Introduction to Firewise and ECCCWPP
(Meeting 1 of Steering Committee)
At the final USFS community meeting associated with the Horseshoe Fire, attending residents were urged to write a CWPP (Community Wildfire Protection Plan). Approval of such a plan would allow the community to apply for resources to support whatever fire protection strategies the group deems advisable (e.g., creation of fire breaks, fuels reduction, e.g., by chipping in place or planned burns, etc.). Information compiled by teams managing the Horseshoe Fire provides a convenient starting point. Local communities here were also encouraged by USFS to apply for Firewise designation, since work around homes during the recent fire left many homes already in compliance with Firewise requirements. Working toward Firewise certification will help immensely in putting together information needed for a CWPP. Both the Firewise and CWPP efforts would be carried out independently of Portal Rescue and become the product of the community of residents in the east-central Chiricahuas and neighboring foothills. All residents of these areas (Whitetail Canyon, Paradise and Portal) are strongly urged to participate.
The first meeting of the Steering Committee for the East-Central Chiricahua Community Wildfire Protection Plan (ECCCWPP) was held on Monday, August 9, 2010. As presently constituted, this committee consists of Dinah Davidson, David Johnson, Jackie Lewis, and David Newton. JoAnn Julian has volunteered her organizational and correspondence skills, and others volunteering at the USFS meeting have been organized into groups of ‘resource people’ with particular areas of expertise that will be sought during the process. Members of the Steering Committee were individuals with expertise / skills in fields relevant to ECCCWPP and Firewise, and also willing to take major responsibility in what will be an enormous commitment of time and effort. Dinah Davidson will do most of the ECCWPP writing, but she will need to draw on many people throughout local communities for relevant information. Jackie Lewis will direct / manage the application for Firewise. David Newton has considerable expertise relevant to both efforts, and David Johnson both is trained in wildland fire-fighting and arboriculture, and provides continuity with a prior CWPP effort that was aborted due to turnover in participants.
At its first meeting, the Steering Committee: (1) reviewed resources available for the writing of CWPPs, (2) discussed the geographic area to be included, (3) made a preliminary list of the federal, state and local government agencies, and private entities to include, (3) reviewed the relationship between ECCCWPP and Firewise, and (4) discussed the logistics for completing a Firewise application and CWPP, including a small budget for office supplies, stamps, phone calls, etc. (Contributions from the community would be welcome!) A table at Oktoberfest will advertise the parallel efforts toward Firewise and CWPP approval, as well as seek volunteer participation of community members.
Although not required by law, detailed public records will be kept of Steering Committee meetings, and notes from each meeting will be posted on the Portal-Rodeo website. Additionally, public input – welcome at any stage (!) - will be specifically invited on a rough draft, and on an almost ‘final’ draft, of the ECCWPP. Those drafts will also be available on the Portal-Rodeo website.
In the interim, public participation is highly encouraged, so that your views can be incorporated into the planning process. All local residents should feel free to discuss any wildfire-related matter with any member of the Steering Committee. Please think very hard about potential strategies for protecting our communities, and your structures in particular, from wildfire.
