May 2012
This is an archived edition of NFPA's Fire Break newsletter. Since publication, some links may have broken or take you to different content. Read the latest issue and subscribe today. It's free, and once a month, you'll receive the latest news about the efforts of NFPA's Wildland Fire Operations Division.
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| Wildfires and insurance: sharing the risk |
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While fire officials are trying to
figure out how best to protect people and property, some
insurance companies say they might drop coverage for people
who choose to live in high-risk areas. With many states experiencing
an increased number of wildfires, the issue of insurance has stirred an
increasingly complicated debate.
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Online forum
provides wildfire safety tips for residents
The lack of snowpack, warm temperatures and excess
vegetation have turned abandoned lots, woodland glades
and marshlands into kindling, contributing to an increase
of brush and forest fires nationwide. To address wildfire
safety concerns, the discussion focused on community collaboration,
wildfire and the ecosystem, Firewise landscaping and more.
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Economics of wildland fire linked to critical fire reporting data
A paper published in the Journal of Forestry concluded that wildland fire
occurring in municipal jurisdictions averages $308 million in losses every year.
With this cost expected to increase, the economic impact of wildfires and its reliance
on critical fire reporting data is more important than ever.
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Garbage-eating bears:
Lessons learned from wildfire management
How do we create a WUI
community, where humans can compatibly and responsibly coexist with their environment?
In Molly Mowery's latest NFPA Journal® column, she explores this question and the connection
between responsible landscape management and reducing our wildfire risk.
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Sparky's Wish List helps fire departments fund safety education
NFPA kicked off “Sparky's Wish List™ Partnering for Fire-Safe Communities,”
a new program to help fire departments fund the purchase of life-saving
fire safety education materials. Fire departments create an online wish list;
businesses and the public fulfill the wish and provide these materials for their communities.
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Helping homeowners prepare for wildfire season
The increasing number and intensity of wildfires around
the country has raised concerns among many residents living in the
WUI. The Firewise Communities Program provides interactive modules, games
and quizzes to help residents learn how wildfires behave and what they can do to make homes safer.
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Fire Adapted Communities to unveil website, ad campaign at Congressional briefing
NFPA, the USDA Forest Service and a coalition of leading wildfire
agencies will join state senators and the media at a public launch of
the FAC initiative on June 5 in Washington, D.C. The coalition will unveil
the new website and ad campaign materials, and discuss ways community members
can work together to adapt to living with wildfire.
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NFPA shares wildfire expertise across continents
Recent conferences, seminars and workshops have brought together
wildfire industry professionals to share best practices and lessons
learned. With meetings in northern England, Canada, and later this year,
in New Zealand, Russia and Europe, NFPA continues to work with high wildfire
risk countries on ways to create more sustainable, resilient communities.
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