Welcome to the Firewise Article Archive, a database of previously published articles from the Firewise Newsletter, Wildfire News & Notes and other wildfire and wildland/urban interface sources relating to Firewise Communities. Each article, or posting, is cataloged by the title, author and original publication date.
Currently the Archive contains only the last few years of our publications, but in the months ahead back issues and other stories will be placed into the system. When complete, most articles from 2001 to the current issue of the Firewise Newsletter will be included, as will articles from 1986 to the current issue of Wildfire News & Notes.
Please note that the Firewise Article Archive is different than the Firewise Resource Library. The Library is a separate online database containing a comprehensive catalog of information about the wildland/urban interface including references to a wide variety of publications and multimedia material dating back to the 1970s.
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Wildfires that damage homes and businesses are increasing in severity throughout the country, as growth patterns put more homes and neighborhoods in areas naturally prone to fire. While the NFPA’s Firewise Communities® program has long advocated action in existing communities to minimize fire hazards to homes, its new publication, Safer from the Start: A Guide to Firewise-Friendly Developments, seeks to help create Firewise communities from the ground up. (more…)
Visit the Firewise Learning Center to enroll in the newest course from NFPA’s Firewise Communities. Conducting Community Assessments in the Wildland/Urban Interface: Beginning the Firewise Process is targeted for fire departments and forestry professionals, but certainly homeowners in areas of risk can also learn what they can do to become safer from wildfire, using a tested community assessment methodology. The course, offered at no charge, is organized into eight lessons and covers the following topics: (more…)
Since 1896, NFPA has been the world’s foremost authority on fire safety standards, education, and training. As developer and publisher of more than 320 consensus codes, standards, guides, and recommend practices (including NFPA 1142 Standards for Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting and 1144 Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire). As a leader in public fire safety education and firefighter safety, NFPA is uniquely qualified to conduct the Assessing Wildfire Hazards in the Home Ignition Zone workshop for members of your organization. (more…)
Theatrical images on television lead the average homeowner to believe that structure losses can’t occur in areas outside of forest. However, structure losses occur in large number from wildfires each year in grass and brush ecosystems throughout Texas, not timber. Embers can ‘rain’ on and around homes for hours before the wildfire flame-front reaches structures even in grass ecosystems. (more…)
This State of Texas suffered another serious wildfire fire this spring that consumed 45,000 acres over an eight day period. Luckily, no deaths or injuries resulted from the fire but several homes were destroyed or damaged. One person, Sharon Van Baale, watched intently the goings on of firefighters and emergency personnel over those days and produced a sort of a journal of her thoughts. If you ever wondered or experienced a wildland fire in your area, this story is a reflection of the hard work of many who fight these fires. It is also a reflection of why so many folks at the local, county, state and federal level work to prevent them. (more…)
Despite heavy snow residents of Montana City, a recognized Firewise Community, held a Firewise event at the Montana City School to discuss wildfire evacuations and the actions needed to prepare to deal with a major wildfire. (more…)
In June of 2008 the Mid-Snake Resource, Conversation and Development (RC&D) entered into a partnership with the Agricultural and Plant Science Department at Shoshone High School in Shoshone, Idaho. The Firewise Landscape Nursery program has provided an opportunity to educate students about Firewise landscaping principles, and the different plant species that enhance the protection of homes situated in the wildland/urban interface. The 200-fire resistant plants were germinated in the Shoshone High School greenhouse. They include numerous species to provide groundcovers, vines, perennials and shrubs and approved from the Fire Resistant Plant List published by the Twin Falls District BLM. (more…)
Members of the Colfax County Coalition of Firewise Communities recently visited the area known as the Ponil Complex fire which occurred in June 2002. A lightning storm sparked four separate fires on or near the Philmont Scout Ranch and spread until all four blazes united to form the very large wildland fire. In total, 90,000 acres were consumed including approximately 30,000 acres on the Philmont Ranch alone. The forest fire was the largest on record in New Mexico’s history and suppression costs were estimated at $14,000,000. (more…)
Approaching the 19th anniversary of the 1990 Dude Fire, the Community of Bonita Creek worked toward and achieved, national Firewise Communities/USA Recognition. Lee Ann Beery from the Arizona State Forestry Division, along with Dan Eckstine and Jeremy Plain from the Payson Ranger District of the Forest Service, were on hand to present the award to the Bonita Creek Firewise Board on Saturday this past April. (more…)
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today the availability of wildland fire skills Gap courses for structural firefighters. The USFA’s National Preparedness Network (PREPnet) has produced a Webcast that explains the requirements, availability, and distribution of these newly packaged Gap course materials. The Webcast, Crosswalk: Bridging the Skills Gap is available for viewing anytime on the USFA Web site. (more…)
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