The September issue of Wildfire News & Notes is now available at www.firewise.org and includes two feature articles. The first, contributed by Annaleasa Winter, Wildfire Mitigation Specialist for the Florida Division of Forestry, provides an overview and history of the state’s four regional Wildfire Management Teams. Their primary mission is to support Division of Forestry field offices by providing a program of wildland fuel management in and around communities. Their objective is to reduce wildfire risk to lives, homes and property. Since their formation in 1999, the teams have reduced hazardous fuels on over 25,000 acres of wildland/urban interface (WUI) property, protecting 20,369 structures from wildfire at a
value of nearly $2.5 billion.
In the second feature---part two of three---highlights strategies to increase firefighter safety and protect structures in the WUI. It focuses on what it takes to fight fire safely in that multi-jurisdictional, emotionally charged environment. Fuel mitigation, pre-planning and cross
training before wildfire season are emphasized as ways to lessen wildfire's impact and help firefighters to know what to expect in WUI situations.
This issue also features stories on wildland fire entrapment fatalities, minimum age requirements for firefighting resources, fire safety and prevention grants, and other news from around the country.
You still have time to register for the National Wildland/Urban Interface Education Conference, “Backyards and Beyond”, that will be held November 4-6 in Denver, Colorado. More than 60 sessions and five educational tracks designed for diverse interests make it a perfect opportunity for networking and information sharing with colleagues. Visit www.firewise.org/ 2004conference for registration materials and other information.
Two chat sessions are scheduled for the remainder of 2004 for those of you who enjoy on-line chat sessions and those of you who are ‘newbies’. Join us at www.firewise.org, by selecting “Forum” from the links on the left side of the page. Then click on “Firewise Chat”. The schedule follows:
- October 19 – How Can My Community Become a Firewise Communities/USA Recognition Site, 1:00 p.m. EDT
- November 16 – Conference Recap: Backyards and Beyond, 1:00 p.m. EST
Firewise is your resource for wildland/urban interface fire protection information. If you have questions or comments, contact Firewise staff at FirewiseHP@aol.com.
.. Compliments of the Firewise Home Page, sponsored by the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program
