Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: Don’t Depend on Luck – Be Aware and Prepared

March 11, 2021 

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round:
Don’t Depend on Luck – Be Aware & Prepared 

Santa Fe, NM – March 11, 2021 – March brings the first signs of spring to drought-stricken Northern New Mexico landscapes, including warmer temperatures, windy conditions and the potential onset of wildfires. To prepare for the 2021 wildfire season, The Forest Stewards Guild is working with local, state, federal, and tribal partners and non-governmental organizations on a year-round wildfire preparedness campaign. With Saint Patrick’s Day approaching, our message is: don’t depend on luck – be aware and prepared. 

In the last 15 years, wildfire has destroyed 89,210 structures, with 62% of the total structures lost in 2017, 2018, and 2020 combined. As we begin to spend more time outdoors, pay attention to your home and property with wildfire in mind – consider ember and flame contact. While there are no guarantees when it comes to wildfire, don’t depend on luck.  

There are simple and effective ways to reduce the risk of home ignition. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides useful guidance on how to prepare the Home Ignition Zone for wildfire (en español). In March, we want to begin focusing on the 5-foot zone surrounding our homes. Follow the simple instructions below or join us on March 16 at 6 p.m. for a Home Ignition Zone webinar with guest speaker Capt. Jerry McAdams, a certified wildfire mitigation specialist and 20-year fire service veteran.  

Start from the top – work down and out: the non-combustible 5-foot zone around your home 

• Clean up dead vegetation from last season that gets trapped against your house, under your deck, and against fences. Make sure to remove fine fuels, such as pine needles and anything else that may ignite when exposed to an ember or flame.

• Replace mulch from around the base of your home with a non-flammable material such as river rock or pea gravel.

• Keep any plants in the 5-foot zone irrigated and pruned. Replace vegetation that is woody, dry or difficult to maintain with low-maintenance, fire-resistant vegetation using New Mexico State University’s fire-wise planting guide.

• Don't store firewood, gas cans, lawn mowers, cardboard or other combustible materials next to your home. Move these items at least 5 feet away from the outside walls of the house.

The Forest Stewards Guild and Fire Adapted New Mexico are working with EMNRD Forestry Division, the Santa Fe, Cibola, and Carson National Forests, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico to build a 2021 wildfire preparedness calendar and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness webpage to follow the campaign throughout the year.  

The Forest Stewards Guilds and Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico are equal opportunity providers. 

Wildfire Wednesdays #45: NMSU preparedness webinar - Home Ignition Zone webinar - New Mexico Forestry Division grant opportunities

Hi FACNM Members,

With Southwest wildfire preparedness week at the end of this month (3/28 – (4/3), now is a great time to get ready for wildfire season in your home and community. This year, there are many excellent virtual resources. You can enjoy the webinars below from the comfort of your own couch. Take advantage of all the great information at your finger-tips and don’t forget to invite your friends, family, and neighbors to tune in.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Proactive steps for individual and family preparedness webinar, tomorrow, March 11th

• Home Ignition Zone webinar Tuesday, March 16th at 6pm

• New Mexico State Forestry WUI fuels grant RFP and Non-federal lands fuels grant RFP start today, March 10th.

Best,

Gabe

NMSU Learning to Live with Fire webinar: Proactive steps for individual and family preparedness

Tomorrow, March 11th at 12pm

Guest Speaker Tom Dominguez, Santa Fe County Extension Agent

This informative lunch-hour webinar series from New Mexico State University Extension, Learning to Live with Fire, is going on every Thursday in the month of March. Tune in this week to learn how you and your family can get prepared for the upcoming fire season. Also, this talk will share information about now to identify and dispose of trees that have experienced insect and disease mortality. With this year’s drought conditions, we may be seeing more insect and disease mortality.  

For more information and to register, click here.

Home Ignition Zone webinar Tuesday, March 16th at 6pm

Please join us on Tuesday, March 16th at 6pm mst for a Home Ignition Zone Webinar with guest speaker Captain Jerry McAdams. Through this 1-hour webinar we hope to teach our audience some simple and effective ways to reduce the risk of home ignition from flames and embers. The webinar will take place on Facebook live and will be streaming from the FACNM Facebook as well as partner Facebook pages.  

Our guest speaker, Jerry McAdams, has over 20 years of experience working in the fire service. Jerry is a Senior Captain and NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist (CWMS) for the Boise Fire Department in Boise, Idaho.  

This webinar is part of an interagency campaign to promote wildfire preparedness in 2021, centering around the theme “Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round," Fire Adapted New Mexico and will be hosting a monthly webinar series for March, April, and May.  

New Mexico State Forestry Division Requests Applications for their WUI Fuels and Non-Federal Lands Grant Programs

Today, March 10th, New Mexico State Forestry Division released the notice of funding opportunities and request for applications (RFA) to two grant programs: The FY22 Wildland Urban Interface Hazardous Fuels Grant, and the FY21 Non-Federal Lands Hazardous Fuels Grant.

For full grant program information, and to access the RFAs, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #44: Home Ignition Zone Webinar - Wildfire Preparedness Day Toolkit

Hi FACNM Members,  

Keep up the good work! With warmer temperatures and windy spring weather, fire season comes early in the Southwest. With this year being a drought year, it is never too early to start preparing your home for wildfire.  

This Wildfire Wednesdays features: 

• Home Ignition Zone Webinar, March 16th: Protect your Home from Wildfire 

• A Wildfire Preparedness Day Toolkit from NFPA for planning an event in your community  

Best,  

Gabe 

Home Ignition Zone Webinar: Protect your Home from Wildfire 

Please join us on March 16th at 6pm mst for a Home Ignition Zone Webinar with guest speaker Captain Jerry McAdams. Through this 1-hour webinar we hope to teach our audience some simple and effective ways to reduce the risk of home ignition from flames and embers. The webinar will take place on Facebook live and will be streaming from the FACNM Facebook as well as partner Facebook pages.  

Our guest speaker, Jerry McAdams, has over 20 years of experience working in the fire service. Jerry is a Senior Captain and NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist (CWMS) for the Boise Fire Department in Boise, Idaho.  

This webinar is part of an interagency campaign to promote wildfire preparedness in 2021, centering around the theme “Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round," Fire Adapted New Mexico and will be hosting a monthly webinar series for March, April, and May.  

Wildfire Preparedness Day Toolkit from NFPA: Plan an Event in your Community! 

Wildfires across the United States have cost more than 100 lives and more than $25 billion in property losses in just the last two years. That’s why it’s so important to take steps to improve the wildfire safety of your home and community.  

Put safety first. On the first Saturday in May. Take the first step by participating in Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 1, 2021. There are simple things you can do in an afternoon or over a weekend that research shows will help your home survive a wildfire.  

Plan your project with this toolkit. Inside you’ll find the tools you need to start your own customized project, step by step. Start with a simple checklist. Then explore a list of possible projects. Move on to promoting your efforts, safety tips, funding, and more. Just turn the page. 

To get started, click here.  

Wildfire Wednesdays #43: NMSU Webinar Series - Land Manager Webinar Series - FACNM Virtual Lunchroom

Hi FACNM Members,  

Thank you all for your continued efforts and support toward our goal of becoming better adapted to wildfire. This collective goal of improving our relationship with wildfire is what binds the many different members, leaders, and partners in this network. Through a complex web of reciprocity, networks can achieve impacts that are greater than any individual or organization. To reach this level of reciprocity, we need local leaders to tell us what being fire adapted means in their community, and how they are working towards that goal. If you, or someone you know, is interested in being a part of this conversation, please reach out to me at gabe@forestguild.org.  

This week’s Wildfire Wednesdays features some resources to keep us informed:  

• The Learning to Live with Wildfire webinar series hosted by NMSU  

• The Forest Service’s land manager-focused webinar series 

• FACNM Virtual Lunchroom this Friday: Stay Connected 

Best,

Gabe

Learning to Live with Wildfire Webinar Series 

This New Mexico State University (NMSU) hosted webinar series takes place every Thursday in March and will focus on how you can prepare for wildfire season. The one-hour sessions start at noon and feature Doug Cram, NMSU extension, as well as numerous guest speakers.  

March 4th: Wildfire! You have 5 minutes to evacuate. What should I do? 

Also: Evacuation? It won't happen to me, right? Lessons learned from the Ute Park Fire. Guest speaker Arnie Friedt, NM State Forestry. 

Register here for Session 1: March 4th 

March 11th: Be Prepared for Wildfire – Proactive steps for individual and family preparedness. 

Also: Identification of insect and disease tree mortality and proper disposal. Guest Speaker Tom Dominguez, Santa Fe County Extension Agent. 

Register here for Session 2: March 11th 

March 18th Be Prepared for Wildfire – Proactive steps to safeguard your home, yard, and neighborhood. 

Also: Technical assistance for private forest landowners. Guest speaker Shannon Atencio, NM State Forestry. 

Register here for Session 3: March 18th 

March 25th: Be Prepared for Wildfire – Special focus on ranches and farms. 

Also: Livestock and wildfire. Guest speaker Ruben Baca, NM Livestock Board. 

Register here for Session 4: March 25th 

Forest Service Land Manager-focused Winter Webinar Series 

The USDA Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station has been busy hosting a land manager-focused winter webinar series. There is a wealth of information in these webinars and they are all recorded. If you work with a land management agency and would like to stay up-to-date on recent forestry, fire, and natural resource management research, these webinars are a great resource.  

Upcoming: Fire severity: mapping past fires and predicting the future 

March 3rd, 10-11am MT 

For more information, click here. 

Upcoming: Pollinator-friendly plants for restoration 

March 10th,  10-11am MT 

For more information, click here. 

FACNM Virtual Lunchroom  

photo credit: Ali Lerch

If you have questions, recommendations, corny jokes, or would just like to talk about wildfire, please attend the FACNM Virtual Lunchroom this Friday, February 26th at 12pm.

These monthly listening sessions are an open-format Zoom call where you can connect with other FACNM members, leaders, or chat with the FACNM network coordinator, Gabe Kohler. This is a great place to direct friends, family, or neighbors that are interested in learning more about FACNM or wildfire preparedness more generally.  

Our first virtual lunchroom will take place this Friday, February 26th, from 12 - 1pm. To join the virtual lunchroom, click here.  

Ready, Set, Go! Chipping Program Grant (Deadline Extended)

The RSG! Program has funding available to support fire and emergency response agencies with demonstrated wildland fire risk in their response area. A max of $25,000 per department is available to help RSG members cover the cost of department staffing, equipment rentals, and/or contractual services. This funding cannot be used on equipment purchases or fuels reduction work performed on property (ex: limbing, cutting).

The new deadline to apply is next Friday, February 26, at 5 PM ET.

For more information, click here.

Please contact gabe@forestguild.org if you, or someone at your local fire department, may be interested in working together on this application.

Wildfire Wednesdays #42: Wildfire Wednesdays Live - Home Hardening Basics - FACNM Virtual Lunchroom

Hi FACNM Members,

February is a great time to show your home some love. Take some time to identify vulnerable areas that need to be addressed before a wildfire appears. And remember, while you may not see the flames, wind can carry hot embers from burning vegetation or other materials at least a mile or more away from an active wildfire.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Wildfire Wednesday live TONIGHT at 6pm: Fire, Wildlife, and the Mexican Spotted Owl.

• Start from the top – work down and out: Home hardening basics

• FACNM Virtual Lunchroom: Monthly forum for open discussion with FACNM coordinator, members, and leaders.

Best,

Gabe

Wildfire Wednesday Live Tonight at 6pm: Fire, Wildlife, and the Mexican Spotted Owl

Join us Tonight, Wednesday the 17th at 6pm on the Fireshed Facebook page for the next live event with Dr. Gavin Jones, Research Ecologist for the USDA Forest Service.

 Megafires are becoming the new normal. How is wildlife responding? How can we better conserve them? Join us for the next Wildfire Wednesday Live event to learn more and chat with Dr. Gavin Jones, research ecologist for the USDA Forest Service.

Dr. Gavin will discuss his research related to fire and wildlife, with a focus on the California and Mexican spotted owl.

Come for the speaker, stay for the interactive Q&A in the chat!

Start from the Top – Work Down and Out: Roofs, Attics, Vents, Skylights, Eaves, etc.

Start with the top of the structure, work down to the ground, and then work out from there. Click on the links to access specific factsheets from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as well as other reputable sources.

Roofs and Skylights

• Check your roof. Houses with wood shake or shingle roofs are more likely to be destroyed during a wildfire. If possible, consider installing fire-resistant roofing material, such as asphalt composition shingles, metal, concrete or clay tile. A damaged roof with missing shingles and plastic skylights can also give hot embers from a wildfire an easy entry point. Maintain flat roofs, ensuring no cracks or exposed sublayers exist.

• Clear your rain gutters, flat roofs, and valleys in pitched roofs. Remove pine needles, leaves, or other materials that may have accumulated over the winter. Embers can easily ignite in dried out debris.

Attics and Vents:

• Check your vents. Consider changing out standard ¼-inch mesh with 1/8-inch metal wire mesh (if building codes and required air flow allow) to prevent wildfire embers from penetrating attics, eaves, and crawl spaces. Keep vents clear from debris and do not plant shrubs underneath or in front of vents.

Eaves and Walls:

• What about walls? Replace exterior wall coverings that are combustible, susceptible to melting, or can readily transmit heat with noncombustible or fire-resistant materials.

• Windows can be a weak point. Dual-paned windows with tempered glass will resist greater fire intensities than single pane windows.

Decks:

• Clean your deck. Remove debris from under your deck and from the gaps between deck boards. Replace wooden lattice with properly vented solid skirting or with 1/8-inch wire mesh to keep embers out.

Landscaping:

• Don't store firewood, gas cans, lawn mowers, cardboard or other combustible materials next to your home. Move these items at least 5-feet away from the outside walls of the house.

• Landscaping could light up your home. Think about replacing flammable plants with fire resistant species and replace wood chips with decorative rock for ground cover.

FACNM Virtual Lunchroom: Stay Connected!

If you have questions, recommendations, corny jokes, or would just like to talk about wildfire, please attend the FACNM Virtual Lunchroom. This is a great way to stay connected with the network as we head into the 2021 fire season.

These monthly listening sessions are an open-format Zoom call where you can connect with other FACNM members, leaders, or chat with the FACNM network coordinator, Gabe Kohler. This is a great place to direct friends, family, or neighbors that are interested in learning more about FACNM or wildfire preparedness more generally.

Our first virtual lunchroom will take place on Friday, February 26th, from 12 - 1pm. To join the virtual lunchroom, click here.

Ready, Set, Go! Chipping Program Grant

The RSG! Program has funding available to support fire and emergency response agencies with demonstrated wildland fire risk in their response area. A max of $25,000 per department is available to help RSG members cover the cost of department staffing, equipment rentals, and/or contractual services. This funding cannot be used on equipment purchases or fuels reduction work performed on property (ex: limbing, cutting).

The deadline to apply is next Friday, February 26, at 5 PM ET.

For more information, click here.

Please contact gabe@forestguild.org if you, or someone at your local fire department, may be interested in working together on this application.

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: Show your Home Some Love

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February, 11th, 2021 

Contact:         Eytan Krasilovsky, 505-983-8992 ext. 707, eytan@forestguild.org 

For press release: .PDF

For graphics: calendar, talking points.

February 11th, 2021

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: Show your Home Some Love

Santa Fe, NM – February 11, 2021 – With most of Northern New Mexico in extreme drought, the 2021 fire season could begin as early as late March or early April. FACNM and The Forest Stewards Guild are working with local, state, federal, and tribal partners and non-governmental organizations to encourage New Mexicans to recognize that in our changing climate, wildfire preparedness must be a year-round effort. In honor of a new 2021 wildfire preparedness campaign with our partners and with Valentine’s Day approaching, our message for February is: show your home some love.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), 58,250 wildfires burned 10.3 million acres across the U.S. in 2020, the largest number of acres impacted within a year. As our seasons trend warmer and drier wildfire can happen at any time, which means New Mexicans need to prepare and maintain their homes against the threat of falling embers and flames.

Show your home some love by taking the time to identify vulnerable areas that need to be addressed before a wildfire appears. And remember, while you may not see the flames, wind can carry hot embers from burning vegetation or other materials at least a mile or more away from an active wildfire.

Start with the top of the structure, work down to the ground, and then work out from there.

• Check your roof. Houses with wood shake or shingle roofs are more likely to be destroyed during a wildfire. If possible, consider installing fire-resistant roofing material, such as asphalt composition shingles, metal, concrete or clay tile. A damaged roof with missing shingles and plastic skylights can also give hot embers from a wildfire an easy entry point. Maintain flat roofs, ensuring no cracks or exposed sublayers exist.

• Clear your rain gutters, flat roofs, and valleys in pitched roofs. Remove pine needles, leaves, or other materials that may have accumulated over the winter. Embers can easily ignite in dried out debris.

• Check your vents. Consider changing out standard ¼-inch mesh with 1/8-inch metal wire mesh (if building codes and required air flow allow) to prevent wildfire embers from penetrating attics, eaves, and crawl spaces. Keep vents clear from debris and do not plant shrubs underneath or in front of vents.

• What about walls? Replace exterior wall coverings that are combustible, susceptible to melting, or can readily transmit heat with noncombustible or fire-resistant materials.

• Windows can be a weak point. Dual-paned windows with tempered glass will resist greater fire intensities than single pane windows.

• Clean your deck. Remove debris from under your deck and from the gaps between deck boards. Replace wooden lattice with properly vented solid skirting or with 1/8-inch wire mesh to keep embers out.

• Don't store firewood, gas cans, lawn mowers, cardboard or other combustible materials next to your home. Move these items at least 5-feet away from the outside walls of the house.

• Landscaping could light up your home. Think about replacing flammable plants with fire resistant species and replace wood chips with decorative rock for ground cover.

FACNM and The Forest Stewards Guild are working with EMNRD Forestry Division, Santa Fe, Cibola, and Carson National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico to build a 2021 wildfire preparedness calendar and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness webpage to follow the campaign throughout the year.

Check out these helpful links for more information:
https://facnm.org/wildfire-preparedness

http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/FireMgt/FirePreventionandOutreachProgram.html

https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Firewise/Fact-sheets/FirewiseFactSheetsRoofingMaterials.ashx

https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Firewise/Fact-sheets/FirewiseFactSheetsAtticsCrawlSpaces.ashx

https://www.firesafemarin.org/images/documents/resources/Vulnerability-of-Vents-to-Wind-Blown-Embers_IBHS.pdf

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The Forest Stewards Guilds and Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico are equal opportunity providers.

Wildfire Wednesdays #41: CWPPs 2.0 - Talking to Kids about Wildfire

Hi FACNM Members,

The month of February, and into the early spring, is a great time to make some incremental progress on wildfire preparedness BEFORE wildfire season. We're still at the big picture here. Taking simple steps like increasing your knowledge and awareness and making a plan for your family, animals, structure, and property are a great way to get started on the right foot.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday includes:

• CWPP 2.0: The Next Generation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans

• A toolkit for talking to kids about wildfire

Best,

Gabe

CWPP 2.0: The Next Generation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans

For a crash course on CWPPs, see last week’s blog post.

CWPPs have become a key tool for communities seeking to plan for wildfire. However, as time has passed, communities across the country have wrestled with implementation, plan updates, effective communication, engagement strategies and more. In May of 2020, FAC Net convened participants across the country in a CWPP-focused learning group to help connect practitioners to each other and current research. Known as CWPP 2.0, this learning group met monthly from May until December 2020.

For a summary of the themes and takeaways from the CWPP 2.0 learning group, click here.

Talking to your Kids about Wildfire

To help prepare for wildfire while we are indoors due to winter temperatures and covid-19 social distancing guidelines, the Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities created an excellent series of weekly tips.  

Preparing for wildfire is a crucial part of living in New Mexico. Given the importance of planning for the whole family, children should not be left out of preparedness conversations. While your kids are home, you can use this time to talk about wildfire science and introduce fun, fire-related curriculum.

General Tips

• Start the conversation with a video or activity to get your child's attention.

• Ask your child what they already know about wildfire.

• Be prepared to repeat information; wildfire can be difficult to understand.

To read the full blog post, complete with videos and activities, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #40: CWPPs - Before, During, and After Wildfire - Wildfire Preparedness for those in Need

Hi FACNM Members,  

Wildfire preparedness is year-round. This process involves taking actions to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfire. As we head into spring, it is a great time to take actions to prepare for wildfire.  

This week’s Wildfire Wednesdays includes: 

• Information about Community Wildfire Protection Planning (CWPP) 

• A facilitation guide for Before, During, and After Wildfire from Washington Fire Adapted Communities 

• A partnership between Habitat for Humanity and FACNM to provide wildfire preparedness assistance to those in need.

Best,  

Gabe 

Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) 

A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a written plan describing wildfire hazards and mitigation measures for a community. In New Mexico, many CWPPs focus at the county scale, but there sometimes individual community CWPPs within the county plan. These plans are authorized and defined in Title 1 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act and are an important pre-requisite for numerous wildfire risk reduction funding programs.  

The purpose of a CWPP is to “reduce wildfire risk to communities, municipal water supplies, and other at-risk land through a collaborative process of planning, prioritizing, and implementing hazardous fuels reduction projects.” The CWPP process is ongoing and core teams that write these plans continually work together to update them and to achieve the tasks outlined in the plan.  

Key Points about CWPPs 

• All community members concerned about wildfire threat are encouraged to participate in the CWPP process.  

• There is no prescribed format to which a CWPP must conform, and plans vary depending on the objectives and desires of the community.  

• CWPPs should effectively address local forest and range conditions, values-at-risk, and priorities for actions 

Benefits of a CWPP 

• Increasing community capacity by working collaboratively and strengthening relationships 

• Helps establish and define boundaries for the wildland-urban interface, used to identify areas where federal funds may be applied.  

• Fuel-reduction projects that are identified in a CWPP are to receive priority for funding and implementation by federal agencies 

Does your community or county have a CWPP? What type of plan does your area have, and how long has it been since it was updated? Check New Mexico State Forestry’s listings to find out: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/FireMgt/cwpps.html 

Before, During, and After the Wildfire  

Fire adapted communities understand their risk and are taking action to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfire.  

This facilitation guide, created by the Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, is a helpful tool to walk yourself and others in your community identify areas where you may improve your wildfire preparedness. Although it is a difficult time to meet in-person, this facilitation guide may be a conversation starter with your neighbors about how you can work together on wildfire preparedness in the warmer months.  

To view the facilitation guide, click here.  

FACNM and Habitat for Humanity Provide Wildfire Preparedness Assistance to those in Need 

Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico (FACNM) learning network is partnering with Habitat for Humanity (H4H) of Los Alamos and Espanola Valley to provide wildfire preparedness assistance to those in need. FACNM will assist H4H volunteers and program coordinators by providing a Home Ignition Zone training and printed materials to be shared through H4H’s A Brush with Kindness program.  

The A Brush with Kindness program is an exterior home preservation service that offers painting, landscaping, and exterior minor repair services for home owners in need. This partnership will add to this program’s existing services by providing information and resources for reducing the risk of ember ignitions to participating homes.  

If you would like to learn more about this partnership or support this partnership through volunteer capacity, please contact gabe@forestguild.org.  

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: Resolve to Be Ready

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January, 29th, 2021 

Contact:         Eytan Krasilovsky, 505-983-8992 ext. 707, eytan@forestguild.org 

For .PDF, click here.

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: Resolve to Be Ready

SANTA FE, NM – Jan. 29, 2021 – Recognizing that longer, more extreme fire seasons are likely to continue, the Forest Stewards Guild is working with partners at the Santa Fe, Cibola, Carson, and other National Forests, as well as other agencies and non-governmental organizations to launch a 2021 campaign to promote wildfire preparedness with a different theme for each month of the year. The message for January: resolve to be ready.

The beginning of a new year, when the risk of wildfire is relatively low, is a good time to start thinking about what you can do now to be ready for fire season later. With most of northern New Mexico in extreme drought, the 2021 fire season could begin as early as late March or early April. Start learning about living with wildfire and Ready, Set, Go! principles.

Before January ends, make a few more resolutions:

• Develop an emergency plan: choose a safe place to meet, learn evacuation routes, and establish an out-of-town contact.

• Take a current photo of you and your pet(s) together in case you get separated during a disaster.

• Get to know your neighbors and invite them to be a part of your emergency plan.

• Snap photos of important documents and save them in a secure place or online.

• Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family during emergencies.

• Take a class in CPR and first aid.

• Keep and update emergency supplies, including cash.

• Have back-up power sources available to charge devices in case of a power outage.

• Check your insurance for coverage on disasters like wildfire and floods. Snap pictures of your property for insurance purposes.

• Sign up for emergency alerts and warnings. Download the FEMA app or check with your city or county government to see if they have an alert and notification system in place.

The SFNF is working with the Cibola and Carson National Forests, Forest Stewards Guild, Fire Adapted NM, New Mexico Forestry Division, and the Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office to build a 2021 wildfire preparedness calendar and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness calendar at facnm.org/wildfire-preparedness to follow the campaign throughout the year.

Wildfires threaten hundreds of homes in New Mexico every year, especially in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) where development meets fire-prone wildland vegetation. Studies show that many of the homes lost to wildfire could have been saved by advanced planning and preparation. When wildfire strikes, will you be ready? It’s never too soon to ask yourself that question and start taking steps to protect your home and your family.

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The Forest Stewards Guilds and Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico are equal opportunity providers.

Wildfire Wednesdays #39: Wildfire Preparedness is Year Round - Wildfire Risk Reduction Grants

Hi FACNM members,  

Recognizing that longer, more extreme fire seasons are likely to continue, Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico (FACNM) is working with partners at other agencies, forests, and organizations to launch a 2021 campaign to promote wildfire preparedness with a different theme for each month of the year. The message for January: resolve to be ready.  

This Wildfire Wednesday newsletter features.  

• Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round Webpage: Resolve to be Ready this January. 

• New Mexico Counties Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant 

Stay safe and healthy,  

Gabe 

Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round: Resolve to be Ready this January! 

The beginning of a new year, when the risk of wildfire is relatively low, is a good time to start thinking about what you can do now to be ready for fire season later. With most of Northern New Mexico in extreme drought, the 2021 fire season could begin as early as late March/early April. Start learning about living with wildfire and Ready, Set, Go! principles. 

Before January ends, make a few more resolutions: 

• Develop an emergency plan: choose a safe place to meet, learn evacuation routes, and establish an out-of-town contact. 

• Take a current photo of you and your pet(s) together in case you get separated during a disaster. 

• Get to know your neighbors and invite them to be a part of your emergency plan. 

• Snap photos of important documents and save them in a secure place or online. 

• Set up group text lists so you can communicate with friends and family during emergencies. 

• Take a class in CPR and first aid. 

• Keep and update emergency supplies, including cash. 

• Have back-up power sources available to charge devices in case of a power outage. 

• Check your insurance for coverage on disasters like wildfire and floods. Snap pictures of your property for insurance purposes. 

• Sign up for emergency alerts and warnings. Download the FEMA app or check with your city or county government to see if they have an alert and notification system in place.  

Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico (FACNM) is working with The Santa Fe,  Cibola and Carson National Forests, The Forest Stewards Guild, New Mexico Forestry Division, and the Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office to build a 2021 wildfire preparedness calendar and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness calendar at facnm.org/wildfire-preparedness to follow the campaign throughout the year. 

Wildfires threaten hundreds of homes in New Mexico every year, especially in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) where development meets fire-prone wildland vegetation. Studies show that many of the homes lost to wildfire could have been saved by advanced planning and preparation. When wildfire strikes, will you be ready? It’s never too soon to ask yourself that question and start taking steps to protect your home and your family. 

New Mexico Counties (NMC) Wildfire Risk Reduction Grants 

New Mexico Counties is pleased to announce the 2021-2022 Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) Program for Rural Communities. The WRR Program assists at-risk communities throughout New Mexico in reducing their risk from wildland fire on non-federal lands. Funding for this program is provided by the National Fire Plan through the Department of the Interior/Bureau of Land Management for communities in the WUI and is intended to directly benefit communities that may be impacted by wildland fire initiating from or spreading to BLM public land.  

Funding categories include: 

• Education and Outreach Activities up to $10,000/project 

• CWPP Updates up to $15,000/project 

• Hazardous Fuels Reduction Projects up to $50,000/project 

Click here for the 2021-2022 program information, and applications are located on the NMC website: https://www.nmcounties.org/services/programs/ 

Coalitions and Collaboratives Spring Grant Opportunity!

Get your community started on the right foot this Spring by applying for the Action, Implementation, and Mitigation (AIM) grant through Coalitions and Collaboratives!

This newsletter marks the release of another round of grant funding for increasing local capacity to reduce wildfire risk. The Request for Proposal (RFP) and Concept Paper for the Spring 2021 Action, Implementation and Mitigation (AIM) grant are now live on COCO's website. COCO will be accepting Concept Papers though February 11, 2021 until 5:00 PM MT. Click here for the RFP and instructions. Download the Concept Paper here or from the AIM Grant Page.

To learn more about this funding opportunity, be sure to check out the informational webinar recording will posted on COCO’s website.

We invite you to share this opportunity with colleagues and organizations working on reducing their community's wildfire risk. For more information about Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc., please visit co-co.org.

Wildfire Wednesdays #38: Rx Fire Outreach Toolkit - Tribal Relations Peer Learning Session

Hi FAC NM Members,

This will be our last Wildfire Wednesdays before the holidays. The newsletter will resume on January 6th. As you all know, making our communities safe from wildfire is a year-round, incremental process. With that in mind, please follow along with the Wildfire Wednesday newsletters in the New Year to for step-by-step guidance to get ready for wildfire in 2021.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesdays newsletter features:

• Put Fire to Work: A toolkit for communicating the importance of prescribed fire as a tool for wildfire resilience

• Peer learning session Friday 12/18: Utilizing 638 for Tribal Relations and Promoting Tribal Fuels Treatments

Happy Holidays,

Gabe

Put Fire to Work: A Prescribed Fire Outreach Toolkit for Partners and Practitioners

We are very excited to feature Put Fire to Work in this week’s Wildfire Wednesday. This user-friendly toolkit created by the Washington Prescribed Fire Council is a great resource for finding effective messages about the importance of prescribed fire as a tool for community wildfire resilience and forest health. The site features message templates as well as step-by-step guides for developing outreach that will be effective for the particular context that you live or work within.

In addition to the outreach content stored on this site, the site’s user-friendly layout is noteworthy. Digital toolkits like this serve help to take the extra work out of social media outreach and new-media approaches. We have added a link to Put Fire to Work on the FAC NM webpage and would like to create and/or compile more communication tools similar to this.

Click here to check out the Put Fire to Work website.

If you use the Put Fire to Work toolkit, don’t forget to show them your appreciation on social media.

Utilizing 638 for Tribal Relations

Peer learning session on Friday, December 18th, from 1:30 – 3pm MST.

Click here to register.

Sponsored by the National Partnership Office and hosted by The National Forest Foundation.

During this peer learning session, attendees will:

• Meet the new Director of the Forest Service Office of Tribal Relations,

• Gain an understanding of the “638 self-determination demonstration authority” granted to the Forest Service in the 2018 Farm Bill,

• Gain an understanding of the relationship between 638 and the Tribal Forest Protection Act,

• Have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.

Suggested Audience:

Forest Service employees, tribal partners looking to implement projects through 638, and natural resource collaborators

U.S. Forest Service Speakers include:

• Reed Robinson, Director, Office of Tribal Relations;

• Alicia-Bell Sheeter, Management and Program Analyst, Office of Tribal Relations; and

• Alison Leiman, Grants Policy Specialists, Business Operations.

This session will be recorded and a link to the recording will be emailed to all registrants. If you are unable to attend the peer learning session but are interested, please register to ensure you receive the follow-up email.

Wildfire Wednesdays #37: Chipping - Home Hardening - Eastern Jemez Landscape Futures

Hi FAC NM Members,

‘Tis the season for informational webinars about wildfire adaptation. Grab your favorite snack, send the link to a neighbor or colleague who might share your enthusiasm, and tune in to these great informational sessions to get ideas about how you can take action in your community this upcoming Spring.

This week’s edition of Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Chipping Best Practices Webinar tomorrow, December 10th

• A Wildfire Home Retrofit Workshop for fire professionals and educators (community leaders)

• East Jemez Landscape Futures: A collaborative approach to post-fire

Stay safe,

Gabe 

Chipping Best Practices Webinar Tomorrow!

1 PM MST on December 10

Join wildland mitigation subject matter expert Jeremy Taylor and RSG! Program staff for a Best Practices Webinar on Chipping Programs.

Click here for webinar registration.

 We’ll cover:

• Considerations when launching a chipper program

• Promoting the program/engaging the community to participate

• Operational considerations

• Funding opportunities/mechanisms

We also will be introducing a new opportunity available to program members to support chipping programs in their response area.

A Wildfire Home Retrofit Workshop for fire professionals and educators

December 15th, at 10am MST

For the full agenda, and to register, click here.

Fire professionals and educators are invited to join our FREE virtual Wildfire Home Retrofit Workshop. Please share this invitation with your peers or other fire professionals and educators you know.

During this interactive workshop, attendees will learn:

• How homes are threatened during a wildfire

• How to identify a home’s ember vulnerabilities and prioritize retrofits based on cost, effort and location scenarios

• How to effectively communicate home hardening techniques to homeowners throughout the U.S.

There will be opportunities to share ideas, experiences and best practices as well as opportunities to ask questions during multiple Q&A sessions.

East Jemez Landscape Futures: A collaborative approach to post-fire

 December 15th, 12pm MST

Click here to register!

The East Jemez Landscape Futures (EJLF) project is a collaborative, landscape-scale approach to help guide future planning and research efforts in the severely altered landscapes of the eastern Jemez Mountains. EJLF seeks to address uncertainty by building a network of land managers, scientists, artists, NGOs and interested community members to inform future management, identify research needs, and capture stories from individuals and communities who were affected by these changes.

This webinar will share the EJLF experience and lessons learned responding to the complex questions of post-fire landscapes. Hosted by the Burned Area Learning Network and the Southwest Fire Science Consortium

Presenters: Colin Haffey, Sasha Stortz, and Savannah Lehnert

Wildfire Wednesdays #36: Structure Loss Data - Community Brush Disposal Site Example

Hi FAC NM Members,   

As winter sets in, this is a great time to take a step back and make a plan to prepare your home and property for wildfire in 2021. Starting to make a plan now will allow you to work efficiently in the spring and will be a lot less stressful that trying to plan and complete projects in the spring and summer, which are always busy.  

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:  

• Data for structures burned by wildfire in each state 

• Community Brush Disposal Sites: Thompson Ridge Example

Best,

Gabe 

Data for Structures Burned by Wildfire in Each State: A Tool to Communicate Wildfire Effects 

The traditional way — and the easiest way — to compare wildfire seasons is the number of acres burned. But blackened acres does not tell the whole story about the effects of fires on humans. A new, user-friendly database by Headwaters Economics identifies the number of structures, by state, destroyed by wildfires between 2005 and 2020. This is a powerful tool for communicating the importance of preparing our home ignition zones for wildfire.   

To learn more about the tool, click here.  

To use the tool for yourself, click here.  

Community Brush Disposal Sites: Thompson Ridge Example

The 1-acre Thompson Ridge slash pit is a collaborative effort between the Jemez Ranger District and the surrounding area to promote Fire Adapted Communities. The slash pit is located at the end of Forest Road 106 just north of the community of Thompson Ridge and ten miles north of Jemez Springs helps community members reduce hazardous fuels on their private properties by providing them with a place to dispose of woody debris within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest may implement a pile burn at the slash pit sometime this week.

As more homes are built in the wildland urban interface (WUI) adjacent to public lands that are naturally prone to wildfire, the risk to property is high. Slash pits, like those on Thompson Ridge, give local residents a centralized location to discard fuels, such as leaves, pine needles, grass and other yard trimmings, removed from their properties. Slash up to 8 inches in diameter is accepted.

If you are interested in trying to accomplish a similar community brush disposal site in your area, there are members in the Fire Adapted Communities Network that have experience with this. Please reach out to myself (gabe@forestguild.org) or other members in the network.

Wildfire Wednesdays #35: Turkey and Leaves - Prescribed Burn Associations

Hi FAC NM Members,  

I hope you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. After the turkey and potatoes, if you want to work up a sweat without leaving your house, get your favorite family member to help you rake the yard and clean the gutters... I'm sure they’ll love it.  

This edition of Wildfire Wednesday is a brief one.  

Stay Safe,  

Gabe 

Prescribed Burn Associations: A Webinar by The Cohesive Strategy 

Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 10th from 9 - 10:30am pst.  

As part of their ongoing Living with Wildland Fire learning series, The Western Region of the Fire Leadership Council presents a webinar about Prescribed Burn Associations and the different approaches they take in different places. Prescribed Burn Associations are more common in the Southeast part of the country and have been widely recognized as a powerful way to build local capacity and acceptance for the use of prescribed fire as a tool for wildfire risk reduction.  

Don’t take my word for it, check the webinar out yourself by clicking here. 

Wildfire Wednesday #34: Member Survey - Wildfire Wednesday Live Tonight - Home Hazard Assessment

Hi FAC NM Members,

This winter we hope to host more virtual peer-learning opportunities. Our goal is to build the connections and common understanding needed to mobilize our communities for wildfire adaptation work leading into the 2021 fire season.

We want to hear from you. To capture the topics that you are most interested in, please take a couple minutes and fill out this brief survey.  To respond with your interests, click here.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday newsletter features:

• Information about Wildfire Wednesday Live, tonight at 6pm!

• Home Hazard Assessment

Best,

Gabe

Wildfire Wednesdays Live, Tonight at 6pm!

After a couple week hiatus we are back on for Wildfire Wednesdays Live tonight. Previous sessions introduced The Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition and provided some background fire ecology information for the Fireshed landscape. This week’s session will build on these past two livestreams by focusing individual risk and actions of residents within the Santa Fe Fireshed landscape.

To join the Facebook livestream at 6pm on Wednesday, November 18th, click here.

Home Hazard Assessment

The prospect of preparing your home for fire season can seem overwhelming, since planning for any disaster means imaging the worst. So, to get started the best thing to do is to create a plan and then begin with the easiest tasks.

To assist in making a plan we’d like to re-introduce the Home Hazard Assessment Guide. With this guide and the accompanying worksheet you can assess the areas of your home that could use improvement and then keep track as you work to improve them. This short guide covers all the areas that you might be concerned about that might cause your home to ignite.

To access the Home Hazard Assessment, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #33: Wildfire Wednesdays Live - WUFS Recordings

Hello FAC NM Members,

It is Veteran’s Day and I want to say thank you to those that have served in the armed forces. A special thank you to all veterans that continue to serve our country as firefighters through New Mexico State Forestry’s Returning Heroes Wildland Fire Program and other programs nationwide.

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:

• Information about the next Wildfire Wednesdays Live on November 18th

• Recordings of sessions from the 2020 Wildland Urban Fire Summit

Best,

Gabe

Wildfire Wednesdays Live on November 18th

Wildfire Wednesdays Live is postponed tonight in honor of Veterans Day and all of those who have served in the military. We will begin again on November 18th. Stay tuned for details about the November 18th session.

2020 Wildland Urban Fire Summit Recordings

Check out the recordings from this year’s Wildland Urban Fire Summit (WUFS). The Wildland Urban Fire Summit (WUFS) is one of New Mexico’s leading events for wildfire preparedness and planning. Each year, community leaders, fire service professionals, and federal, state, tribal, and local governments collaborate to create this summit. Check out the informative sessions to learn from communities adapting to a wildfire environment about the latest techniques, strategies, and resources for wildfire adaptation and resilience.

To access links to the recording, click here.

Wildfire Wednesdays #32: WWL Postponed - Fire and Fauna Webinar Series - After the Flames Webinar

Hi FAC NM Members,

Wildfire Wednesdays Live is postponed for tonight.

A recent study from the Blue Mountain ecoregion in Northeastern Oregon found that beliefs about future wildfire risks were largely independent of political beliefs and people accurately agreed about the rising frequency of large wildfires and expect this trend to continue. Regardless of the outcome of the 2020 election, let’s continue to work together toward the shared goal of wildfire adapted communities.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday’s features:

• The Fire and Fauna webinar series hosted by the Forest Service

• After the Flames Webinar hosted by The National Cohesive Strategy

Thanks,

Gabe

Fire and Fauna Webinar Series

Wildfire and prescribed fire effects on wildlife

November 16th-20, 2020 at 2-3pm EST

These land-manager focused webinars will highlight the latest science on fire and wildlife. Sessions are open to all – internal and external participants welcome. Three short thematic presentations each day followed by Q&A and discussion. Participation provides continuing education credits for Certified Wildlife Biologist Renewal/ Professional Development Certificate Program.

To learn more, click here.

After the Flames Webinar

Actionable Best Practices for Communities and Agencies Impacted by Wildfire

December 3rd, 2020 1:00pm – 3:00pm MST

What does current science and experience tell us about the near and long-term impacts of fire on water quality and how to recover?

The Western Region of the Wildland Fire Leadership Council and Cohesive Strategy is sponsoring this webinar as part of their focus on mitigating post fire impacts. Please take a look, consider registering and share through your networks. These topics are front and center in the west.

To learn more, and to register for this webinar, click here.