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:
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
509.427.4609
509.427.7429
steve@columbiagorge.org
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
P. O. Box 396, Stevenson, Washington 98648
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Steve Greenwood, Education Director
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
509.427.4609
509.427.7429
steve@columbiagorge.org
Project Information
Project Title:
Yacolt Burn of 1902: Could It Happen Again?
Project Start:
Project End:
July 1, 2002
June 30, 2003
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$72,400.00
$110,620.00
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Yes
Brief Project Description:
A partnership between the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, USDA Forest Service,
Washington State Department of Natural Resources, U. S. Fish and Wildlife, and local fire
departments will create and implement the "Yacolt Burn of 1902: Could It Happen Again?" project.
There are two goals of this collaboration: (1) Capitalize upon the hundredth anniversary of the
Yacolt Burn to reduce fire risk in the wildland urban interface by implementing fire prevention
education in the school districts and communities of Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania Counties, which
have been identified as areas of high wildfire risk. (2) Create a unique partnership which combines
the resources and staff from local, state, and federal government agencies with a non-profit
organization.
Project Location:
County:
Congressional District:
Southwest Washington
Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania
Third
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1)
(2)
Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
Wildland Urban Interface Education and Prevention Project
(3)
(4)
Community Planning for Fire Protection Project
Fuels Utilization and Marketing Project
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
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, 12-pitch font.
Describe project including, but not limited to:
 project location
Address these
 project implementation
items as
 anticipated outcomes
applicable:
 measures and reporting
 partners





project income
project time frames
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
Response:
If the project is funded, the following will be accomplished by the end of 2003. During the months of July
and August, table top displays will travel to county fairs in Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania Counties. These
displays will use historical photographs, journal entries, and newspaper articles on the Yacolt Burn of 1902 to
focus people's attention on panel information and brochures that will provide public education on wildland
urban interface fire prevention and mitigation. The partnering organizations will assist in creating and
distributing a newspaper insert that describes the history of the Yacolt Burn, includes a self-guided driving
tour, and lists fire prevention tips targeting at risk communities. Coinciding with the traveling table top
displays, community adult education seminars focusing on fire prevention for local homeowners will be
presented in Clark and Skamania Counties throughout the summer. These seminars will provide site-specific
information to educate homeowners of the potential for fire at different times of the year, in different weather
conditions, and at different vegetation levels. The table top displays, seminars, and newspaper inserts will
reach thousands of people, and the partnering organization will keep a detailed record of the number of
people who attended each event.
These activities will set the stage for a commemorative exhibit at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center that
will run from September - November; then, it will travel to other museums throughout the Pacific
Northwest from December 2002 through December 2003. This exhibit will (1) focus on the history of the
Yacolt Burn, (2) include information on more recent forest fires, (3) consider the question: Could it
happen again? (4) provide fire prevention and mitigation education. The Interpretive Center will develop a
curriculum based upon the exhibit to assist teachers who bring school groups to the museum. The
Interpretive Center will incorporate the unique perspective of living history characters, such as a forest
firefighter or a survivor of the Yacolt Burn, to add life to the event. Coinciding with this exhibit, the
Interpretive Center will host three teacher workshops targeting elementary and middle schools. The
workshops will focus on (1) the history of the Yacolt Burn (2) how to incorporate fire prevention education
into the curriculum (3) how to incorporate the historical event into the curriculum with specific reference to
the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements and outdoor school courses. The
Interpretive Center will also host an adult education seminar that will include a panel of experts to discuss the
history of the Yacolt Burn and address the question: Could It Happen Again? By September, the partnering
organizations also will have website information posted on the Yacolt Burn of 1902.
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. Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas or communities.
B. Describe how the proposed project benefits resources on federal land or adjacent non-federal land, or how it protects the safety
of communities.
C. To what extent does the project implement or create a cooperative fuels treatment plan or community fire strategy (include
evidence of the plan if it already exists)?
D. 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).
E. Explain how the proposal (a) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (b) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous fuel conditions.
F. How will the proposed treatments be maintained over time?
Response: This
project will tailor this "teachable moment" to a variety of audiences, formats, and venues to
promote fire prevention in three of twelve Washington state-designated areas that are a high risk for fire and
large-scale property loss. The project collaborators will teach four fire prevention education seminars for
homeowners that will reach 200 community members. By the end of 2003, the teacher workshops and
curriculum will reach at least 60 teachers in Southwest Washington; who, in turn, will teach 2,500 students.
The museum exhibit has the potential to reach over 8,000 people during the months of September, October,
and November. As a traveling exhibit, it could top 50,000 people during the 2003 calendar year. In
December 2002, the curriculum will accompany the exhibit and become public domain by posting it on the
museum's website. The table top displays featuring the Yacolt Burn and forest fire prevention will reach an
estimated 75,000 people at the Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania County Fairs. With a daily circulation capacity
of 52,000, the newspaper insert in the Columbian will interpret the Yacolt Burn, explain how to reduce forest
fire hazards for homeowners, and present a map of the Burn. Based upon estimates from the collaborators, a
link to information on the Yacolt Burn and fire prevention could receive 300,000 hits. By diversifying the
format for fire prevention education, a safe estimate is over 487,760 people could be reached by this project.
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)?
B. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities?
C. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response: Funding
from this grant, will increase visitation to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. This
will improve the museum's fiscal stability and have a trickle down effect for businesses throughout the
Columbia River Gorge. Contractual agreements with local businesses and contracts will generate revenue for
the local economy.
This grant will also compliment the educational efforts of Firewise, the 2001 and 2002 Southwest
Washington DNR fuels mitigation grant, and Clark County Fire District #3's "Wildfire Risk Surveys in the
Interface" project.
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 plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if it
already exists.
B. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning among federal, state, tribal, local government and
community organizations. List the cooperators.
Response: This
project manifests a high level of cooperation, coordination, and strategic planning by the
principal partners: Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Washington Department of Natural Resources,
USDA Forest Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife, and the Southwest Washington Prevention Council. The
project corresponds with elements of the two-year Strategic Plan of the Southwest Washington Fire
Prevention Council and the Southwest Region Department of Natural Resources Fire Prevention Plan. In
writing this grant, the collaborators have convened three meetings lasting a total of thirteen hours to generate
ideas, discuss logistics, establish a timeline, distribute tasks, and agree on a fiscally responsible budget. At
every step of the process, the partnering government agencies have demonstrated a zeal for implementing
ideas into action. It is hoped that this unique partnership will serve as a model for how organizations with
different missions can work together to achieve a common message which is mutually beneficial. The goal is
to educate people on how to protect life, property, and resources from forest fires and establish a framework
for future partnerships to benefit the public.
4. Expanding Community Participation. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested people and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and involved in this
proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements.
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits of the project?
Response: Prior to
the first meeting, DNR invited a variety of people and organizations to the planning
committee. The participants included representatives from museums, academic institutions, local fire
departments, three government agencies, and the Columbian. Everyone was given the opportunity to voice
what they wanted the Yacolt Burn Project to address. This project is supported by a diverse consortium of
local interests such as the Mid-Columbia Fire Prevention Coop, Southwest Washington Fire Prevention
Council, Skamania County Commissioners, Skamania County Historical Society, Vancouver Fire
Department, Fire District # 3, and Cowlitz Fire District #1. Educ. Service District 112 is working with the
project in an advisory capacity. The cost-sharing arrangement among the partners consists of in-kind
contributions in terms of time, money, and materials. The project will provide different types of education for
people of all ages. The displays and museum exhibit will provide an historical context for educating people
on forest fire mitigation. Interpreting the past will serve as a bridge for making information relevant for
people in the present and future. By updating the curriculum on the Yacolt Burn, we will reference the state
learning requirements in Science and provide a foundation to target the science kit program "Environments."
The teacher workshops act as a catalyst to reinforce the curriculum. Adult education will consist of a balance
of fire prevention education for homeowners with individual and panel presentations.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Make table top display
Develop resource list and recruit living history
characters
Determine speakers/sites, workshop schedule,
time/place for adult education seminars, panel
of experts format
June 3 - June 21, 2002
June 3 - June 28, 2002
Interpretive Center(CGIC)/DNR
CGIC
June 3 - June 14, 2002
CGIC/DNR/USFS/USFW
Funding begins
Market adult education seminars
1st adult education seminar
2nd adult education seminar
3rd adult education seminar
June 30, 2002 - June 30, 2003
June 17 - August 14, 2002
July 11, 2002
July 18, 2002
August 1, 2002
CGIC
CGIC/DNR/USFS/USFW
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator
Table top displays
Develop/complete newpaper insert
4th adult education seminar
Website posted on CGIC
August 1 - August 31, 2002
August 5 - August 23, 2002
August 14, 2002
August 19 - September 3
DNR/USFS/USFW
CGIC/DNR/USFS
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator
Research, design, and construct Yacolt Burn
Exhibit
Workshop flyer to WA school districts
targeting 5th grade environments
program/Expert panel presentation flyer
July 1 - August 11, 2002
CGIC
August 5 - August 9, 2002
CGIC
Curriculum development on Yacolt Burn
Yacolt Burn Exhibit at CGIC
Newspaper insert published
Prepare workshop materials
Market workshops
August 12 - September 1, 2002
September 3 - December 3, 2002
September 8, 2002
September 9 - 13, 2002
September 9 - October 31, 2002
CGIC/DNR/USFS/USFW
CGIC
CGIC/DNR/USFS
CGIC/DNR
CGIC
1st Teacher workshop
Expert panel
2nd Teacher workshop - WSU Vancouver
3rd Teacher workshop
September 14, 2002
September 28, 2002
October 5, 2002
October 19, 2002
CGIC
CGIC
CGIC
CGIC
Traveling Yacolt Burn Exhibit
December 9 - December 2003
CGIC
All partner contributions are in-kind
Applicant - CGIC
Partner 1, line 2 - USFS
Partner 1, line 3 - USFW
Partner 2 - WDNR
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Personnel
(Project Coord./Curr. Dev.,
Exhibit, Table Top Display)
Subtotal
$16,000.00
$16,000.00
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
$6,585.00
$6,225.00
$5,725.00
$11,950.00
$10,185.00
$6,585.00
$10,185.00
$16,000.00
$22,995.00
$5,725.00
$44,720.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$125.00
$125.00
$0.00
$16,125.00
$375.00
$16,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$33,400.00
$0.00
$33,400.00
$0.00
$7,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$7,000.00
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
$0.00
Travel
(School Bus Transportation)
$16,000.00
Subtotal
$16,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$125.00
$125.00
$125.00
$125.00
$250.00
Equipment
Subtotal
$0.00
Supplies
(Exhibit, Table Top Display)
$33,400.00
Subtotal
$33,400.00
Contractual
(Newspaper insert,
Education seminars)
Subtotal
7000
$7,000.00
Other
(Facility Use)
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$6,000.00
$3,000.00
Subtotal
$0.00
$6,000.00
$3,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$9,000.00
$0.00
$9,000.00
Total Costs
$72,400.00
$12,710.00
$15,200.00
$10,310.00
$110,620.00
Project (Program) Income1
(using deductive alternative)
1
$0.00
Total
$0.00
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.