Building on Lessons Learned

Action Plan for Arizona

April 10, 2003

Dear Friends,

Thank you to everyone who attended my Office's first Annual Conference on Forest Health and Safety. It was a very productive session, bringing together dedicated individuals from all walks of life who share a common goal of protecting our state's forests. You will find in this Action Plan for Arizona a list of many of your goals and recommendations aimed at preserving Arizona's forests.

We all have a part to play in reducing the risk of preventable wildfires and the damage they do to our communities. The state will work to improve coordination efforts between government agencies for removing hazardous fuels from the forest floors and ensuring that fire personnel and response teams are prepared to respond to emergencies; educate the community about ways individuals can protect their property; assist community efforts in Arizona's rural areas that are close to forest land, such as in Prescott, Flagstaff and Payson, by providing support through state services; and by developing policies that focus on areas that are susceptible to devastation as a result of forest fires.

In addition to working on education efforts--some of which are as simple as removing items on private property that could fuel wildfires, my Office will work with our Congressional delegation to recommend that Arizona receive the necessary funding to combat the risk of catastrophic wildfire through reforestation and other projects. I commend our federal partners for their plans to reduce fuel on 225,000 acres of Arizona forests and look forward to upcoming projects to do the same in other at-risk parts of the state.

The devastating impact of last summer's Rodeo-Chediski fire left us with important lessons, many of which you will find in this Action Plan. We still have a lot of work to do, but I am confident that with your commitment to addressing the immediate and long-term goals for healthy forests in Arizona, we will get it done.

Very Truly Yours,

Governor Janet Napolitano

GOVERNOR’S FOREST HEALTH AND SAFETY ACTION PLAN

Establish a Science-based Forest Health Advisory Council

Establish the Arizona Forest Health Advisory Council with a broad cross-section of representation to utilize a science-based approach to improving the health of Arizona’s forests. Representation shall include scientists, private sector, conservation community, Indian community, local and logging and forestry experts. The Council will:

Develop guiding principles for the design and implementation of restoration-based fuel reduction and forest health projects based on the best science available;
Coordinate activities to monitor and evaluate results of existing demonstration restoration projects in Arizona to share lessons learned. Build on these lessons and identify new opportunities for alternative strategies for demonstration restoration-based fuel reduction and forest health projects and the resources to fund them;
Evaluate existing and potential sustainable economic uses for small diameter trees for their compatibility with long-term protection of forest health and economic development opportunities focused on creation of local jobs. Include recommendations to expand current marketing efforts of Arizona wood products and coordinate through the Arizona Department of Commerce;
Develop incentives for homeowners and homeowner associations for community/neighborhood partnering.

Establish Governor’s Forest Health Oversight Council

Establish the Governor’s Forest Health Oversight Council with representation from the Governor’s Office, Legislature, state agencies, Forest Health Advisory Council and community at large. Oversight Council will:

Develop timeline for implementation of Governor’s Forest Health and Safety Action Plan;
Serve in oversight role to ensure implementation of Governor’s Forest Health and Safety Action Plan.

Promote Inter-governmental/Inter-agency Coordination

Adopt and implement the first “Statewide Fire-Service Mutual Aid Plan” to ensure emergency equipment is dispatched to any emergency situation as quickly as possibly and avoids delays created by debating “who is going to pay.” This cooperation among all levels of government will ensure rapid response in the event of a wildfire or other disaster.

Utilize new technology to improve radio interoperability and coverage in rural and remote areas ensuring a statewide radio system that can be used by all emergency responders. Conduct trial run in northern Arizona to test results and improve or amend as needed.

Establish a lead working group to coordinate communication between all agencies, communities and tribes. Working group will:

Work with the Office of Homeland Security, Arizona Division of Emergency Management and Arizona State Land Department to ensure fire prevention, suppression and education;
Coordinate with all agencies, communities and tribes to craft enforcement procedures and develop common messages;
Evaluate existing and historic models, resources and tools and streamline them;
Identify available funding to support these resources.

Build on and refine existing emergency operations plans for at-risk communities in collaboration with state and government agencies.

Coordinate with Arizona Department of Transportation and tribal and local government to determine safety status of Arizona’s roads and highways. Create fuel breaks and fire lines within communities and identify and direct necessary resources to implement.

Set Priorities for Protecting our Forested Communities

Direct State Land Department to lead prioritization of communities at risk using fire behavior/resistance, population diversity, and fire occurrence.

Evaluate current hazardous fuel reduction projects within the wildland/urban interface area to ensure the most at-risk communities are protected. Identify process and timeline for projects and direct funding to communities to support local forest health and fire mitigation efforts including bark beetle infestation.

Improve Education and Communication

Coordinate outreach and education campaign efforts to educate homeowners on what they need to do to make sure they have eliminated fire hazards surrounding their homes. Focus on cooperation with local, state and federal governments and seek public/private partnerships to engage professional public relations experts in crafting effective messages for homeowners. Messages will be consistent with Arizona FIREWISE Program and targeted at homeowners in forested communities and include information to direct people to National Fire Plan Grants and Assistance to Communities website. Utilize local organizations to assist in outreach and create an incentive plan for communities that move ahead with protection efforts in a timely fashion.

Partner to create “one-stop shopping” website for National Fire Plan Grants and Assistance to Communities with information on actions people can take to protect their properties and grant opportunities available to help. Website address: www.southwestareagrants.org

Develop Public Service Announcements to educate homeowners on individual actions they can take to be prepared.

Provide Our Communities and Citizens with Much-Needed Tools

Coordinate volunteer efforts to focus outreach program for re-enforcing citizen education on wildfire preparations and assisting homeowners and communities with fuel removal projects.

Develop necessary legislation to grant cities and counties necessary authority to establish wildland/urban interface building and landscaping codes.

Set “Best Management Practice” standards for forest management practices.

Partner to conduct emergency training programs in impacted communities.

Direct the Arizona Division of Emergency Management to coordinate with other state, local and tribal agencies to improve their planning and response efforts such as streamlining the eligibility and application process, coordinating health and human resources across entities, and educating/informing the public during a disaster.

Work with Congressional Delegation to Secure Resources and Develop Sound Policy for Arizona

Work with Congressional delegation to ensure national policy meets Arizona’s needs and to secure necessary resources for fire prevention and suppressions.

Investigate opportunities in non-traditional program areas such as Department of Energy, Natural Resource Conservation Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support forest health and safety initiatives and respond to the bark beetle infestation.