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Regular Agenda Item 4. B.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	03/15/2022
Submitted For:	Michael O'Driscoll	Submitted By:	Celena Cates, Emergency Planner
Department:	Health & Emergency Management	Division:	Emergency Management

Information

Request/Subject

Adoption of the 2022-2026 Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) for the northern and southern regions of Gila County.

Background Information

Community wildfire protection planning is one of the most important components of a wildfire safety strategy in a community.

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) - The Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003 includes statutory incentives for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to give consideration to the priorities of local communities as they develop and implement forest management and hazardous fuel reduction projects. A CWPP is the most effective way to take advantage of this opportunity. Additionally, communities with CWPPs in place will be given priority for funding for hazardous fuels reduction projects carried out under the auspices of the HFRA.

In the context of the HFRA, a CWPP offers a variety of benefits to communities at risk from wildland fire. Among those benefits is the opportunity to establish a localized definition and boundary for the wildland-urban interface. In the absence of a CWPP, the HFRA limits the wildland-urban interface to within 1/2 mile of a community’s boundary or within 1½ miles when mitigating circumstances exist, such as sustained steep slopes or geographic features aiding in creating a fire break. Fuels reduction treatments can occur along evacuation routes regardless of their distance from a community. The Gila County Emergency Management Division (GCEM), regional fire chiefs, and other fire personnel divided these plans into northern and southern regions as each region contains different climate and fuels, requiring different mitigation, response, and protective measures.

The 2022-2026 Northern Gila County CWPP and Southern Gila County CWPP are updates to the 2016 plans. They have been developed in accordance with the May 2020 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/U.S. Fire Administration Guidelines and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) analyzes communities across the state to determine which ones are at risk for a catastrophic wildfire.

Evaluation

The CWPPs were developed through a multi-agency group of local, state, and federal response partners to ensure that all community preparedness recommendations were met. The adoption of the 2022-2026 CWPPs in the northern and southern region of Gila County provides regional fire districts the ability to identify current resources, gap analysis, and future goals. As a result, these plans identify gaps and strengths and potential future projects that will enhance the Gila County preparedness and mitigation efforts to enhance the overall safety of the citizens and property of Gila County. An approved CWPP can influence and prioritize future funding for hazardous fuel reduction projects, including where and how federal agencies implement fuel reduction projects on federal lands.

Conclusion

The adoption of the 2022-2026 CWPPs, as updated and approved by our regional partners provides for the mandated plan update. The CWPPs focus on the safety of the residents and communities in relation to the boundary of the wildland-urban interface in accordance with the Healthy Forest Restoration Act.

Recommendation

It is the recommendation of the Gila County Health and Emergency Management Department Director that the Board of Supervisors adopts the 2022 updates to the Northern Gila County Community Wildfire Protection Plan and the Southern Gila County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to adopt the 2022-2026 Northern Gila County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and the 2022-2026 Southern Gila County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. (Michael O'Driscoll)

Attachments
Southern Gila County CWPP
Northern Gila County CWPP
Summary of Exceptions