Enclosure 3A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Wildland Urban Interface Fuels / Education and
Prevention / Community Planning for Fire Protection Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Oregon Department of Forestry
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
503.945.7341
503.945.7454
Sboro@odf.state.or.us
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
2600 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97310
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
John Barnes, Assistant District Forester
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Cascade District with Westfir Fire Department, Oakridge Fire Department, and Hazeldell Rural Fire Department
Phone:
541.726.3588
FAX:
541.726.2501
Project Information
Project Title: Upper Willamette Fire Safe Communities
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
Fall of 03
Fall of 05
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$253,000
$309,000
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Yes – Priority # 12 in Fuels Treatment Category
Brief Project Description:
In 2002 three wildfires threatened the communities of Westfir and Oakridge. Six other major wildfires have occurred within 5 miles
of these communities in the last 23 years. The project is a community based effort to reduce the threat to life and property losses
related to wildfires in the rural/urban interface. This project will focus on providing:
 Education and Prevention Information. Education, the most important element, will focus on insuring that residents and land
owners are aware of and motivated to decrease the immediate risk to their investments
 Financial incentives to landowners to complete and maintain defendable space around homes and other structures. This is the
reduction of dangerously high fuel loading immediately adjacent to rural and urban improvements. These fuels may be a
conduit for wildland fires moving toward the interface or they pose a barrier to control efforts. This may include but is not
necessarily limited to the removal of non-native vegetation
 Fire preparedness planning, assessment of equipment needs, and hazardous fuel inventories, GIS mapping. This would build on
agreements between the jurisdictions.
 Implement fuel reduction and vegetation management to reduce risk of ignition and reduce the resistance to control in both the
urban interface and natural landscapes near structures. This element focuses on the long-term maintenance of the vegetation
and very limited small prescription burns to reduce fuel loading.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
Near Oakridge and Westfir, Oregon
County:
Lane
Congressional District:
4
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1) x Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
(2) x Wildland Urban Interface Education and Prevention Project
(3) x Community Planning for Fire Protection Project
(4)
Fuels Utilization and Marketing Project
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Hazeldell ranges from the Oakridge Airport going northeast to and including High Prairie which is surrounded by
USFS Willamette National Forest. See maps
Enclosure 3B (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:
 project location
Address these
 project implementation
items as
 anticipated outcomes
applicable:
 measures and reporting
 interagency partners





project relationship to community or natural landscape fire plans
project time frames and income
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
Response:
Location: Eastern Lane County about 40 miles southeast of Eugene in and near the communities of Westfir and
Oakridge. Eight areas have been identified as high priority for these projects. SEE MAPS
Relationship To Community Plans: A phase of this project is to develop a collaborative fire plan by the Westfir,
Oakridge, and Hazel Dell Fire Departments, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA), the Union Pacific Railroad, and the USDA Forest Service (USFS).
Implementation: Community action groups, local volunteers, and contractors in cooperation with the partners would be
used to coordinate and implement educational, planning, inventorying, and fuel hazard reduction.
Activities And Equipment Used:
 Education: FIREWISE workshop, door to door campaign, public meetings, and financial incentives.
 Fire Preparedness Planning: Inventories of fuel hazards, equipment needs, access, structures, technical advice, and
integration of other plans.
 Implementation: Response maps, pond development, creek access for water fills, right of way brushing, hazardous
fuel treatment, disposal, and monitoring. Use of trucks, chippers, mechanical hand tools, chain saws, Lane County
inmate crew, state and federal crews, etc.
Outcomes:
 Rural/urban improvements that are fire safe and defendable from a self-empowered and self-reliant community
working together.
 Fire Preparedness Plan. The project will integrate local, state, and federal land management plans as well as preattack, response, and suppression activities in the rural/urban interface
 Restoration of native vegetation in selected parts of the BPA right -of-way, Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way,
and federal land. Includes removal of non-native vegetation and the introduction of prescribed fire back into fire
evolved vegetation regimes to reduce hazardous fuel loading.
 A long-term vegetative management plan for the USFS lands adjacent to the communities of Oakridge, Westfir and
homes in the unincorporated area of the Middle Fork Ranger District, Willamette National Forest.
 Community support for these efforts and excellent working relations between the agencies participating in the
program.
Measures And Reporting:
 Acres treated, plans developed and implemented, mitigation of fire hazards around structures most of which are
homes. Reporting will be done collectively by ODF, fire departments, and the USFS.
Partners:
Oregon Department of Forestry, Hazeldell Rural Fire Department, Oakridge Fire Department,
Westfir Fire Department, USDA Forest Service,
Time Frames: The education and planning will start in the fall of 2003. Defendable spaces and native plant restoration
will begin in the spring of 2004. Fuel reduction will occur in fall 2004 and into the 2005 season. Long term vegetation
management and establishment of limited native forest functions will occur over a twenty year period. Funding sources
beyond the grant include USFS, ODF, local grants, and community sources.
Enclosure 3B (Page 2 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following four criteria. Within each criterion, subcriteria are listed in descending order of importance. Limit your responses to the areas provided.
1. Reducing Fire Risk. (40 points))
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas or communities, or natural landscapes.
Describe how the proposed project benefits resources on federal land or adjacent non-federal land, or how it protects the safety of communities.
To what extent does the project implement or create a cooperative (1) fuels treatment plan or (2) community fire strategy (include evidence of the plan if it
already exists)?
Explain to what extent the affected community or proponent has been involved or plans to involve the affected community in a qualified fuels education
program (e.g., FIREWISE).
Explain how the proposal (1) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (2) mitigates or leads to the mitigation of hazardous fuel
conditions.
How will the proposed treatments or programs be maintained in future years?
A. Education of homeowners in the rural urban interface will motivate them to be self-empowered to reduce
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
hazards and fuels on their properties creating defendable space. A FireWise Workshop will be planned for
community enrichment.
Willamette National Forest and private timber holdings surround Westfir, Oakridge, and unincorporated
Hazeldell. Seven major human caused fires within 5 miles of these communities in the last 25 years show the
need. Reducing fuel loading, restoring native vegetation, and prescribed fire will reduce risks to all lands in the
area.
The local fire departments, ODF, and the USFS have a very collaborative relationship. Interagency plans exist
for the Federal Lands and lands protected by ODF. This project will build on those cooperative relationships to
develop a comprehensive pre-suppression plan for the three fire districts in cooperation with ODF and the
USFS.
The community is developing and submitting this application through the ODF.
Once the fuels are reduced appropriate use of mechanical and limited fire treatments can be used to keep fuel
loading at low risk levels and to keep the native vegetation in a condition that would be of low resistance to
controlling wildland fire. Hand crews, machines, roadside burns, and propane burners may be used to mitigate
hazardous fuels and the ensuing buildup.
The adjacent Forest Lands can be managed to minimize fuel buildup by the ODF and USFS. The local fire
departments will continue to work with rural homeowners to maintain defendable spaces and fire safe homes.
2. Increasing local capacity. (30 points)
A. How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable economic
activity? How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long (please distinguish between essentially yearround and seasonal jobs)? How will this proposal link to other projects (or proposed projects) to create year-round jobs?
B. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities or natural landscapes?
C. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response:
A. Contractors in the area struggle to keep busy year round. Additional contracting opportunities for
brush disposal and fuel reduction can lead to employment in an area of high unemployment over the
next 3 years. Coordinators involved with contract preparation and administration could be employed
for a couple of years.
B. Once this project is successfully underway it is anticipated that the volunteer fire departments of
Lowell and Dexter will work with ODF and the USFS to initiate a similar effort for their
communities. Other communities will be welcome to visit with project folks and see the results.
C. It is possible that the biomass from chipping could be used in local landscape projects and or to
provide mulching for newly planted native vegetation. During the planning a market analysis could be
done for utilization of products as a result of fuel reduction.
Enclosure 3B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
3. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (15 Points)
A. Describe how this project implements a local intergovernmental strategy or plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if it
already exists.
B. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning through a “Local Coordination Group” for wildland fire
activities, or among federal, state, tribal, local government and community organizations. List the cooperators (a detailed list of
cooperators will be required for projects that are funded).
Response:
A. This project will create an interagency strategy for managing fuels in and adjacent to the three rural fire
departments: Westfir, Oakridge and Hazel Dell. The Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S.
Forest Service are cooperators and will provide technical support to the plan development.
B. In 2002 three wildfires threatened the community of Westfir. The suppression effort involved the
USFS, ODF, the Westfir volunteer fire department, the Oakridge volunteer fire department, the Lowell
volunteer fire department and the Dexter volunteer fire department. This project has evolved out of a
request by the City of Westfir to the USFS to insure that fuel loading from the fire did not hamper future
fire control efforts. The communities, rural fire departments, and government agencies involved see the
need and the opportunity to make a difference in the amount of defendable space and fire safe homes in
this area through education, fuel reduction, and the maintenance of native vegetation so that future
accumulations of vegetation are managed at a low risk levels.
Interagency Partners & Other Cooperators:
 Oregon Department of Forestry, Hazel Dell Rural Fire District, Oakridge Fire Department, Westfir Fire
Department, USDA Forest Service, Lane County Road Department, Lane Electric Cooperative, Oregon
Department of Transportation, Oregon Department of Aviation, Lane County Sheriff Emergency
Services, Union Pacific Railroad, BPA
4. Expanding Community Participation. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested individuals, groups, and communities been provided an opportunity to
become informed and involved in this proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support or opposition for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements.
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits or concerns of the project?
Response:
A. This proposal was developed cooperatively between the Fire Departments of Oakridge, Westfir and
Hazeldell Rural with technical support from the ODF and the USFS. The mayors of Oakridge and Westfir
have reviewed the proposal. The proposal was presented to the Westfir City Council. A field trip to visit
the Coburg Hills Project is schedule for February 22, 2003. The trip will be led by ODF and attended by
the Mayor of Westfir along with fire chiefs of each of the three fire districts. Calls to other cooperators and
partners are proceeding.
B. The local community supports this project as evidenced by the participation of the fire chiefs and mayors in
the development of the proposal. The ODF and the USFS have committed to provide technical support.
The USFS is submitting a companion proposal to the Willamette/Mt Hood Resource Advisory Committee
for funding fuels reduction work.
C. This project will help reduce fuel buildup and educate the local community on fire safe practices as well as
the ecological importance of fire and long-term forest health. Non-native vegetation will be replaced by
native vegetation and the livability and safety of the community will be enhanced. If these measures are
successful in the short-term there is a chance that communities will become complacent about accumulating
fuels in the long-term. Future fuels management should be brought to the communities in an inspirational
mode so that landowners remain interested in participating.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Develop project action plan
Oct 03 through April 04
FDs, ODF, USFS
Door to Door campaign
Oct 03 through July 04
FDs, ODF, USFS
Public Meetings
Nov 03 through Feb 04
FDs, ODF, USFS
Education
April 04 through July 04
FDs, ODF, USFS
Defendable Space and Non-Native
plant eradication
May 04 through Oct 05
FDs, ODF, USFS
Improvements
July 04 through Oct 05
FDs, ODF, USFS
Fuels Treatment – Prescribed Burn May 05 through Oct 05
FDs, ODF, USFS
Final Project Report
FDs, ODF, USFS
Dec 05
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Eastern Lane ODF
Westfir and
Oakridge FDs
Hazeldell RFD
89,895
20,000
7,500
5,000
89,895
20,000
7,500
5,000
8,105
8,000
750
500
8,105
8,000
750
500
Training/ coordination
7,500
1,000
500
250
Subtotal
7,500
1,000
500
250
Use/Rental
20,000
1,000
1,000
500
Subtotal
20,000
1,000
1,000
500
22,500
10,000
5,000
15,000
2,500
500
3,000
1,500
500
2,000
1,000
500
1,500
21,500
Personnel
Subtotal
Total
122,395
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
17,355
Travel
9,250
Equipment
Supplies
Fuel, paper
Maintenance
Subtotal
Contractual
Fuel Reduction
contracts
treatment
Subtotal
105,000
105,000
105,000
Other
Public Education
Materials/mailings
Subtotal
7,500
1,000
1,500
1,000
7,500
1,000
1,500
1,000
11,000
Total Costs
$253,000
$34,000
$13,250
$8,750
$309,000
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.