Nez Perce Forestry/Fire Assists Homeowners in Reducing Wildfire Threats Around

Homes

 

            The Nez Perce Tribal Forestry and Fire Management office is offering to assist homeowners in reducing the threats from wildland fires around their homes by implementing fuel reduction projects and educating homeowners regarding maintaining safe fuel conditions. Many Nez Perce communities are considered wildland urban interface communities because they lie adjacent to forested or undeveloped land at high risk for wildfire events.

Wildland urban interface (WUI) fuels reduction projects are funded by the National Fire Plan. The National Fire Plan was created in response to the catastrophic wildfire season of 2000, and devastating wildfire events like the southern California fires this fall, keep national attention focused on fire prevention needs in many rural communities across the west.

The Nez Perce Forestry and Fire Management departments have utilized National Fire Plan funding in the past for projects that include pre-commercial thinning and pruning, brush removal, goat browsing, noxious weed control, abandoned land conversion, prescribed fires and the creation of fuel breaks around tribal homes. Planning efforts for these projects are an ongoing part of the Nez Perce Fire Prevention and Mitigation Plan. Nez Perce Forestry is now considering projects for FY 2005, and is asking that any tribal member concerned with wildfire risks to their homes submit a request to the Office of Forestry by February 17th, 2004. As this deadline fast approaches, tribal members interested in having mitigation work occur around their homes are asked to contact Nez Perce Tribal Forestry, Tim Droegmiller before the February 17th deadline to discuss their concerns and project request. He can be reached at 843-7328 ext. 2467.

 

Sylvia Jackson and Greg Eneas chipping thinning/pruning slash along Talmaks Road.