Introduction
to Wildland/Urban Interface Hazard Mitigation
The wildland/urban
interface is any area where man-made buildings are built close to
or within natural terrain and flammable vegetation, where high potential
for wildland fires exists.
During the
past few decades, population growth in the wildland/urban interface
has increased greatly. Subdivisions and other high-density developments
have created a situation where wildland fires can involve more buildings
than any amount of fire equipment can possibly protect.
The past 100
years of wildland fire suppression has led to heavy vegetation growth
and thus has greatly increased the potential fuel-load for a wildfire
to burn. As the wildland/urban interface has grown into these densely
packed forests, the potential for catastrophic wildland fires has
increased as well.
- Introduction
to the Western Wildland Urban Interface Grant Program
The Western
Wildland Urban Interface Grant Program is a grant that has been
used by Fremont County Fire to provide wildland fire hazard mitigation
for residents of Fremont County. The grant provides cost-share
monies that are available to homeowners for fuel mitigation and
forest health activities. The Wyoming State Forestry Division provided
Fremont County Fire with the grant to cost share these activities.
The Fremont
County Wildland Fire Management Program (Firewise) was established
in the fall of 2000 to develop a cooperative plan to lessen the
likelihood of severe wildland fires in the wildland/urban interface.
A number of cooperators at the county, state, and federal levels
are actively involved in the program.
The Firewise
program’s goal is to provide public education about Firewise home
design, Firewise landscaping, and to provide Stewardship plans which
help to mitigate the hazards in and around homeowner’s property.
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