IAFC Urges Agencies to Go On the Defensive

             

With climatologists predicting above-normal wildland fire risk across much of the United States this year, the International Association of Fire Chiefs in April announced a defensive strategy to control the impact of wildland fire and improve wildland fire management at the community level.

Developed by the IAFC Wildland Fire Policy Committee, Defensive Strategy for Local Government Measures to Control Wildland Fire Impacts for Private Property, Open Space Islands, Infrastructure, Watershed, and for Monuments and Other Community Assets at Risk requests support from the IAFC's section leadership, as well as from the National Association of State Foresters, National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities.

Download the complete strategy at www.iafc.org/Grants/wildland_fire.asp (click on “Downloads”).

“We encourage local fire departments to contact their nearest federal resource agency and their state forester,” said Lew Southard, U.S. Forest Service Branch Chief, Fire Prevention. “Local, state and federal agencies should connect with each other now to look at the potential activity for the fire season, review any standing agreements and make sure everyone has a mutual understanding of what processes are in place.”

Chiefs need to engage in dialogue with their city and county officials, as well as with the citizens in their communities. The IAFC urged members to reach out to local, state and regional leaders. Now is the time to begin prevention, mitigation, response planning and community involvement by:

• Openly discussing your current wildland-urban interface issues with your local elected leadership. Get engaged in the prevention efforts, zoning and land-use issues.
• Developing partnerships with state and federal agencies.
• Discussing the needs for fuel mitigation initiatives in your community.
• Examining how your community is prepared to respond to a major wildland-urban interface fire in your area.
• Embracing the Firewise program to help your community prepare. Encourage local residents to prepare their homes to be resistant to wildland fires.