200
$0
$700
$0
$0
$0
$700
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$7,000
$2,000
$0
$0
$0
$9,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Subtotal
Travel
Vehicle Use
1235 mi @ $0 .405
Subtotal
$500
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Printing, Radio Use
Uniforms
Subtotal
Contractual
Subtotal
Other
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program)
Income1
___________________________________
1
Program income is the gross revenue generated by a grant or cooperative agreement supported activity during the life of the grant. Program
income can be made by recipients from fees charged for conference or workshop attendance, from rental fees earned from renting out real
property or equipment acquired with grant or cooperative agreement funds, or from the sale of commodities or items developed under the grant
or cooperative agreement. The use of Program Income during the project period may require prior approval by the granting agency.