Community Wildfire Resilience Resources
North Carolina has more WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) designation than any of the 48 contiguous states according to research conducted by the USDA Forest Service and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is estimated that more than 12,000,000 acres in NC fall within this category. In 2016, WNC had more wildfire acres burned (62,000) than the previous 50 years combined. Recurrent severe droughts have wildfire managers, community leaders, and residents concerned that significant wildfire risk will grow more prevalent for the Appalachian Mountains and the people who live there.
Mountain Valleys RC&D assists homeowners and communities by assisting with:
1. Identifying their wildfire risk and
2. Taking action to mitigate their risk.
These actions include: reducing hazardous fuels around homes, creating defensible space, and emergency planning. We work with interested communities and the NC Forest Service to develop site-specific community assessments and action plans.
Contact us today to see how your community can adapt to wildfire.
Links and Resources
In 2016, a group of RC&D’s aimed to expand the success of the Fire Adapted Communities concept up the Appalachian Mountain Chain from Georgia to Virginia to help reduce the risk of wildfire in communities in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) most of which border National forests.
The Appalachian RC&D FAC Coalition is made up of 6 RC&D Councils in Georgia (1), North Carolina (4), and Virginia (1) along the Appalachian Chain. Their goal is to transform Appalachan mountain counties into fire-adapted communities by using the FAC Fire Learning Network methods where people educate their neighbors, family, and friends as to Fire Adapted principles and practices. The newly created Appalachian RC&D Coalition will serve as the mechanism to spread the FAC concept to communities at risk from wildfires in this area.
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The Firewise Communities/USA Recognition Program is a process that empowers neighbors to work together in reducing their wildfire risk. Brush, grass and forest fires don’t have to be disasters. NFPA’s Firewise Communities Program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners in taking individual responsibility for preparing their homes from the risk of wildfire. Firewise is a key component of Fire Adapted Communities – a collaborative approach that connects all those who play a role in wildfire education, planning and action with comprehensive resources to help reduce risk.
To save lives and property from wildfire, NFPA’s Firewise Communities program teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses. We all have a role to play in protecting ourselves and each other from the risk of wildfire.
To inquire about a Firewise Home Assessment for yourself and/or your community, contact us today!