Enclosure 3C - Project Summary Form
112
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Prevention & Education Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Don Matlick
Oregon Department of Forestry
Phone:
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
A
503-945-74444
FAX:
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
F. Intermunicipal
G. Special District
503-945-7454
Email:
Dmatlick@odf.state.or.us
H. Independent School District
I. State-Controlled Institution of Higher Learning
J. Private University
K. Indian Tribe
L. Nonprofit Organization
M. Other (Specify) _______________________
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
2600 State Street, Salem, OR 97310
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Richard Gibson, Fire Policy and Prevention Manager
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Oregon Department of Forestry
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
503-945-7440
503-945-7454
rgibson@odf.state.or.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Implementation: Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act / Senate Bill 360 in Baker, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa County
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
March 2005
March 2008
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Cost:
$450,000
$300,000
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please prioritize, and explain if the projects are stand alone, sequential, or other:
Yes, this is State priority # 4.
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).
The outcome of this project will be the implementation of the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act / Senate Bill 360
in Baker, Umatilla, Union, & Wallowa Counties, by the end of March 2008. Components of this project include the identification and
the classification of the wildland-urban interface (WUI) followed by a comprehensive education initiative, where individual landowners
will be informed about wildfire problems associated with the WUI and how they can take measures to prevent fires and mitigate
against the risk of wildfire damaging their property. Landowners will then be required to apply specified measures around most
structures in the WUI and then certify that they have done so. The primary component of these measures is the establishment of at
least a 30 foot wide fuel break, in which hazardous and ladder fuels have been substantially eliminated. Landowners will then be
required to maintain and continue their efforts indefinitely.
Project Location (latitude/longitude of project):
County:
Congressional District:
County wide
Baker,Umatilla,Union, Wallowa
Second
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Telephone number of Contact:
Nancy Orr, Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office
503-373-1540 x209
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
 project relationship to community or natural
landscape fire plans
 target audience
 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: Since the early 1970's, Oregon's rapidly growing population and spreading wildland-urban
interface (WUI) have pressured existing structural and wildland fire protection systems beyond their
original design and capacity. As a result, people, property and resources in and near the WUI are at
increasing risk from destructive and difficult to suppress interface fires. Pressures on local government
to deal with property tax system changes in recent years has compounded the problem. In addition,
many property owners in the interface have failed to develop an awareness of their situation nor the
threat from wildfire that they face. As a result, many owners have done little to mitigate fire hazards or
risks on their property, even in high threat, fire prone regions of the state. Such a situation exists in
these four counties, the location of this project.
In response to the growing WUI problem, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Oregon State
Fire Marshal, county governments and others, proposed a comprehensive plan to address the issue from
a variety of perspectives: policy, operations, coordination, education, funding, and statutory. The result
was passage of the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997, more commonly
known as "Senate Bill 360." The Act is unique legislation which calls for the definition and classification
of interface areas, requires that interface property owners make 'reasonable efforts' to protect their
property, and provides the means for establishing adequate, integrated fire protection systems in these
areas. However, the Act was passed without accompanying funds for implementation.
The 'reasonable efforts' required of landowners under the Act have been defined in standards which
landowners will be required to apply on their lands. These standards were developed over a four year
period, in cooperation with a broad based coalition of organizations and individuals, from across the
state. They represented wildland-urban interface homeowners, industrial forest owners, local
government, state government, and the federal government.
In most situations, individual landowners will be required to establish and maintain a 30 foot wide fuel
break around structures located in the WUI. In these fuels breaks, hazardous and ladder fuels must be
substantially eliminated. Additionally, in some situations, fuel breaks of up to 100 feet in width and along
driveways will be required. Landowners must also remove portions of trees which extend to within 10
feet of a chimney or stove pipe, must maintain the areas under decks substantially free of flammable
materials and must store firewood supplies at least 30 feet away from structures.
Implementation in these counties will start with the formation of a local County Classification Committee,
made up primarily of members appointed by the county governing body. After the committee has
identified and classified the WUI areas within the county, individual landowners will be notified of their
status. These landowners will be provided with information concerning the standards they are to apply.
Once notified, a landowner has two years to apply the standards and to file certification that they have
done so. If, after that time, they have failed to apply the standards, they assume a potential liability of up
to $100,000, for the reimbursement of certain ODF firefighting costs, for any fire that starts or spreads
due to their failure to comply. Maintenance is assured by the requirement to renew their certification at
five year intervals.
ODF has been in recent discussions with insurance industry representatives, about possible industry
reliance on the Act's certification provisions to qualify homeowners for fire insurance coverage.
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:
Reduction of wildland urban interface fire:
This project will result in a reduction of both the incidence and the severity of interface fires, for
several reasons. Individual landowners in the WUI will develop a heightened awareness of their
situation and the threat from wildfire that they face. Owners who have previously done little to
mitigate fire hazards and risks on their property, will receive instructional materials on what they
need to do and how they should do it. In addition, there will be legal incentives for them to take the
necessary actions and a timeline in which they must act. The end result will be more WUI
structures surrounded by fuels breaks, less hazardous and ladder fuels and less sources and risk of
fire ignitions.
Reduction of structural losses:
This project will reduce the number of structure losses because of the standards that homeowners
will be required to apply and to maintain adjacent to most structures located in the WUI. The
application of these standards will result in less fire ignitions. When ignitions do occur, or when
wildfire spreads toward a structure, the application of the standards will significantly lessen the
opportunity for a fire to spread, either along the ground or into ladder fuels. Rate of wildfire spread
will also be reduced. All of these factors will enhance the ability of structures to withstand a wildfire
without fire service intervention and will, if it is available, aid in the delivery of much more effective
fire service action.
Homeowner action and personal responsibility to reduce fire loss of private land:
One of the primary outcomes of this project will be the actions that homeowners will be required to
take and the personal responsibility that they must actively demonstrate, in order to apply and
maintain the required standards and to successfully qualify for the needed certification of
compliance.
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:
Detail the community participation and collaboration for this project: The Act itself calls for the promotion,
encouragement, involvement and interaction of all levels of government and the private sector. The
standards which WUI owners are required to apply were developed with the active involvement of many
governments, organizations and individuals. This collaboration is continued by the requirement that the
majority of members of the local County Classification Committee be appointed by the county governing
body. In addition, the standards have additional provisions for local community involvement, in the
application of several different provisions and requirements.
Define clearly why you believe your group will be successful in delivering the proposal to the target audience: In the
end, landowners who fail to apply the standards assume a potential liability of up to $100,000, for the
reimbursement of certain ODF fire fighting costs. In addition, recent discussions with insurance industry
representatives, indicate an interest in industry reliance on the Act's certification provisions to qualify
homeowners for fire insurance coverage.
How will the project be sustained or carried forward beyond project timelines: Landowners are required to
maintain the standards on their property and to complete the certification process once every five years.
How will the project be monitored and evaluated: Through the initial and periodic certification requirements.
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:
Detail the level of involvement of local multi-agency, emergency services, non-profit coordination groups, etc:
Successful implementation of the Act relies heavily on the involvement of local agencies and groups,
beginning with the county governing body which will appoint the members of County Classification
Committee. It is expected that members of the committee with represent additional local agencies,
emergency services and civic organizations. To achieve success in this project, a wide variety of
organizations and agencies need to be drawn together in a unified effort and organization.
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. At the time of this application, community
risk assessments and mitigation plans in Baker, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa Counties, have not yet been
completed. This project has the potential to become the cornerstone of such efforts, because of its board
application across a major percentage of the WUI lands in the county.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Appointment of a County Classification
Committee.
March 2005
County governing body
State Forester
State Fire Marshal
Identification and classification of the WUI
lands in these four counties.
March 2005 to November 2005
County Classification Committee
Public review of the County Classification
Committee's identification and classification
decisions.
December 2005
WUI landowners who will be
required to apply the standards on
their lands.
Notification, to all affected individual WUI
landowners, of the County Classification
Committee's identification and classification
decisions and the standards they must apply
adjacent to their structures.
December 2005 to March 2006
Oregon Department of Forestry
December 2006 to March 2008
WUI landowners, with assistance
from Oregon Department of Forestry,
other fire service and local
government agencies, homeowner
organizations and additional
cooperators.
Application of the standards adjacent to WUI
structures.
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Personnel
Subtotal
79,800
20,000
10,000
10,000
79,800
20,000
10,000
10,000
60,200
30,000
60,200
30,000
20,000
10,000
20,000
10,000
40,000
20,000
40,000
20,000
60,000
26,000
4,000
60,000
26,000
4,000
40,000
16,000
4,000
40,000
16,000
4,000
$300,000
122,000
$18,000
$119,800
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
$90,200
Travel
Subtotal
$30,000
Equipment
Subtotal
$60,000
Supplies
Subtotal
$90,000
Contractual
Subtotal
Other
Subtotal
Total Costs
$60,000
$10,000
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.
,000
$450,000