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The national database of state and local wildfire hazard mitigation programs
serves as a clearinghouse of information about nonfederal policies and
programs that seek to reduce the risk of loss of life and property through
the reduction of hazardous fuels on private lands. If
you would like to submit a program to the national wildfire programs database,
please complete the following form (MS
Word).
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Title: |
Flagstaff Interface Fuel Reduction Program, Existing Developments
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Type: |
Homeowner Assistance
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Jurisdiction: |
Fire District
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State: |
Arizona
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Program Description: |
The Flagstaff Fire Department's Interface Fuel Reduction Program, initiated in 1996, utilizes a non-regulatory approach to conduct fuel reduction projects on private lands; both prescribed burning and mechanical thinning operations are used. Projects have been completed with assistance from three National Americorp teams and a seasonal ten-person fuels crew.
The Fire Department first undertook hazardous fuel reduction projects on city property to serve as demonstration sites utilizing an incremental approach in its thinning operations to reduce the initial visual impact of treated stands. Initially, density was reduced from 600 to 1,000 stems/acre to 100 to 120 stems/acre. Currently, the reduction is closer to 70 stems/acre.
The role of the Fire Department includes: 1) organizing neighborhood projects and coordinating the selection of private vendors to conduct thinnings, 2) writing prescriptions for, marking, and cutting small parcels; and 3) conducting all prescribed burning within the city limits. The Fire Department will, at no charge, provide professional assistance including general advice, plan preparation, tree marking and project oversite. Private foresters and vendors write prescriptions, and mark and cut timber on large holdings. The Fire Department has developed sample service agreements for contractor services, and vendor information packets including a sample bid notice and sample project bid form. These are available for landowners to use in contracting for thinning operations and in selling their timber.
In the past couple of years, 900 acres of thinning and 600 acres of prescribed burning have been accomplished on average within the city limits. The number of acres covered by management plans has grown from 60 in 1997 to 1950 in 2001. For a history of accomplishments visit the fuel management web site. The Department's Fuel Management Officer anticipates continuation of treatments at this level in the future. Areas outside the city within the interface have also been treated with Flagstaff Fire Department resources. Funding from the National Fire Plan has permitted expansion of the program in recent years. Photos of some projects may be viewed at this web site.
The Fuel Management Officer has found landowner cooperation to be excellent. An important factor attributed to landowners' cooperation, was the occurrence of three bad fire seasons in 1996, 1999 and 2001 with some fires burning within the city.
The Fire Department plans to revisit treated sites periodically to evaluate additional treatment needs; the reevaluation plan is 12 to 15 years for thinnings and 5 to 7 years for prescribed burns.
The Solid Waste Division of the City Services provides a bulk collection service once a month for large branches, brush, etc. Large disposal containers are provided to homeowners for a fee.
For more information contact Paul Summerfelt, Fuels Management Officer or phone: 928-779-7688.
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