The Cohesive Strategy for the Northeast U.S.

2015 Midwest Fire ConferenceDubuque, IA

The FLAME Act2009 Federal Land Assistance, Management and

Enhancement (FLAME) Act directs Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to develop a Cohesive

Wildland Fire Management Strategy

Three Biggest Challenges

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Goal #1 – Restoring & Maintaining Fire Resilient Landscapes

Goal #2 – Creating Fire Adapted Communities

Goal #3 – Responding to Wildfires

Response to wildfire

Fire adapted communities

Resilient landscapes

The Three National Cohesive Strategy Goals

Science

The Cohesive Strategy Organization

Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC)

Northeast RSC

West RSC

Southeast RSC

National Strategy Committee (NSC)

A Way of Doing Business

• Framework for a culture of “working better together”

• Collaboration is the key

Planning Work Completed in 2014• Science Data & Analysis• The National Strategy• National Action Plan• Barriers & Critical Success

Factors

Northeast Region Priorities for 2015

Interest Areas (groups of related actions):1. Resilient landscapes in the Northeast2. Collaboration with non-traditional partners,

agencies, governments, and NGOs 3. Prescribed fire and wildfire response

organizations4. Strengthen the wildland community

relationships5. Communications/Technology/Infrastructure

Goal 1: Restoring & Maintaining Fire Resilient Landscapes

Key Challenges:• Lack of Prescribed Burning• Smoke Concerns• Loss of Fire-dependent Ecosystems • Inadequate Biomass Utilization

Where are the best Northeast US opportunities to restore fire dependent ecosystems?

Northeast Region Management Options for Goal 1

1A - Using prescribed fire for multiple benefits1B - Maintaining/expanding fire dependent ecosystems 1C - Treating event fuels

New England Cottontails inhabit Cape Cod and are a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Photo credit: David Tibbetts/USFWS

Mashpee (MA) Collaborative Works to Restore Rabbit, Human Habitats

Mashpee (MA) Collaborative

Risks from Event-created Fuels

Blowdown in Wisconsin Superstorm Sandy in West Virginia

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Goal 2: Creating Fire Adapted Communities

Key Challenges:• Urbanization and

Landscape Fragmentation

• Lack of Local Planning and Coordination

• Human-caused ignitions

16

Number of Ignitions by Cause

Lightning

Camping

Smoking

Debris Burning

Arson

Equipment

Railroads

Children

Miscellaneous

Acres Burned by CauseLightning

Camping

Smoking

Debris Burning

Arson

Equipment

Railroads

Children

Miscellaneous

Northeast Region Management Options for Goal 2

2A – Encourage local adaptation based on needs and opportunities2B – Increase hazardous fuel treatment (private and public ownership)2C – Increase prevention (targeting and reducing when and where fires occur)

What is a fire adapted community?Fire Adapted Communities take responsibility for ensuring the protection of their residents, infrastructure, natural areas and assets from wildfire risk.

Community's fire adapted plans should address:• Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) • Firewise Communities/USA• Ready, Set, GO!

Why is a Fire Adapted Community important?

•Increases firefighter and public safety• Increases community resilience & post-

disaster economic recovery• Decreased financial loss from wildfire• Decreases funds necessary to protect

community• Decreases dependence on suppression &

response

FAC National Coalition

The Fire Adapted Communities coalition is:USDA Forest ServiceUS Fire AdministrationUS Department of the InteriorInternational Association of Fire ChiefsInsurance Institute for Business and Home SafetyNational Association of State ForestersNational Fire Protection AssociationThe Nature ConservancyNational Volunteer Fire CouncilNWCG WUI Mitigation Committee

FIRE ADAPTED COMMUNITIES LEARNING NETWORK COMES TO ELY, MINNESOTA

• The FAC Network is a pilot project funded through the US Forest Service’s (USFS) Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) program.

• Dovetail Partners is facilitating this effort.

Dovetail Partners

, Inc.

Firewise Event & Chipper Day Ely .

Goal 3: Responding to Wildfires Key Challenges:• Firefighter and Public Safety

Risks• Insufficient Shared

Investment in the Firefighting Workforce

• Differing Jurisdictional Responsibilities

• Inability to Maintain or Increase Local Capacity

• Inadequate Training and Qualifications Coordination

Where have large

fires occurred

in the NE?

Northeast Region Management Options for Goal 3

3A – Improve Organizational efficiency/effectiveness 3B – Increase initial response capacity (by local agencies)3C – Improve shared response capacity

Alliance of Forest Fire Compacts

Role of The Alliance of Forest Fire Compacts

• Identify and resolve issues and barriers to resource exchanges among the states and provinces

• Facilitate more sharing of resources among the states and between the states and provinces

• Provide coordinated and standardized approaches to issues

Compact-sponsored Training

Complex Incident Management Team Training in Madison, WI

February 2014

What the CS is doing for you• Provide tools, data and training for planning and

priority setting• Facilitate/Support collaboration and communication

externally and nationally• Help document and communicate success stories• Work on regional barriers and critical success factors

Suggested Uses:• Updating State Forest Action Plans• Revisions of Federal Land & Resource Management Plans• County Land Use Planning• Community Wildfire Protection Plans• Priority Setting/Project Planning• Grant Application Criteria

The National Strategy is based on extensive science information and analysis – found at: http://cohesivefire.nemac.org/node/26

What you can do for the CS• Seek additional internal program/project integration

opportunities• Expand collaborative planning and implementation

with CS partners (Feds, NGOs, IAFC, Industry, etc.)• Contribute staff expertise to work on NE regional

priority actions and barriers to success• Incorporate CS goals, actions, data into strategic and

project planning, budgets, grant applications and narratives

www.forestsandrangelands.gov

The National Website www.forestandrangelands.gov

Questions?