Regional Winners:
InterfaceSouth, U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station
Kirk Rowdabaugh, Arizona State Forestry Division
State Winners:
John Edwards and Don Wells, Wildcat Community, Inc
Patrick Mahoney, Florida Division of Forestry
Texas Firewise and Urban Wildland Interface Team, Texas Forest Service
Local Winners:
Colorado Springs Wildland Risk Section, Colorado Springs Fire Department
Cook County Firewise Community
Three Rivers Resource Conservation & Development Council Wildland Fire Education and Prevention
Regional Awards:
InterfaceSouth
U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station - Gainesville, Fla.
Headquartered in Gainesville, Fla., InterfaceSouth aims to provide research, information, and tools to help reduce the risk of fire in the wildland urban interface. Although InterfaceSouth was created to represent the 13 states served by the Southern Research Station, it has come to be recognized as a national leader for WUI information development and dissemination. Their efforts include a partnership with the University of Florida and USDC National Institute of Standards and Technology to research the flammability characteristics of commonly planted shrubs and commonly used mulches, two items that can contribute to wildfire house damage. In addition, InterfaceSouth maintains the Interface Web site (www.interfacesouth.org), which serves as a valuable resource for homeowners. InterfaceSouth's close partnership with the Southern Wildland-Urban Interface Council ensures that their Firewise materials reach individual states, helping to make Firewise programs successful in local areas.
Annie Hermansen-Baez shakes Chief May's hand after receiving the Firewise Leadership Award on behalf of InterfaceSouth.
Kirk Rowdabugh
Arizona State Forestry Division - Phoenix, Ariz.
Kirk Rowdabaugh, formally with the Arizona State Forestry Division, spent a great deal of time actively promoting the Firewise program in Arizona and throughout the region. He challenges his colleagues to think in terms of "what's next" and recognizes that Firewise is an important component to the overall WUI problem-solution. Through his leadership, Arizona is among the most active states in the Firewise program. And beyond Arizona, Kirk advances the Firewise mission through his involvement with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, Western Governors Association, National Association of State Foresters, and testimony before congressional committees.
State Awards:
John Edwards and Don Wells
Wildcat Community, Inc. - Jasper, Ga.
In addition to helping the Wildcat community become a recognized Firewise Communities/USA site, John Edwards and Don Wells have used the model in the their community to educate communities across the northeast Georgia mountains. John and Don invited the Georgia Forestry Commission to explain firefighting techniques common to their region and to present ideas on how to mitigate wildfire hazards found in the state. Through hard work and dedication, John and Don spread the word about Firewise throughout Georgia and the southeast.
Don Wells and John Edwards from the Wildcat Community pose in
front of their community sign.
Patrick Mahoney
Florida Division of Forestry - Bradenton, Fla.
Patrick Mahoney is a wildfire mitigation specialist with Myakka River District of the Florida Division of Forestry. Patrick has worked successfully in his area to help 28 communities become nationally recognized as Firewise Communities/USA site. The five counties Patrick coordinates have lowered their wildfire risk because of the fuel reduction projects and homeowner/agency education and training he has provided. These projects could not have been accomplished without his leadership skills and the partnerships he has established with local entities including county planning, emergency management, and local fire services. Patrick has a unique ability to engage residents in the Firewise process, resulting in action plans that will reduce the number of homes lost and damaged during wildfire disasters.
Patrick Mahoney from the Florida Division of Forestry accepts his 2008 Firewise Leadership Award from Chief May.
Texas Firewise and Urban Wildland Interface Team
Texas Forest Service - Fredericksburg, Texas
The Texas Firewise team is made up of 15 individuals responsible for promoting the Firewise program and reaching nearly half the state with a population of 22 million. The team has successfully helped by organizing town/community meetings, holding conferences, and educating hundreds of communities, both rural and urban, across the state of Texas. Dedication is the name of the game for this team, and the objective is to prevent the loss of homes and property due to Wildland fire. The team is constantly thinking of new and innovative ways to bring the Firewise message to the people of Texas. Each of the team members are also on National Incident management teams as information officers, operations section chiefs, air operations branch directors, or strike team leaders.
P.J. Pearson from the Texas Firewise and Urban Wildland Interface Team poses with Chief May after accepting the organization's award during the Firewise conference.
Local Awards:
Colorado Springs Wildland Risk Section
Colorado Springs Fire Department - Colorado Springs, Colo.
Colorado Springs Wildland Risk Section has developed a program that utilizes several mitigation approaches to address wildfire risk. Features of the wildland risk program include: fuels management; Firewise education; and outreach, grant administration, development review, monitoring, operational support, hazardous activity permitting, and volunteer project coordination. In 2007, Colorado Springs Fire Department treated fuels on 669 acres of private property, common owned areas, parks, and open spaces. Ongoing collaboration includes stewardship with 42 neighborhoods; volunteer organizations; and local, state, and federal agencies.
Chief May poses with Christina Randall and Chris Barth of the Colorado Springs Wildland Risk Section following the awards banquet in Tampa.
Cook County Firewise Community
Grand Marais, Minn
Following the gypsy moth threat in 1999, the Cook County Firewise Community has been active in preventing fires in Cook County and protecting homes from wildfires. Its original efforts focused on the Gunflint Trail area where sprinklers were installed by local firefighters and volunteers. These systems, along with the practice of Firewise principles, saved hundreds of homes from being destroyed in the Ham Lake Fire in 2007. In addition, the Cook County Firewise Committee reaches out to the community to increase preparedness and reduce risks to the various vulnerable areas in the county. Its efforts focus not only within the respective fire districts, but also place strong emphasis in locations where USFS or DNR protection resources would take longer to respond. Furthermore, the committee provides free risk assessments to homeowners in wildfire prone areas.
Chief May, Cheryl Walimaa and Paul Nelson pose with the Firewise Leadership Award given to Cook County Firewise Community following the awards banquet in Tampa.
Three Rivers Resource Conservation & Development Council Wildland Fire Education and Prevention
Pocatello, Idaho
This program has been instrumental in ensuring the fire safety of the wildland urban interface areas of Bannock County. Bannock county's sage brush steppe ecosystem and increased vegetative fuel load has accumulated into a severe WUI fire risk. Three Rivers' wildland fire education program has served as a platform for all homeowners and agencies including BLM, USDA forest service, Bannock County, and city fire departments to implement Firewise and fuel reduction projects throughout the county. The program has participated in organizing private homeowners and public agencies in creating a safer WUI.
Jody Hogan stands with Chief May after accepting the Firewise Leadership Award on behalf of Three Rivers RC&D.
Questions about the Firewise Leadership Awards should be directed to firewiseawards@nfpa.org.
