Hazard Vulnerability Assessment

Forest / Wildfires:

General information index. Also see current hazard mitigation

Wildfires, also known as forest fires, are often a naturally occurring hazard that faces every community. While they do occur naturally, usually started by lightning, more often the cause is man made. A camp fire, a smoldering cigarette or sparks from someone burning brush or trash.

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality says "there are a lot of misunderstandings about open air burning in North Carolina. Some people think it is okay to burn trash in barrels because they have always done it that way. It's not! Others think it is always okay to burn leaves and branches in the fall, but that is not so in cites and counties that pick up yard waste".
 

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality enforces the state open burning rules and many local governments have additional restrictions on outdoor fires. Violating rules can be expensive, not just in fines (up to $10,000) but in the cost for other fires that may result. Our local fire departments respond to dozens of "woods fires" every year as does the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources (also known as the Forestry Service).
 
Naturally occurring dead trees or dying trees in our forests and on other public and private property often adds fuel to a fire and as the fuel builds up from ice storms, drought, pine beetle damages, tornados and hurricanes (Hugo 1989) the risk for significant wildfires increases. In 2002, Alexander County experienced sixty two (62) fires with more than thirty two (32) acres burned. The majority of these fires were carelessly started by manmade sources.
 
The entire county and all citizens have the potential to experience loss from wildfire, however according to concerns expressed by fire officials in Alexander County, there are three major areas of critical attention. These areas were defined for a number of reasons. Residential buildup, fuel buildup, access, terrain and other factors led to the development of these three areas.

Alexander County and NCDFR have jointly developed a number of pro active mitigation measures to reduce the vulnerability to wildfire.
 
Location: Number of structures Number of Acres Cost per acre Timber cost Structure Loss Total
Barrett Mountain 36 2,250 6,000 2,000 $3,240,000 $21,240,000
Hunters Ridge 31 250 " " $2,790,000 4,790,000
Jake Reese Court 40 250 " " $3,600,000 5,600,000
            Gt:                 $31,630,000 

(* The figures above are estimates based on average current property valuation, timber valuation and new residential construction costs in Alexander County and assume worst case scenario. Source - NCDNR - NCDFR)

NCDFR FIRE CONTROL

Fire photoThe Division of Forest Resources has the responsibility for protecting state and privately owned forest land from forest fires. The program is managed on a cooperative basis with the counties. All one-hundred counties participate in the forest fire protection program. Emphasis in the fire program include fire prevention efforts; pre-suppression activities (including extensive training of Division and non-Division personnel); aggressive suppression efforts on all wildfires; and law enforcement follow-up.

Staff assistance in forest fire control is provided to the field units by the Forest Protection Section Fire Staff, consisting of a Program Head, Senior Staff Forester for Training, Staff Forester for Operations & B.R.I.D.G.E, Staff Forester for Research and Development and a Law Enforcement Staff of four investigators.

The Division has a very extensive training program in forest fire protection. The National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) training courses are used in all fire organization and fire behavior training. The Incident Command System (ICS) is used to organize and manage all forest fires. The ICS is an all risk organization designed to organize and manage all natural and man-caused disasters other than wars and civil disturbances. Maintaining a well trained, proficient forest fire control organization is very similar to maintaining a well trained Army. New personnel are constantly being trained to replace veterans that are retiring or leaving the program due to promotions, transfers, or disability. Veteran fire fighters periodically undergo refresher training in suppression tactics, strategy, organization, and management.