Accomplishments
2005 - 2009
Project Wildfire gained sunstantial momentum in 2004 by revisiting its mission and strategic objectives. With a new Program Director on board, Project Wildfire was able to utilize the collective intelligence and resources of the membership to move forward in achieving those objectives. Below is a partial list of our achievements since 2005.
- Successfully competed for $6 million in grants from National Fire Plan (both FS and BLM), FEMA and Oregon Department of Forestry Western Fire Managers, and Economic Development Grants from the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners. These grant dollars were used specifically for treating fuels, CWPPs, GIS tracking of projects and Project Wildfire/FireFree Education.
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Administered grants for hazardous fuels reduction - successfully treated over 2,000 acres of private and county owned lands utilizing these grants. This doesn't sound very noteworthy, but the number is significant when one considers that these treatments were completed 1/4 to 1/2 acre at a time.
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Completed, implemented and now maintain seven CWPPs to provide guidance on every acre of land in Deschutes County.
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Developed partnerships with local contractors to grind all woody biomass from FireFree and fuels treatment projects to produce clean electricity.
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Completed the 2005 Natural Hazard Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan and its update, the 2010 Deschutes County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan.
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Participated in Joint Fire Science project on CWPPs & collaboration.
- Participated in the National Blue Ribbon Panel on Wildland Urban Interface.
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Implemented a Low Income Fuels Treatment Assistance program.
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Established Evacuation Route Signs in high risk neighborhoods across Deschutes County.
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Collected over 200,000 cubic yards of FireFree woody debris since 1998.
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Presented at International Wildland Fire Conference in Spain, the Congressional Fire Services Institute Seminars in Washington DC, at many IAFC Wildland Urban Interface Conferences and multiple state and local speaking opportunities.
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Conducted outreach and education seminars to realtors and homeowners.
