There were 31 nominations for 2006 awards with seven winners. Nominations were reviewed for demonstration of leadership, innovation, results, and Firewise impact.
Read more about the winners below:
Regional Awards-
Arkansas Forestry Commission
Arkansas Firewise representatives receive their award.
From left, Dr. Kelly Hurt, Tommy Tiller, David Samuel, Patricia Siciliano,
Tony Sicliano.
and
Jim Harrell, Florida Division of Forestry
Florida's Jim Harrell receives his Firewise Leadership
Award.
Up to two Regional Awards may be given each year for individuals or organizations whose Firewise efforts have been ongoing for at least two years and who have demonstrated an impact in more than one state.
Arkansas Forestry Commission
Arkansas has the largest
number of Firewise Communities/USA sites. The Arkansas Forestry Commission's
Firewise staff train local volunteer firefighters to perform risk assessments
and help organize Firewise projects, demonstrating that this could be a viable
option for greater involvement in the program. The success of the program
has filtered into neighboring states. Arkansas Firewise coordinator David
Samuel is invited to speak at conferences throughout the country and has visited
with numerous organizations interested in starting a Firewise program in their
areas. Visit this Firewise Leadership Award winner's web page at www.arkansasfirewise.com.
Jim Harrell, Florida Division of Forestry
Jim Harrell is the wildfire mitigation coordinator for the Florida Division of Forestry. Jim has been instrumental in promoting the Firewise concept throughout the state of Florida. His leadership skills have also helped spread the "Living on the Edge in Florida" and "How to Have a Firewise Home" CDs throughout the southern region. Jim has been invited to serve on National Firewise task groups, National Fire Protection Association committees and task groups, and as the Division of Forestry representative for Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH).
State Awards -
Arizona Firewise
Members of the Arizona Firewise Team gather to accept
their Firewise Leadership Award.
and
Bobby Young, Texas Forest Service
Rich Gray of the Texas Forest Service accepts the Firewise
Leadership Award from Bill Baden on behalf of Bobby Young.
Up to three awards may be given each year to individuals or organizations having a statewide Firewise impact, with a history of at least one year of activity.
Arizona Firewise
Arizona Firewise is a collaboration of agencies and organizations that provides cooperative leadership and oversight to develop and deliver an integrated statewide Firewise education program. It involves the combined efforts of the Arizona State Land Department, BIA, BLM, NPS, FWS, USFS, National Resource Conservation Service, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, and Arizona Fire Chiefs Association. Arizona Firewise has conducted dozens of workshops and seminars, revised and distributed 175,000 Living with Wildfire Homeowners' Firewise Guides, established a pilot program for Firewise advisors and assessors, conducted media campaigns, and supported a youth education curriculum. The accomplishments and camaraderie of Arizona Firewise demonstrate how an interagency team can work together to promote the Firewise mission.
Bobby Young, Texas Forest Service
Bobby Young identified the increasing WUI challenges facing the state and through his vision developed and staffed a unique program focused on four cornerstones: assessment, planning and preparedness, prevention and mitigation, and capacity building - including productive relationships with state and federal cooperators, corporate partners, and private individuals. Through his leadership, the WUI program has grown from one staff member to a fully functioning WUI program that involves community outreach, conferences, cooperation on both sides of the Mexican border, and a statewide assessment. Texas has more than a dozen Firewise Communities/USA recognition sites.
Local Awards - Marc Titus, Washington Department
of Natural Resources; Linda Ford, Taos Pines Ranch Firewise Community; and
Anchorage Fire Department.
Up to three Local Awards may be given each year. Individuals or organizations must show city/municipal, county, or regional impact within a single state, with sustained Firewise service for more than a year. Firewise Communities/USA sites are eligible only if the work extends beyond their individual community to have broader impact on a city/municipal, county, or regional scale.
Marc Titus, Washington DNR, NW Region (WA)
Marc was responsible for helping 10 communities in his region become recognized as Firewise Communities/USA sites. He has used the WUI education program in his presentations and has become very well regarded in his area. According to one of the two people who nominated him, "his visionary approach to wildfire prevention has fostered successful partnerships and community-level social change."
Washington's Marc Titus accepts the Firewise Leadership
Award from former National WUI Program Manager Bill Baden and WUI Working
Team Chairman Alan Dozier.
Linda Ford, Taos Pines Ranch Firewise Community (NM)
Linda is the president of the property owners association at Taos Pines Ranch
and part of the "Coalition of Firewise Communities" in Colfax County, New
Mexico. She has been working with the county for several years to help develop
a CWPP in her area, and has been successful in helping four communities in
Colfax County become recognized Firewise Communities/USA sites.
Flanked
by national WUI program leaders Bill Baden and Alan Dozier, Linda Ford accepts
her Firewise Leadership Award.
Anchorage Fire Department (AK)
This fire department, located in a wildfire prone community with many rural homes and other unique challenges, has organized and worked for many years to communicate the Firewise message in their area. They have truly demonstrated leadership, collaboration, results on the ground, and impact in making Firewise changes in the community. They have successfully secured more than $13 million in federal funding to apply to education and mitigation in the community.
Molly McCoy and Sue Barkwood of the Anchorage Fire Department
accept a Firewise Leadership Award from former National WUI Program Manager
Bill Baden.
Questions about the Firewise Leadership Awards should be directed to firewiseawards@nfpa.org.
