North Georgia Fire Prevention & Education Team 2013

Mark L. Wiles

Wildfire Prevention SpecialistGeorgia Forestry Commission

Prevention Team Focus Areas

Haralson & Polk CountiesMay 7-14, 2013

Rabun CountyMay 15-22, 2013

Polk and Haralson Counties(May 7, 2013 thru May14, 2013)

• Promote “Human-Caused Fire” awareness.• Spread the Fire Prevention Message.• Promote the Firewise Program in local communities.• Promote “Arson Awareness Week” (May 6-May 10).• Train District Fire Prevention Coordinators as Fire

Prevention Team members.

Focus Areas for this Project

Delegation of Authority1. Provide consistent Firewise & Fire Prevention messages to the public,

local governments, and media.2. Promote regional Firewise, prevention, and CWPP efforts and events

already underway, including presentations to civic groups, homeowners associations, schools, local organizations and participation in community events such as fairs and local celebrations.

3. Raise overall awareness of fire danger, burning restrictions, and regulations currently in place for counties in North Georgia.

4. Help Promote Arson Awareness Week (May 5th-11th)

5. Create and distribute new Fire Prevention products.

6. Provide CDI training to District Fire Prevention Coordinators

7. Help develop new Fire Prevention Strategy for the District.

Polk and Haralson County Team

• Mark Wiles. GFC, Team Leader• Beryl Budd, GFC, Team Member• Denise Croker, GFC, Team Member• Chris Dunn, GFC, Team Member• Jenny Brunner, GFC, Team Member• Eric Mosley, GFC, Team Liason

Polk and Haralson CountiesArson Fires within these two counties

accounted for roughly 25% of the

arson fires throughout the state during the last year.

These arson fires have traditionally been the primary

cause of wildfires in these two counties

for many years!

Polk and Haralson CountiesThe team worked out of the Polk County Emergency

Management Office located in Cedartown.

Polk and Haralson CountiesTeam Objectives:

Fire Prevention Education for all human caused wildfires with an emphasis on Arson.

Target Audience:•Local Governments•Media•School programs•Civic and Community Groups •Local Organizations •Local Events•General Public

Local Governments Contacted Polk and Haralson Counties

Team members made contact with key officials in these communities:

Haralson County Polk County

• Board of Commissioners• City of Buchanan• City of Bremen• City of Tallapoosa• City of Waco

• Board of Commissioners• City of Cedartown• City of Rockmart• City of Aragon• City of Braswell

Media Outreach

The team spread the Fire Prevention message through a variety of media sources.

• Cedartown Journal• Rockmart Journal• WSB TV• Fox Atlanta• Radio

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Information Distribution

School Campaign Team members made 43 fire prevention

presentations to approximately 1600 students and educators during the week.

• Haralson Middle School• Rockmart Middle School• Buchanan Elementary• Buchanan Primary• Polk County Elementary

Schools at Farm Day event sponsored by Polk County Farm Bureau

Civic and Community Groups Team members made four presentations to

approximately 131 local leaders.

• Tallapoosa Lion’s Club

• Bremen Rotary Club

• Bremen 5:14 Community meeting

• Buchanan Kiwanis Club

Local Organizations and Businesses Team members met with and distributed materials to many local

organizations. Three presentations were also made to local Senior Centers and a Boy Scout troop.

• Bremen Senior Center• Tallapoosa Senior Center• Haralson Boy Scout troop• Chamber of Commerce• Carroll EMC• Georgia Power Company• Saved to Serve Volunteers• Ministry Association of Haralson County• Polk and Haralson Farm Bureau• Boys and Girls Club• West Georgia Technical College• Haralson County Wildlife Association

General Public Team Members provided fire prevention table exhibit and distributed

materials to the general public at local events and shopping centers.

• West Georgia Technical College Rodeo

• Haralson County Fishing Rodeo• Bremen Wal-mart• Cedartown Home Depot

Campaign Follow-upPolk & Haralson Counties

•Revitalize County Fire Prevention Programso County School SystemsoCommunity EventsoCivic Organizations

•Follow-up with contacts for each community who are interested in the Firewise Program.

•Continue Outreach with local schools and civic groups

•GFC Investigators should agressively inspect arson fires, and prosecute if possible.

Campaign Follow-upPolk & Haralson Counties

•Continue outreach with local county and city governments, in coordination with sheriff and fire departments

•Continue fire department training.

•Continue to develop GFC fire prevention personnel to revitalize prevention program.

•Utilize Fire Prevention Specialists to promote arson awareness, fire prevention and Firewise programs

•Introduce landowners to various fuel mitigation methods through mastication and prescribed burning.

•Provide support through the Community Protection Grant

Rabun County Firewise Assignment (Phase II of the Fire Prevention Campaign)

Rabun County Firewise(May 15, 2013 thru May 22, 2013)

• Promote “Firewise” Program awareness.• Identify at risk communities.• Promote the “Firewise” Program in the local

communities, as well as the governing bodies of those communities.

• Train District Fire Prevention Coordinators as Fire Prevention Team members.

Focus Areas for this Project

Rabun County Team

Mark Wiles, GFC ,Team LeaderDon Walker, USFS, Team Leader TraineeBeryl Budd, GFC, Team MemberDenise Croker, GFC, Team MemberAllison Segrest, GFC, Team MemberPatrick Mahoney, FFS, Firewise RepresentativeMark Sparrow, GFC, Team MemberShannon Dean, GFC, Team Member Shawn Diddie, GFC, Team MemberEric Mosley, GFC, Liason

The Team:

Team Members conduct initial planning meeting at the Tiger EMA facility, which was used as the teams headquarters.

Local Government Team Members met with key officials from all local municipalities. • Rabun County Board of

Commissioners• City of Sky Valley• City of Scaly Mountain• City of Dillard• City of Clayton• City of Tiger• City of Tallulah Falls• City of Mountain City

Media OutreachTeam members had success with spreading the Firewise message.

Team members conduct a media tour of a certified Firewise

Community. Sky 104 Radio Station

Access North Georgia News (online)

Clayton Tribune

Laurel Magazine

Link on Rabun County website

Developments and Homeowners Associations

Team members identified and made contacts with high risk developments.

•Rabun Bluff•Lake Rabun•Sylvan Lake Falls•Sky Valley•Pinnacle Point•Spruce Creek•WynnGate•Hampton Place•Hickory Nut Mountain•Lakemont•Lake Burton Team members give a Firewise

Communities presentation to the Lake Burton Property Owner’s

Association.

Community AssessmentsTeam members complete a Firewise

Community application and assessment for the Hampton Place Community

Firewise Community application and assessment for Camp Rainey Mountain, Boy Scout Camp were completed.

Local Community and Business Outreach Team members distributed

materials and made contacts throughout the community.

Chamber of Commerce

Bear Creek Realty

Better Homes & Garden Metro Brokers

United Community Bank

Sky Valley Golf Club

Rabun Gap Nacoochee School

Sky Valley REMAX Realty

Rabun REMAX Realty

Billingsley’s Garden Center

Rabun County Farm Bureau

Tallulah Gorge State Park

Blackrock Mountain State Park

Chattooga Ranger District, USFS

Team members provide table exhibit and distribute materials at the Rabun County Carnival.

Civic and Community Presentations Presentations were made to several Civic and other

community organizations.

• Rotary Club of Clayton• BSA Northeast Georgia

Council• REMAX Realtors sales

meeting• Lake Burton Civic Association

Fire Department Training Team members present

Firewise training to 80 volunteers at the Rabun County Training Center.

Team members meet with and conduct several Firewise training meetings for local Volunteer Fire

Departments.

• Valley Fire Department•Chechero Fire Department•Wildcat Fire Department•Scaly Mountain Fire Department

Firewise Message

The team distributed literature, used signage, and table top

exhibits to spread the Firewise message in a variety of ways to

thousands of local citizens.

A local advertising firm provided a billboard Firewise message

at no cost.

Campaign Follow-upRabun County

•Follow-up with Firewise contactsoMediaoLeaders, ex. MayorsoBoy Scouts, ex. Camp Rainey Mountain

•Attend scheduled community meetings

•Complete community assessments

•Schedule and support in the conduction of Firewise Day

•Continue fire department training

•Recruiting new communities, continue outreach efforts•Engage State Parks in Firewise programs.oChattooga Ranger District (USFS)

Campaign Follow-upRabun County

•Train current GFC employees on Firewise

•Create partnership with North Carolina Forest Service

•Utilize Wildfire Prevention Specialist (TDL) employees to promote human caused fire awareness, fire prevention and the Firewise program within these communities

•Introduce landowners to various fuel mitigation methods through mastication and prescribed fire

• Provide support through the Community Protection Grant.

Campaign Follow-upRabun County

•Currently working with Boy Scouts if America, Future Farmers of America and 4-H to promote Firewise message throughout Georgia

•Firewise Communities created as a result of the campaignShades of TigerRabun BluffBear GapCity of Tallullah FallsRainey Mountain Community (BSA)Scoutland Community (BSA)Screamer MountainCity of DillardDenver York LaneHeaven’s LandingHampton PlaceSky Valley

Lake RabunLake BurtonLaurel RidgeCedar Cliff (Towns County)Pine Crest (Towns County)High River (Towns County)City of Talmo (Jackson County)City of Mansfield (Newton County)Pineywoods (Hart County)

The Campaign Continues

There is still much to be done!