Enclosure 3A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Wildiand Urban Interface Fuels I Education and
Prevention / Community Planning for Fire Protection Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Ralph Sampson, Jr., Yakama BIA
Phone:
Email:
FAX:
509.874.8889
1509.874.8892
1
Address (Street or P. 0. Box, City, State, Zip):
990 West White Swan Rd., White Swan, Wa, 98952
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Ralph Sampson, Jr., Fuels Program Manager
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Yakama BIA, Yakama Agency
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
509.874.88DUcul
1 509.874.8892 1
Project Information
Project Title:
Developing an Interagency Network Coop for the Protection Trust and Non-Trust Lands
Project Start:
Project End:
June 2002
September 30, 2002
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$776,550.00
0
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Brief Project Description:
The Yakama Nation Lands are a checker board of mixed ownerships, comprised of Allotted, Trust
and Non-Trust lands. Protection primarily lies with Yakima County Fire Dist. 5 with areas of mutual
protection with Bureau of Indian Affairs. The project involves the development of an Interagency
cooperative for the protection of homes (Trust and Non-Trust), property (Trust and Non-Trust), and
resources. The development of a seasonal interagency staff would assist in the reduction and/or
mitigation of fire hazard within White Swan and surrounding community. Interagency crews would
assist in the development of a database that would include locations of residences, improvements
and hazards, useful data for both agencies. Public education would be an interagency effort
utilizing fire prevention tools such as Smokey, Sparky, and Freddy. Local media, events in schools
and the community would be utilized to assist in public education concerning fire hazards and
preventative measures such as defensible space and structure prepardness.
Project Location:
County:
Congressional District:
I
Yakama Nation Lands
Yakima
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1) V'Aldland Urban Interface Fuels Project (3) 0 Community Planning for Fire Protection Project
(2) Wldland Urban Interface Education and Prevention Project (4) 0 Fuels Utilization and Marketing Project
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Enclosure 3B (Page I 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:
Address these
items as
applicable:
0
0
0
0
0
project location
project implementation
anticipated outcomes
measures and reporting
partners
0
9
0
0
0
project income
project time frwnes
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
Response:
The location of the project is within the community of White Swan, Washington in Yakima County and on
the Yakama Nation Reservation. The purpose of the project is to reduce fire hazard to Trust and Non-Trust
structures within an identified "high-risk" community. Implementation of this project would be conducted by
an interagency engine crew consisting of structure and wildiand personnel. They would be responsible for
the data collection, and implementation of fire hazard reduction using equipment defined within this proposal
and local jurisdictions...
The information collected would be used by Yakima County Fire District #5 (YCFD #5) and Bureau of
Indian Affairs (BIA) personnel. Data collected would include information about individual structures, fuels,
hazards and any additional information pertinent to the structure (access). Maps with structure placemeent
would be distributed to engine personnel for the purposes of collecting data using GPS and digital cameras.
A forrnat for the collection of specific information has been developed for GPS units. Data will include
seventeen attributes important for fire personnel responding to fire calls. In addition to GPS data, digital
photos will be taken of structures and surrounding vegetation. This information will also be available within
the arcview application coverage. All information will be compiled by BIA personnel and distributed to
YCFD #5 and BIA fire personnel. This proposal is not a source of income to either agency as a result of this
project. The time fraine of this project is set for June through September 2002.
Interagency engines will be used as tools to promote interagency collaboration for the protection of Trust and
Non-Trust homes, property, and resources within the project area. The crews will assist in the data collection,
project implementation, and fire suppression duties throughtout the reservation. Other equipment to be used
within this project for fire hazard reduction is the Bullhog mulcher and mastication equipment. This piece of
equipment will remove all unwanted vegetation without site removal. It will incorporate all vegetation back
into the soil and provide for an environment conducive to seeding by equipment or by hand spreaders. This
mulcer equipment can be used for all types of vegetation from sagebrush, grass up to material in excess of 15"
diameter. Other activities will include thinning, piling and burning.
There are approximately 500 homes in and around the White Swan community, of these, approximately 55%
are located on Non-Trust property. Acres of treatment will not be determined until data has been collected in
order to determine the extent of mitigation measures necessary to reduce the fire hazard.
Environmental, cultural and resource issues will have been conducted during the trust portion of the projects.
Issues and concerns from the landowners will be addressed during mitigation measures. Special notes will be
taken at the time of data collection for notification purposes at the time of fire reduction activities.
Wildland Urban Interface education will be in partnership between YCFD #5 and BIA using tools such as
Smokey, Sparkey, and Freddy, a remote controlled robot. An interagency team of prevention personnel will
be organized to distribute fliers, pamphlets, brochures, and other information about hazards of homes within
the Urban Interface. A joint website will be developed between the two agencies with the hopes of children
recognizing local fire personnel and having a deeper appreciation for safety as a result.
Enclosure 3B (Page 2 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for ftinding must include narrative responses that address the following four criteria. Within each criterion, sub
criteria are listed in descending order of importance. Limit your responses to the areas provided.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
1. Reducing Fire Risk. (40 points))
Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas or communities.
Describe how the proposed project benefits resources on federal land or adjacent nori-federal land, or how it protects the safety
of communities.
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)?
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 (a) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (b) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous ftiel conditions.
How will the proposed treatments be maintained over time?
Rest)onse:
The proposed project is located within the )White Swan area which has been listed as a "high-risk"
community. The project would lead to a reduction of fire hazards to structures located on Non-trust lands,
whereas treatment by BIA would have only treated ftiels on adjacent Tribal, or Trust lands. These measures
would have been the only reduction to fire hazards to Non-Trust property.
Benefits of proposed project include protection of federal property from those fires that originate on NonTrust property. This project will assist in the overall community fire hazard reduction. Fires within this
community tend to be wind driven, with the potential for large fast moving fires to develop in flashing ftiels
that are dangerous to suppress. Both the hazard reduction activities, prevention as well as Interagency
engines will work to reduce the overall community risk of fires.
This project creates an opportunity for a collaborative effort in the treatment of ftiels within a "high-risk"
community by YCFD #5 and BIA. The information collected by both agencies would increase the opportunity
for developing a fire strategy utilizing ftiels treatments. The personnel assigned to the engine will be the point
of contact for FIREWISE type education to residents.
Idle lands are the largest contributor to hazardous ftiels conditions and treatment of these areas of the highest
priority. The defenisible spaces will be mowed or use of periodic prescribed fire to reduce fuel loading.
2. Increasing local capacity. (30 points)
A.
How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms ofjobs and sustainable economic
activity? How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long (please distingui!h between essentially year
B.
C.
round and seasonal jobs)?
To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities?
Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response:
This project proposal would lead to the development of seasonal employment. Approximately 12 seasonal
personnel employment opportunities exist for this community. Additional employment may be added if data
collection area is too large for current time frarne. If this were the case, an additional 10 seasonal employment
opportunities exist, thus having a total employment for this year of 22 seasonal employees.
The development and use of shared data collected by interagency staff will be utilized to improve the
protection of life, property and resources within this checker board community is an excellent role model for
other communities to miffor. Creating this cooperative is a good utilization of local resources for the
protection of other communities within the reservation boundaries. These two agencies have worked together
in partnership for many years, developing this cooperative would be building upon a strong foundation, thus
enhancing a well-developed and continued relationship.
Most of the vegetation to be treated by this project is shrub and grass, however some woodland areas exist.
For the most part, much of the shrub and grass components will be tilled back into the soil for nutrient
recycling purpose. Any woody material will be chipped and used for landscaping material.
Enclosure 3B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
The county governments have enacted zoning ordinances on new construction on non-trust lands to help
mitigate wildland urban interface hazards in ftiture construction. Yakima County Fire District 5 and Yakama
Increasing
intergovernmental
Points)
BIA3.are
activeinteragency
membersand
with
the local Firecoordination.
Prevention(15
Association
and assist each other during bi-annual
visit to local schools and community events. The data base will be used by the Yakima County Fire Dist. 5
personnel as a pre-fire and triage measure for structurual and wildfire suppression. It will also *assist in
developing a needs analysis for future emergency intervention in the area.
The project proposes to incorporate two agencies that have worked side by side but never together in
producing data that can be used in pre-fire statagies and tactics in prevetion and suppression. These two
agencies will work together to provide immediate service and response to high risk communities during the
day, when most of the volunteers firefighters are at there regular jobs or businesses. The data collections that
the crews conduct will also be utilized by dispatchers and planners to gauge were the high-risk areas are
located which will assist emergency crews to be cognizant of those areas. This information will prove to be
invaluble in the combining of pre-fire information along with hazard awareness to insure successful
intervention and safety of crews and public life and property. This will also help prioritize the structures that
will need the most attention and utilizing what type of equipment.
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:
A.
B.
C.
To what extent have interested people and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and involved in this
proposal?
Describe the extent of local support for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements.
What are the environmental, social and educational benefits of the project?
4. Expanding Community Participation. (15 Points)
Response:
Two articles have been published within two papers describing Wl and measures used to mitigate against
hazardous fuels adjacent to structures and/or homes. One article was in the local paper (Yakima Herald)
specific to the neighboring counties and projects being implemented by the federal and state agencies. The
second article was written for our Tribal newspaper (Yakama Nation Review) describing what WI was and
the purpose of WUI. Both of these measures have increase the awareness of Tribal members and Non-Tribal
members within the reservation boundaries.
Discussions with our Yakama Nation IDT (inter-disciplinary team) have brought favorable comments about
reducing the risks to structures, specifically homes on the reservation to fires. It was brought to our attention
at these meeting, the concern that Non-Trust structures were not being addressed in any mitigation measures
to reduce the risk of fire to this category of structures. This proposed project specifically addresses those
structures that are not on trust property and does identify the questions posed to the IDT from community
members.
The environmental benefits include reduction of severe fires consuming homes, property and valuable
resources. The protection measures taken at the structure level will reduce the risk to homes, as well as and
avenue for reduction of fire spreading from debris burning and the reduction of said debris. Social benefits
include creating jobs, an interagency community education program and reduction of the fire hazards to a
"high-risk" community.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Data Collection
Implementation of Community Fire Hazard
Reduction
Public Awareness and Information (Site
Contact, Public Meetings, and Media).
Time Frame
June - July 2002
July - September 2002
June - September 2002
Responsible Party
Bureau of Indian Affairs / Yakima
County Fire District #5
Bureau of Indian Affairs / Yakima
County Fire District #5
Bureau of Indian Affairs / Yakima
County Fire District #5
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Personnel $0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
Travel
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
....................................................................................................................................................
.................
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
. . ..................... ............................ ;0 O o . .. - ----- $0.00 ... . - ~0.,00 $.O.oo .
..... .... . ..
$0.00
Training/Travel
Subtotal
Equipment
Engine, BuIlHog Mulcher, P/U
Educational - Smokey, Sparky
Subtotal
Supplies
Educational
Subtotal
.
Contractual
$30,000.00
$30,000.00
$0.00
$30,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $30,000.00
$0.00
$615,000.00
$9,600.00
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $624,600.00
......... ......... . ... .
$0.00
$10,000.00
$10,000.00
$0.00
$615,000.00
$9,600.00
$0.00
$0.00
.....
$21,450.00
Subtotal
Other
White Swan (Non-Trust)
Media
Subtotal
Total Costs
roject (Program) Income'
(using deductive altern!!~
$21,450.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$82,500.00
$8,000.00
$90,500.00
$776,550.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$10,000.00
$0.00
$10,000.00
$0.00
$21,450.00
$0.00
$21,450.00
$0.00
$82,500.00
$8,000.00
$90,500.00
$776,550.00
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.
1