Enclosure 3C - Project Summary Form
80
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Prevention & Education Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization: Pend Oreille County
Phone:
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
B
(509) 447-2401
FAX:
(509) 447-2402
Email:
cmack@wsu.edu
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
PO Box 5045, Newport WA 99156
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
F. Intermunicipal
G. Special District
icipal
J. Private University
D. Township
Project
K. Indian Tribe
H. Independent School District
I. State-Controlled Institution of Higher Learning
J. Private University
K. Indian Tribe
L. Nonprofit Organization
M. Other (Specify) _______________________
Coordinator
E. Interstate
Carol Mack, Agriculture Program Coordinator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
L. Nonprofit Organization
WSU/Pend Oreille County ExtensionF. Intermunicipal
Phone:
FAX:
M. Other (Specify) _______________________ Email:
(509) 447-2401
(509) 447-2401
Cmack@wsu.edu
G. Special District
Project Information
Project Title: Pend Oreille County Collaborative Wildfire Education Project
Proposed Project Start Date:
September 1, 2004
Proposed Project End Date:
December 31, 2005
Federal Funding Request: $34,831
Total Project Cost: $65,431
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please prioritize, and explain if the projects are stand alone, sequential, or other:
No
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).
This project is a collaborative educational effort which will result in significantly more woodland homes
prepared to survive wildfire in Pend Oreille County, and increase communication between entities providing
services to these landowners. The Pend Oreille Conservation District will continue to coordinate a Firewise
education week for regional elementary students. WSU/Pend Oreille County Extension will expand the
successful master gardener firewise landscape outreach program and administer the grant. Staff from both
entities will cooperatively facilitate a Pend Oreille County local coordinating group and collaborate with local
community planning efforts led by FireSafe Spokane and the Kalispel tribe.
Project Location (latitude/longitude of project):
County:
Congressional District:
Pend Oreille County, Washington
Pend Oreille
5
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Telephone number of Contact:
Carl Wright, Colville National Forest, Newport Ranger District
Chuck Johnson, WA DNR
(509) 447-7307 Carl Wright
(509) 684-7474 Chuck Johnson
Enclosure 3C (Page 1 of 3) - Project Narrative Description
Applications for funding must include a narrative response that describes the proposal. Please do not submit responses longer than
one page, single space, and 12-pitch font.
Describe project, including, but not limited to:
type of project to be delivered, project location, method of delivery, target audience, project relationship to
community or natural landscape fire plans, timeliness, tools and/or skills needed to complete project, projected
timelines and cost estimation, 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:
This project is a collaborative wildfire education program for schoolchildren and landowners in Pend Oreille
County, Washington. Pend Oreille County will administer the grant through the WSU/Pend Oreille County
Extension Office. This project will provide salary and support to coordinate the WSU Master Gardener firewise
outreach project. The Pend Oreille Conservation District will coordinate a Firewise prevention education week for
regional public and private elementary schools, including home schooled children. Both entities will work
together to facilitate a county level local coordinating group of individuals, agencies, fire districts and other
organizations who work with issues relating to wildfire.
Pend Oreille County is a rural, heavily-forested county that experienced a 32 percent population increase in the
1990s, mostly in unincorporated areas. The U.S. Forest Service is the major landholder, and most communities,
residential developments and individual homes are located in the urban/wildland interface. This project will result
in increased understanding of fire ecology and the urgent need for landowners to take responsibility for firewise
measures around their homes and out-buildings. It will support community fire planning efforts in the county.
Anticipated outcomes include a significant increase in the number of homes prepared to survive wildfires and
greater awareness of fire as a management tool.
This project builds on previous successful educational programs. 2002 USFS Title III funding provided training
for 60 WSU/Pend Oreille Master Gardeners, including 45 newly certified graduates who completed a 50 hour
course of study. These individuals collectively documented 2,480 hours of volunteer community sevice in 2003. In
2004, National Fire Plan funding provided advanced training for these volunteers as forest stewards and firewise
landscape educators, and initiated a firewise education outreach effort. This program includes a quarterly
gardening newsletter to over 1000 households, demonstration firewise landscapes, firewise garden tours, and doorto-door outreach coordinated with local fire districts. The 2005 project will train at least 25 more volunteers,
provide another coached forest planning/advanced training class, and incorporate additional outreach activities into
the firewise education program. In collaboration with the Conservation District, the project will provide firewise
training and will target outreach efforts to assist community plan development in the Bead Lake and Kalispel
Reservation areas as proposed by other local coordinating committee members.
The project will contract Pend Oreille Conservation District to coordinate Fire Prevention Week, providing staff
salary and support. Initiated by federal fire plan funding received in 2003, this event brings together 150
volunteers from county and city fire departments, ambulance services, and state and federal agencies. Over 1,500
Pend Oreille County elementary students will experience the “EDITH” (Exit Drills In The Home) house to learn
about firewise measures including the “Stop, Drop & Roll” technique, and become familiar with emergency
personnel outfitted in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). The project will also provide for teacher use of a fire
education trunk developed in 2003 by the Conservation District.
All programs will be planned and evaluated for short, mid-, and long-term impacts according to WSU Extension
requirements using logic model format. Evaluation measures will include surveys to determine success in meeting
anticipated outcomes and analysis of records from Local Coordinating Group partners. Results will be shared with
the Local Coordinating Group, the Washington Association of Conservation Districts, and with other Extension
offices through WSU Extension briefing reports and through WSU listserves.
This proposal received highest priority ranking in the prevention/education category at a Pend Oreille County
Local Coordinating Group meeting January 27, 2004.
Enclosure 3C (Page 2 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
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:
A. Public education through newsletters, classes, and outreach efforts will lead to greater public acceptance
of fire and other management tools increasing forest resiliency and safety. Less funding will be diverted
to protecting private homes as landowners take greater responsibility. More children and adults will be
aware of fire danger level, burn rules, possible ignition sources and resources for emergency response.
Greater coordination between organizations and agencies at a local level will provide a more unified
message to the public, and a more unified response to wildfire.
B. Landowners will receive a compelling message about the benefits of implementing firewise landscape
designs from a source they respect and trust. Formally and informally implemented plans will result in a
very significant reduction of risk by creating defensible space zones around rural homes. These defensible
space zones will be incorporated into landscape plans designed for easy upkeep and lastibility.
Coordination with local emergency planning and fire districts through the local committee will help
identify barriers such as poor signage or access, design collaborative solutions and find the resources to
implement them.
C. Forest stewardship and coached planning classes will help landowners achieve forest management goals
on their entire acreage. Forest management education through this project will support community
planning efforts to encourage personal responsibility both within and beyond the defensible space zone
around structures. Hazardous fuel conditions will be reduced on private property as community and
individual plans are implemented. The key message we will present through this educational program is
that successful protection of homes and property ultimately rests on landowner readiness prior to the
event.
Enclosure 3C (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
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:
Community participation is reflected in the unusually high amount of volunteer involvement. The
WSU/Pend Oreille County Master Gardener program currently has 60 active volunteers. At least 25 new
volunteers will be added to the ranks in 2005. Pend Oreille Conservation District also will use a force of
about 75-80 volunteers representing citizens, DNR, US Forest Service and fire districts to carry out Fire
Prevention Week activities. These volunteers have accounted for over $5,000 in-kind match in previous
years. Both entities have a successful track record in working with volunteers to accomplish educational
goals. Involvement of volunteer community members as educators greatly leverages basic funding and
multiplies the outreach effort. In addition, it demonstrates wide community support for the message being
presented.
Support for this project in future years will rely largely on grant assistance. Although there is some basic
funding received from county and state, both entities are dependant on “soft” money for the majority of their
budget.
The project will be monitored and evaluated according to WSU Logic Model guidelines. Indicators
measured will include number of individuals and households contacted, number of firewise landscapes
implemented, requests for fuels reduction assistance, and information requests. Local fire districts will be
enlisted to evaluate gains made in wildfire preparedness in their communities.
3.
Partnerships (40 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:
This project funds two local coordinating group entities (WSU/Pend Oreille Extension and Pend Oreille
Conservation District) and provides support for continuing this county-level group. It involves other
coordinating group members as instructors and partners in providing an education/fire prevention message
and in turn, supports their projects. These include FireSafe Spokane, providing instructional and planning
support; The Lands Council, writing individual landowner plans; U.S. Forest Service staff as program
instructors, grant contacts and a link to federal management plans; DNR staff, contractors and crews; local
fire districts; and Pend Oreille County Emergency Services. The Kalispel Tribe is initiating community
planning efforts which mesh well with this project. (The tribe has partnered with WSU/Pend Oreille since
2001 to support a “Sense of Place” landowner education program which includes fire ecology education—
however, since it is through federal EPA funding, it cannot be used as match.) Contributions of time from
local and state organizations and from volunteers will be counted as in-kind match totalling $10,000.
Matching funds will also be documented including county support of the program totaling $10,350 and state
support through WSU totaling $14,250.
“Pend Oreille County Draft Local Hazard Mitigation Plan--Planning for a Disaster Resistant
Community”was released on December 1, 2003. This document, available from the POC Public Works
Department (509 447-4821), was prepared under FEMA guidelines. It is intended as a “live” document and
provides a framework for emergency preparedness planning. Wildfire is recognized as one of the highest risk
hazards in the plan, and expanding the wildfire emergency planning section of this document, including
community plans, is a goal of the local coordinating group. In Table 10-3 of this plan, “Fire Fuel Mitigation
Education-Urban Interface Lands” is scored as one of the highest priority mitigation initiatives.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Coordinate fire education week for Pend
Oreille County elementary schools including
Edith House and fire education trunks.
Incorporate fire resistive plant information in
Conservation District plant sale.
Fall 2005
Pend Oreille Conservation District
Provide 50 hours of Master Gardener basic
training to at least 25 new Master Gardeners,
using curriculum materials integrating
firewise landscaping and forest health
education.
Fall 2004 - Winter 2005
WSU/Pend Oreille Extension
Project coordinator, assistant
Provide coached stewardship planning course
(8 classes, including planning for fire
resiliency) for 20 landowners and as advanced
training for 10 Master Gardeners.
Spring 2005
WSU Extension Forester
Coordinate local FireWise training workshop
for volunteer fire district personnel, Master
Gardener volunteers, landowners and high
school fire fighters.
Fall 2005
WSU/Pend Oreille Extension
Pend Oreille Conservation District
Continue Master Gardener firewise landscape
outreach in collaboration with providers of
individual and community plans. This
outreach will be through website, door-to-door
campaigns, newsletter articles, demonstration
landscapes, garden tours, and county fair.
newsletter article in 4 quarterly issues of
“Gardening in Pend Oreille” by 12/05
Garden tours, fair booth by 9/ 05
Website by 3/05
Demonstration landscape info by 12/05
WSU/Pend Oreille Extension
Develop Pend Oreille Firewise Landscaping
Packet for distribution to landowners. This
packet will include basic landscape design
information, firewise plant lists, templates for
three firewise landscapes, and resource lists
including Conservation District plant sale.
Packet completed by 10/05
WSU/Pend Oreille Extension
Organize and facilitate Pend Oreille County
local coordinating group. WSU Extension
will maintain a listserv to facilitate
communication Pend Oreille Conservation
District will provide a meeting room. Both
will actively solicit community involvement.
Meetings as needed and prior to next
grant cycle. Maintain listserv
Pend Oreille Conservation District
WSU/Pend Oreille Extension
Work with FireSafe Spokane to develop a
PowerPoint presentation about plants,
landscape materials and techniques suitable
for Pend Oreille landowners (and similar
forested areas).
PowerPoint presentation completed by
6/05
WSU/Pend Oreille Extension
FireSafe Spokane
Pend Oreille Conservation District
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Personnel
Partner 1
County
Project Coordinator(s)
Office manager
Subtotal
11,000
2,500
13,500
2,500
2,500
WSU
9,305
Partner 2
Total
Conservation
District
9,305
27,000
Fringe Benefits
Project coordinator(s)
Office manager
Subtotal
1,200
400
1,600
3,164
400
400
3,164
5,600
Travel
PO Extension Office
Peter Griessmann
Subtotal
750
500
1,250
250
250
1,500
1000
1,500
2,500
200
1,500
1,700
4,200
200
600
800
200
300
500
1,600
Supplies
Laptop computer
Paper and office supplies, printing
Subtotal
Supplies
Website fees
Master Gardener training materials
Subtotal
Contractual
Pend Oreille Conservation District
Subtotal
8,900
8,900
8,900
(Subtotal 28,550)
Other
22% administration
Volunteer and in-kind time
Subtotal
Total Costs
6,281
2,781
6,281
5000
5000
2,781
5000
5,000
16,281
34,831
10,350
15,250
5,000
65,431
Project (Program) Income1
(using deductive alternative)
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.