State ahead of federal fire requirements

Wildfire studies done for each of Nevada's 17 counties put the state ahead of new federal requirements and could help areas such as Carson City get access to federal money to mitigate wildfire hazards.

Elwood Miller, who coordinated the project for the state, told the Carson City Board of Supervisors on Thursday the Healthy Forest Act requires community wildfire protection plans similar to the study presented to the board.

He said the federal requirements didn't exist when the process of developing the plans began a year ago.

He said no other state in the nation has community wildfire protection plans in place for all of its communities, while Nevada's are completed.

That, he said, puts Nevada in position to maximize federal funding for fire safety projects. He said once the supervisors, local fire officials and the state forester sign off on each community plan, it will become the mechanism for determining how federal fire mitigation funds are used in western Nevada.

Projects recommended by the plan on public lands will get priority in allocation of federal funding, and federal wildfire protection money will go first to those areas which have an approved community wildfire protection plan.

In addition, the recommendations in the community plan will be considered by federal agencies in developing their work programs for such things as hazardous fuel reduction.

Resource Concepts visited communities statewide to assess wildfire hazards, identify fire suppression capabilities, map fuel hazards and design projects mitigating the hazards.

The Carson City plan was presented to supervisors Thursday. It lists most of Carson City, including some of the forested areas along the west side, as having a moderate risk of catastrophic fire. The Stewart area is listed as low in risk.

But the Clear Creek area with its heavy forests, steep slopes and one narrow access road was classified as having a high potential for a catastrophic fire.

n Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at nevadaappeal@sbcglobal.net or 687-8750.