INSIDE WASHINGTON/Plan addresses wildland fire prevention

County governments are hoping a new strategic partnership with the federal government will help reduce the risks of wildland fires. Working with the Denver-based Western Governor’s Association, White House officials, dozens of public agencies and private groups, the National Association of Counties has crafted a 10-year plan to:

• improve fire prevention and suppression measures;

• reduce hazardous fuels;

• restore fire-adapted ecosystems; and

• promote community assistance to prevent the fires.

• This year, U.S. wildfires have consumed more than 1.75 million acres. During a single day last month, 16 blazes — including Colorado’s Hayman fire — burned throughout the country.

  County emergency personnel often are the ones who battle the fires and provide the support necessary for additional public safety functions such as evacuating residents. “There is a tremendous amount of stress on local governments [during wildland fire events],” says Union County, Ore., Commissioner John Howard. “In many cases, we are the first line of defense.”

  In addition to assuming response costs, counties pay a price for damage. For example, in Gilo County, Ariz., damage from wildland fires costs more than $300,000 annually. Much of that damage is to county roads, says County Supervisor Rob Christensen. The roads are not designed for the heavy equipment needed to fight wildland fires, and they — along with bridges — are susceptible to erosion caused by flash flooding (a result of the fires destroying vegetation that normally would absorb the water.)

  The 10-year Comprehensive Strategy Implementation Plan provides the framework for local, state and federal agencies to cooperate in implementing wildfire prevention measures and suppressing wildfires when they occur. “The main importance of [the 10-year plan is that it establishes] a long-term commitment from our federal government for working with local governments on fire prevention,” says Howard, who represented NACo in forming the partnership.

  The plan is not a mandate, and it is structured so that tasks are divided among the participants. For example, NACo is a co-task force leader on several issues that need to be addressed in the next two years. During that time, county officials will:

• help assess the training, equipment, safety awareness and services of rural and volunteer fire departments that work in wildland-urban areas, and report their findings to Congress;

• work with the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC, an interagency organization established by the Bush Administration) to develop a plan for federal, state, tribal and local governments to collaborate on the yearly selection of fuel treatment projects in their communities; and

• work with NASF and WFLC to create a process for federal, state, tribal and local governments to collaborate on the annual selection of ecosystem restoration projects in their communities.

• The plan makes local governments responsible for developing land use plans that address maintenance of defensible space. It also directs state and local governments to maintain a list of high-risk communities susceptible to wildland fires.

  “This is the first plan where there is explicit recognition … that the primary focus needs to be at the local level,” says Paul Beddoe, associate legislative director for NACo. “The whole plan is premised on getting together and collaborating on a local level.”

  The author is Washington correspondent for American City & County.