Lawrence County Community Wildfire Protection Plan - Black Hills ...

County. Visitors can access places wellworth visiting in the Black Hills. Bothindividual historic destinations and districtscan be easily found that cover atremendous range for points of interest.The historical places in Lawrence Countyare not only important for historical valuebut local residents and tourists value them.Mitigation efforts to help preserve thesesights are important and should beconsidered during fuel treatments in theseareas.Goals And ObjectivesThe intent of this plan is to reducethe threat of catastrophic fire that wouldthreaten life, property or natural resources.Hazardous fuels reduction projects will beidentified through a methodical effortbetween local government, local fireauthorities and state and federal agencies.Prioritization of fuels reduction projects willbe developed through a coorporativeprocess to reduce the risk of catastrophicfire events threatening WUI areas.Structure density, fuel loads, canopycondition, hazardous topography and otherexisting conditions will help determinetreatment priority. Building continuitybetween different agency projects willmake them more effective in the mitigationof severe wildfire events.The hazardous fuels reductionprograms identified in this plan will facilitatethe thinning of hazardous fuels therebycreating canopy separation to reduce thechance of sustained catastrophic crown firein the survivable space of structures in theWUI. Ladder fuels and the dead and downtimber litter will also be treated to reducefire intensities.Public education programs will bedeveloped to inform people, who live in theWUI, what they can do to reduce their riskfrom wildfire. Pamphlets, flyers, letters,articles and spots in various media outlets,community meetings, Firewise workshopsand forums will be developed andimplemented. Educating stakeholdersabout Firewise practices and procedureswill help them understand ways to mitigatethe threat from wildfire.Development or improvement ofsurvivable space by removing hazardousfuels within the home ignition zone willincrease a structures chance of survivability.This will also provide fire suppressioncrews a safer work area so they can bemore effective.Assessment data of structures inWUI areas of Lawrence County willdetermine areas that are at high risk fromwildfire and provide information that iscritical in continued mitigation efforts.Current data of the County will be providedas needed, prior to the fire seasons for usein the field by fire departments and firemanagement operations. These pre-attackplans will be GIS based so the plans canbe updated as current GIS data isdeveloped.The Community Wildfire ProtectionPlan is a working document that will providethe best protection possible for theresidents of Lawrence County. TheLawrence County Subdivison ordinancepromotes safer, more responsible planningand development by requiring vegetationand fuels management in WUI areas.Current requirements promote betterroads, more survivable space, more openareas, better water sources and fireresistive building materials and firewisebuilding practices. As a result of updatedregualtion there may be a significantLawrence County Community Wildfire Protection Plan 21