Last Updated May 1, 2014
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit has written its annual Fire Plan with the intention of establishing goals and priorities that align with CAL FIRE’S Strategic Plan and the California Fire Plan while identifying goals and priorities specific to the Unit.
The California Fire Plan is the road map for reducing the risk of wildfire. The Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit’s fire plan identifies strategic goals and objectives that target the anticipation and reduction of wildfire within the boundaries of the Unit. This fire plan seeks to improve operational effectiveness, scale to budgetary and fiscal circumstances, foster a healthy ecosystem and improve firefighter safety by identifying working projects specific to each Battalion within the Unit.
Pre-fire management projects are designed to reduce cost and losses, especially during periods of severe weather. With the use of fire resistant landscaping, mechanical fuels treatment, prescribed fire projects, building construction standards, infrastructure, land use planning, pre-fire safety zones and escape plans the Unit strives to keep what would otherwise be a large, catastrophic fire, to a smaller fire with less intensity, reducing suppression costs and property loss. The planning process defines a level of service measurement, considers assets at risk, incorporates the cooperative interdependent relationships of wildland fire protection providers, allows for public stakeholders involvement and creates a fiscal framework for policy analysis.
The strategic goals outlined above will be supported by the following objectives:
- Collect, analyze and prepare data to assess communities at risk and in need of fuel reduction or other projects.
- Work with grant writers and stakeholders to secure funds to implement projects.
- Utilize CAL FIRE personnel and resources in conjunction with other public and private efforts to assist with the project work on the ground.
- Educate the public on fire prevention practices that would incorporate fire landscaping and construction to reduce their threat from wildfire along with hazardous fuel reduction projects to keep lives, homes, property and natural resources safe from catastrophic wildfires.
With these goals and objectives identified, the Fire Plan strives to reduce from destructive wildfires property loss, damage to our local environment and ecosystems along with a reduction of suppression costs within the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit.
Nancy B. Koerperich
Unit Chief
Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit
Click for CAL FIRE 2014 Madera Mariposa Merced Unit (MMU) Strategic Fire Plan PDF