Cochise County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Grant

States and local governments at risk as published in the Federal Register, Indian Tribes, public and private education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and rural fire departments serving a community with a population of 10,000 or less in the Wildland urban interface

A. Project Background Information:

Legislative Authority: Public law 111-88 – Wildland Fire Management

The program (CFDA#15.228 ” National Fire Plan ” Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance) was established to implement the National Fire Plan and assist communities at risk from catastrophic Wildland fires by providing assistance for activities that include assessment and planning, mitigation activities, community and homeowner education, hazardous fuels reduction, monitoring, and maintenance, training, and equipment purchases. In efforts to minimize the disastrous effects of wildfire in Cochise County have been underway for many years; these efforts have resulted in communities within Cochise County developing their own approaches to preparing for Wildland fire. Developing a county wide CWPP was initiated in 2011 to bolster the efforts of large communities and incorporate smaller communities into a larger plan. This county program will bring together Federal, State, County, and local partners to maximize efforts to prepare private property and adjoining public lands to allow fire to play it’s natural role in ecosystems without devastating effects on life and property.

B. Project Objective:

The principle purpose of this project is to support Cochise County in their efforts to create and implement a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Creating and implementing a CWPP will help Cochise County identify areas of Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and specific concerns associated with those areas. The CWPP will outline projects to reduce threats to communities and structures in the WUI as well as other activities further outlined in the Statement of Joint Objectives. These projects and efforts may involve other state and county cooperators.