Five Elements of a Successful Community Effort
|
|
|
Mel Holland, community leader for the West Washoe Wildfire Preparedness Group, presenting to the public about their efforts toward becoming a fire adapted community.
|
How do they do it?
Have you ever wondered why it is that some communities seem to make noticeable and steady progress toward becoming fire adapted while others can't seem to get started? Of course, quality leadership is very important, but how do they do it? We asked 27 successful community leaders who were working to reduce their community's vulnerability to wildfire what advice they would give to someone just starting out. The five most frequent responses from these leaders are as follows:
- Strong Leadership: The leader must be well informed and knowledgeable about the measures that can be utilized to create defensible space and increase structure resistance to ignition. The Living With Fire website is an excellent source of information as are all the publications produced by this University of Nevada Cooperative Extension program. In addition, attending presentations, conferences, and visiting with local fire officials are all important avenues to build a firm understanding and establish credibility.
- Know your Neighborhood: Become familiar with your neighborhoods and neighbors. The most effective communication is achieved by face-to-face, door-to-door, one-on-one engagement.
- Strength in Numbers: Don't try to do it alone. While some leaders have been successful using a solo approach, burnout is often a serious consequence. Recruit similarly concerned, like-minded, residents and establish a local organization to use the talents and energy that exists within a group working to achieve a common mission.
- Persistence: Keep information about the threat of wildfire and measures that can be taken to reduce that threat in front of people on a continuous basis. Distribute published material, utilize media outlets, place the issue on the agendas of community gatherings, organize community events, and in every way possible keep the issue alive and in front of people without ceasing.
- Build Partnerships: Establish open lines of communication with the people in your local fire service. Solicit their assistance and in turn help them in areas where your presence is needed. Develop a strong working relationship and partnership where mutual benefit is the outcome.
These five attributes can be seen in successful communities. And, success means a greater probability of surviving a wildfire and a higher level of community protection.
|
Partner Spotlight:
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful
|
|
|
Illegal dumpsites are ugly, detract from the beautiful landscape of Nevada and can create a wildfire hazard. Photo courtesy of Jaime Souza.
|
Disposing of yard waste, landscape debris, and other products on public or private lands is not just unsightly - it is ILLEGAL - and can lead to hefty fines, six months in jail and/or the loss of your business licenses. And on top of it all, dumpsites can create a wildfire hazard!
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a cleaner, more beautiful region through education and active community involvement. One of their efforts involves educating the public on the issue of illegal dumping and what they can do about it.
If you see an illegal dumpsite in Washoe County, please call the Illegal Dumping hotline at 329-DUMP. You can also report illegal dumping within the City of Reno using the
City of Reno iPhone application
.
And if you see illegal dumping in progress, do not engage or approach illegal dumpers. Instead, try to get any identifying information (i.e. license plate numbers, make and model of vehicles, logos on the vehicles, etc.) so law enforcement can identify and apprehend offenders. Photos of sites and any identifying information are also very helpful, but do not remove any items.
To learn more about illegal dumping or how you can dispose of waste appropriately, please click
here
.
Help KTMB support a cleaner, safer community.
|
Proper Signage
|
Address signs should be readily visible from the street and made of noncombustible reflective materials. Photo courtesy of the Smith Valley Fire Protection District.
|
Locating a specific house or street name quickly during a wildfire is critical. This is not only true for emergency personnel trying to locate a property, but also for residents trying to evacuate. Unfortunately, visibility during a wildfire is often poor due to dense smoke which can make reading address and street signs difficult. Further compounding the problem is that signs made of combustible materials can be destroyed during a wildfire. Homes located in wildfire p
rone areas should have address signs that are easily visible from the street and made of reflective,
noncombustible material with characters at least four inches high. Street signs should be posted at every intersection leading to your home and be
constructed similar
to the address signs. Both address and street signs should be mounted on noncombustible support structures. Signage that meets these recommendations can be found online by searching for "reflective signs."
|
|
Emergency Notification Systems
In this month's blog, Jenny learns about her location's emergency notification system and how she can stay informed during an emergency situation. Follow her journey and participate in the discussion
here
!
|
Cohesive Strategy Summit
|
|
|
Image Source: www.forestsandrangelands.gov
|
What is the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy?
The "National Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy" is the outcome of a 2009 mandate by Congress to address the wildland fire problem and how we deal with it. On Tuesday, September 29, 2015, stakeholders will come together to discuss ideas on how to implement the Cohesive Strategy in Nevada, both in the short- and long-term, resulting in an action plan for what statewide partners need to do to achieve the Cohesive Strategy goals. Your State Forester, Bob Roper, will be sharing some of the outcomes of the Summit at the Network Annual Conference on November 9th. This will help us to learn how we, as a community, can do our part in preparing for wildfire! If you haven't already registered for the Network Conference, please click
here
to reserve your spot today! And to read more about the upcoming Cohesive Strategy Summit, please click
here
.
|
|
What do you think?
We'd like your feedback! What information would you like to know to help reduce the wildfire threat to your community? Reply to this email to share your thoughts.
|
This newsletter is provided by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, an EEO/AA institution, with funding from a State Fire Assistance grant from the Nevada Division of Forestry and USDA Forest Service. Additional support is provided by the Bureau of Land Management - Nevada State Office.
|
|
|
 |
|
The Network Annual Conference
Featured Speaker
Registration for The Network Annual Conference on November 9th is open and filling up fast! This informative and important event's featured speaker is Carlene Anders. Carlene is a volunteer firefighter and the Executive Director of the Carlton Complex Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG). The LTRG is a nonprofit organization formed to address both long-term community needs and the rebuilding of homes and other lost structures in the Carlton Complex Fire, the largest wildfire in the history of Washington State. This fire destroyed 322 homes as well as 149 other structures. With this experience, Carlene can share her unique perspective on the impact of wildfire from a personal and community perspective, including the lingering social, economic, and emotional phases of disaster. You will also have the opportunity to ask Carlene questions about preparing for and surviving a wildfire. This is an opportunity you don't want to miss! If you still need to register for the conference, you can do so online by clicking
here
. Or to print out and send a registration form via standard mail, please click
here
.
|
|
|
|
|
