Reps. of Fire Safe Councils & fire departments get together
“The great thing about this new application is that we can look all over the county and see what’s been done.” Representatives of Fire Safe Councils and fire departments got together at the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department on Thursday and Friday of last week for a conference on fuel reduction and other forest matters. The event was sponsored by Cal Fire, the California Fire Safe Council, Humboldt County Planning Department, the UC Cooperative Extension, and the Van Duzen Watershed Council.
”What we’re trying to do here,” he said, “is to get where everybody is prioritizing their different needs and projects for fuel reduction and fire safety. We’re trying to get everybody on the same page. One thing that’s pretty remarkable is that there has been money available. I know BLM has spent about half a million dollars through nonprofits and other organizations on fuels projects. http://www.redwoodtimes.com/garbervillenews/ci_14009768
Humboldt County Web GIS
The workshop on Thursday morning was facilitated by Cybelle Immit of the Humboldt County Planning Department and computer genius Jerry Van Dolen, also of the HCPD. Van Dolen has been working with the County’s GIS database to add layers of useful information about fire ratings and fire hazards and this information will be available to everyone online. Fire sites have been mapped back to 1908, and the locations of fuel reduction and controlled burns have been mapped as well, going back as far as the information available will allow. This lets fire safe councils and agencies know where fuel breaks are in the event of a fire, where fuel reduction has been done and where it’s still needed, and to track where fuel breaks and fuel reduction projects need revisiting. http://www.redwoodtimes.com/garbervillenews/ci_14009768
Van Dolen said that Humboldt County is unique in the state for its GIS data. Some counties have this information but charge for it. The Humboldt County system is designed to be accessible to everyone. Even homeowners can check their fire ratings and learn where their areas have been treated for fuel reduction and what their risk of fire may be. http://www.redwoodtimes.com/garbervillenews/ci_14009768
