8/3/2019 2011 Itasca County Firewise Report

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2011-itasca-county-firewise-report 1/1

 CHALLENGE

In 2003, Congress enacted the Healthy Forest Restoration

Act allowing communities to begin the cooperative work 

to look critically at the growing wildland urban interface,

vegetation and infrastructure and take steps to reducerisks from wildfire. In 2004 Itasca County developed a

Wildfire Protection Plan, and began to identify and prioritize projects and activities.

Itasca County, with two million acres of rural forested land, has a population of 44,000 and

many cabin owners enjoying 1,500 lakes and rivers. Historically the county averages 60

wildfires each year and experts are predicting an increase in frequency and intensity of fires

Twenty rural volunteer fire departments (RFDs) serve Itasca County; some RFDs have large

protection areas with some response times exceeding 20 minutes from the station to outlying

areas.

Access is an issue for RFD trucks and emergency service

vehicles due to driveways with poor access, inadequateturning space, and dead-end roads—all of which could pose

problems during an emergency situation. Many homes have

inadequate defensible space.

Itasca County Wildfire

Protection Plan

Implementation Team:

Project Partners:

DNR-FirewiseItasca CountyItasca County Chiefs Association

Itasca County Land Dept.Itasca County Sheriffs Dept.

Itasca County SWCDLeech Lake Band of Ojibwe

University of Minnesota Extension-Itasca County

US Forest Service-ChippewaNational Forest

20 Rural Fire Departments servingItasca County:

BalsamBearville

Bigfork Bovey

Blackduck Calumet

CohassetColeraine

Deer RiverFrench

GoodlandGrand RapidsHill City

KeewatinMarbleNashwauk 

NorthomeSquaw Lake

TaconiteWarba/Feeley/Sago

Project Coordinator : Julie Miedtke

University of Minnesota

Extension-Itasca County

123 NE Fourth Street

Grand Rapids, MN 55744

218-327-7365

Itasca County

Itasca CountyFirewise Coordinator:Bill Brink 

P. O. Box 607

Deer River, MN

218-360-1114

2011 Firewise Report:Keeping Itasca County Safe 

PROJECT OUTCOMES

Improved the safety of county residents and rural property

owners through a cooperative effort between Extension, Itasca fire chiefs, county and state

agencies, and the private sector.

Surveyed 5,400 properties to identify emergency response time and distance to a water sup-

ply for wildfire and structural protection.

Installed 15 dry hydrants and water storage tanks in critical locations, resulting in improved

efficiencies for RFDs and increased protection for rural property owners. 

Trained 20 rural fire departments in national Firewise practices and principles and pro-

vides quarterly updates to the Itasca County Chiefs Association.

Trained private contractors (tree care service providers, loggers, landscape service compa-

nies, building contractors) in Firewise to improve site management and reduce risk of wild-

fire.

Coordinated the efforts of 60 property owners who contributed 1,700 hours of volunteer

time during the summer of 2011 removing hazardous materials around structures and improving access for rural fire departments.

Worked with contractors to chip and transport 300 tons of hazardous fuel that was used to

generate renewable energy at the Minnesota Power Rapid Energy Center in Grand Rapids.

Developed an Incidence Response Map for rural fire departments and other emergency ser-

vice agencies (U.S. Forest Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Sheriff’s

Department, and ambulances) identifying infrastructure and risks.

Shared the success of this project at professional venues, including 2011 National Firewise

Convention.