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Table 3.169. Participation in CWPP and Firewise
County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Firewise
No Pending Approved C it
Johnson X No
Leavenworth X No
Wyandotte X No
Firewise Communities
Taking steps to become a Firewise Community is another way communities with wildfire risk
can reduce their wildfire vulnerability. The five steps of Firewise recognition
http://www.firewise.org/communities/usa-recognition-program/program-criteria.aspx
• Obtain a wildfire risk assessment as a written document from your state forestry agency or
fire department.
• Form a board or committee, and create an action plan based on the assessment.
• Conduct a “Firewise Day” event.
• Invest a minimum of $2 per capita in local Firewise actions for the year.
• Submit an application to your state Firewise liaison
Currently no county in Region L is a Firewise Community. However, whether or not
communities have a CWPP or have taken steps to become a Firewise Community, many have
adopted burn ban ordinances or placed specific bans on burning during conditions favorable to
wildfire, such as drought.
Summary
Wildfires have been, currently are, and will be an issue for the planning area. Whether through
natural means, or human caused, wildfires have the potential to put lives and property in
danger. While there are many causes of wildfires, lightning and human caused top the list.
Once an area has had a wildfire, and the land resides on a slope of any etiology, the chance of
a landslide and soil erosion is increased. The planning area is known for its hill elevations and
the construction that has been done for residences and businesses on these slopes. There is
also marked presence of open land in the area that is also prone to wildfires. These types of
fires can spread quickly, especially during drought conditions, endangering homes, businesses,
crops, livestock, and property.
Local Mitigation Concerns
• The wind in Kansas normally blows in an eastwardly direction, so that when wildfires are
present outside of the planning area, the smoke blows into their Region. This could be a
health concern for all of the population, but specifically the vulnerable population that are
elderly, young, and/or have health issues such as asthma, emphysema, etc.
• Wildfires in the Region can be a contributor to landslides and soil erosion. When a
wildfire burns off all the grass it takes the ‘anchor’ for the soil. Subsequently, when it
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