Resilient Region Part 3: Urban Wildfires
Location:
North Central Texas Council of Governments
Transportation Council Room
616 Six Flags Drive
Arlington, Texas 76011
Program Description:
Does your Hazard Mitigation Plan include a plan for wildfires? This third part of the Planning for Resiliency seminar series will discuss the connection between wildfires and urbanized areas. Wildfires have been on the news recently, and while they do burn in parkland and natural areas, they do not discriminate. Our urbanized areas also contain a lot of fuel. Planning for wildfires is essential for all settings – urban, suburban and rural.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service,
“Wildfires swept across Texas in 2011, burning nearly 4 million acres. News reports showed communities where hundreds of homes were destroyed. But the story most Texans didn’t hear was that more than 39,000 homes were saved - able to survive a wildfire, often without the benefit of firefighting resources. The reality that many residents face unknowingly is that, under extreme conditions, there just aren’t enough resources to protect every home.
Reducing the amount of vegetation or fuel around homes and communities while using ignition resistant building material is the best defense in protecting people, homes and property from a wildfire. Several proactive communities have successfully mitigated wildfire risk by addressing these issues.”
Over the past 20 years, Texas has experienced rapid growth within the wildland urban interface (WUI). Preventing and mitigating wildfires in the WUI is not just the responsibility of the fire department, rather it requires a comprehensive response in which planners play an important role. The program will introduce participants to the national wildfire cohesive strategy, the fire adapted community concept and community wildfire protection plans.
Speaker: Bruce Woods, Mitigation and Prevention Department, Texas A&M Forest Service
Lunch and Networking: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Presentation: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch will be provided for those who register by September 17th.
