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Emergency Management Dept. Gay Ernst, Director 27 N.2nd Avenue Walla Walla, WA 99362 |
Phone 509.524.2900 Fax 509.524.2910 E-mail emd@co.walla-walla.wa.us Office Hours Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM |
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Wildfire |
WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE The Emergency Management Preparedness Assistance Grant (EMPAG) program was authorized by the Washington State Legislature in the State Fiscal Year 2007 budget. Walla Walla County received a portion of this grant from Washington State to conduct a Wildland Fire Risk and Hazard Severity Assessment covering a portion of the county . In the fall of 2006, Walla Walla County Emergency Management Department contracted with Gunner Fulmer, City of Walla Walla firefighter, to conduct the survey. The purpose of the assessment was to determine where, if any, high-risk wildfire areas are located by conducting a structure-by-structure survey examining certain risk factors. Only the foothills area of Walla Walla County was surveyed to determine the risk in the area of the county where development meets wildland. Prior to initiation of the survey a news release was completed advising residents of the upcoming survey. A flyer was developed and distributed where possible. With the help of Walla Walla County GIS, Emergency Management established a list of 487 potential structures in the identified area. Of the 487 structures identified in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), 52 were not surveyed due to properties being inaccessible (gated properties or the owner denied permission to survey) or due to the surveyor being unable to locate a structure. The result was that a total of 435 structures were surveyed:
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FIREWISE COMMUNITIES ‘SAFER FROM THE START: A GUIDE TO FIREWISE-FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENTS' is now available in print. This eagerly awaited guide can now be ordered from the Firewise Catalog at www.firewise.org/catalog or downloaded from the Resources for the Homeowner page. It provides developers of new communities and residents of existing community associations a tool for integrating Firewise concepts into community design and development. It contains advice for including Firewise language in covenants, conditions and restrictions (CCRs) and/or architectural rules. Other available publications include:
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