Programs and Standards for Fire Safety in the Wildland Urban Interface
National standards for creating low fire risk conditions in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) have primarily come through the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and Firewise Communities Program. Those standards are then implemented through various state or local programs that promote voluntary actions, community action programs, or governmental ordinances and other regulatory mechanisms. The NFPA maintains standards for infrastructure, water supply, and utility lines in residential developments that aim to reduce fire risks.
Some of the NFPA fire safety standards for infrastructure are:
- adequate access routes for subdivisions, preferably two entrances to the subdivision
- right-of-ways maintained with a minimum width of 60 feet
- dead ends limited to 800 feet in length
- cul-de-sacs with not less than 45 feet radius driveways present with a minimum 10 feet width and clear of vegetation
- bridges must have a minimum 20-ton gross weight load capacity
- roads must be identified with non-combustible signs at all intersections and clearly visible within 100 feet of the intersection
- roads must be maintained for all weather travel
NFPA water supply fire safety standards include:
- water distribution mains on which fire hydrants are located should have a minimum diameter of 6 inches
- fire hydrants meet the standards of the responsible fire authority with regards to type, size, and location
- individual private water supplies should have a minimum water storage capacity of 2500 gallons within 500 feet of the structure
- tanks and cisterns have a 4.5" diameter capped male hose connection
- garden hose bibbs available near the house that can reach all parts of the structure
Electrical power system fire safety standards set by NFPA include:
- electrical lines installed underground in new developments
- underground power cables at least 30 inches below the surface
- overhead power cables free of encroaching vegetation within 6 feet
These and other NFPA 1144 standards have been adopted by both state and local organizations for community development. As new communities are developed and older ones are retrofitted to create fire-safe communities, fire prevention managers emphasize that meeting fire-safe standards can still be aesthetically pleasing to residents.
Community action programs
Firewise Communities USA is a fire education project of the NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Committee), administered by the NFPA whose goals are to prevent and reduce losses to WUI fire and foster community participation in applying Firewise principles. Firewise Communities USA was developed as a way to help stop the wildfire disaster cycle which is the phenomena where fire risks in the WUI remain just as high after a fire as they were before because people who have lost a home in a WUI fire re-build it in the same spot as the original home using money from homeowners insurance or low-cost loans. The Firewise Communities USA program provides citizens with the knowledge necessary to maintain an acceptable level of fire readiness and ensures that firefighters will be able to make efficient use of their equipment during a wildland fire emergency. The national Firewise program has conducted workshops in many states to promote local planning for fire safety. The collaborative workshops include local citizens, financial and insurance organizations, local government officials and fire agency representatives.
Firewise Communities USA recognizes communities or neighborhoods that demonstrate the spirit, resolve, and willingness to take responsibility as a partner in wildfire protection. As of 2004, 20 Firewise Communities had been recognized in the South. Firewise Communities representatives visit recognized communities to assess the site, establish a committee consisting of homeowners and local fire agency officials, create site-specific plans, and implement solutions. Common practices recommended by the Firewise Communities USA program include: removing excess vegetation from road shoulders, replacing wood shake roofs with a non-flammable Class-A alternative (such as asphalt shingles or metal), removing highly flammable trees and shrubs and planting low flammable trees and shrubs, stacking firewood away from homes, and creating a minimum three foot fuel-free area on all sides of structures.
Governmental actions
The fire management policies and regulations of state, county, and local governments guide land use decisions. Local governments exercise their authority over land use through zoning ordinances (Kundell and others 2002) which are increasingly used to apply fire safety standards to new and existing residential developments. In 2004, Louisa County, Virginia approved subdivision guidelines/ordinances for communities in wildfire sensitive areas. The guidelines apply to any new subdivision or construction and are designed to protect the life, safety, and welfare of citizens and property. The guidelines address design and development plans, defensible space, fuel modification, liquified petroleum gas installations, roads, driveways, overhead power lines, and fire hydrants. Recommended fuel modification treatments include the removal of any pine or cedar trees within 20 feet of any residential dwelling and the removal or pruning of vegetation or woody growth under trees.
In 2003, Alachua County, Florida, added an amendment to its Comprehensive Plan that incorporates wildfire mitigation to “protect life, property, and the economy by eliminating or minimizing the present and future vulnerability to wildfire hazards” (Alachua County 2003). The amendment addresses current areas of wildfire hazard and requires new developments to complete a wildfire mitigation plan to include defensible space, fuel breaks, plant material suggestions, and the placement of structures. This plan is subject to review and approval by the Alachua County Fire Rescue Department. Other requirements include outdoor sprinkler systems, fire-resistant building materials or treatments, landscaping with appropriate vegetation, appropriate roads for access by fire fighting equipment, and increased public awareness of the benefits of prescribed burning.
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