Lincoln County FireSafe Council is made up of local, state, and federal representatives including local citizens, local businesses, and contractors from the area brought together to promote fire mitigation and prevention.
Lincoln Co. FireSafe Council
Ed Levert 406.293.2847
tlevertt@kvis.net
May 20, 2010 Lincoln County FireSafe Council Meeting Minutes
(Draft)
Ed Levert, Lincoln Co. Forester; Doug Turman, DNRC; Keith Kenelty; Nancy Keller; Lisa Osborn, USFS Fire Prevention Tech; Don Crawford, Northwest RC&D; Kristin Smith, Lincoln Co. Planning Director, Vic White, Lincoln Co. DES; Katie Andreeson and Grant Rider, Forest Service; Bill Watt, Libby RFD
Round Robin-
Rider-Andreessen- Grant and Katie thought it best that someone other than Katie take the lead for the education sub- committee for the Libby Firewise Community. Lisa Osborn volunteered to help organize this effort for the time being. Katie said the school education program was completed outside of possible involvement with the SAF 5th grade tour. Grant said that they had completed burns in Cowell and Smoke Creek.
Osborn- The Three Rivers District has burned over 400 acres this spring. She will be helping out with the fire prevention message for the SAF 5th grade tour in Troy.
Keller- Nancy has been researching and discussing with community leaders ideas relating to evacuations. This has included tracking those folks that have medical problems and care for animals during a disaster. All of this is a part of the fire pararedness sub-committee of the Libby Firewise Community that is being headed up by Vic White.
White- On June 2 there will be a meeting to discuss emergency evacuation plans. Vic is working with the Eureka Red Cross on emergency planning. He has also been working with Steve Lauer on mapping of the Libby area as a part of the Libby Firewise Community.
Crawford- Grant dollars are pretty well spent except for some in the north end of the county. Application for Western States Grants will become due around the first of August. There are no Stevens Bill grant dollars this year. He has been working with a 22 acre grant near Savage Lake where the small lodgepole pine is going to Lucky EG Post and Pole.
Turman- They are still chipping in Flower 16 and Flower 20 will be ready for sale shortly. DNRC has had several fires already. Doug talked about the STAR Project which is a Montana program designed to train deputies for emergency fire evacuations. There are two separate teams being put together in the state, one in Billings and the other in either Great Falls or Helena. Has been working with the Fisher River RFD which is planning on doing home assessments and addressing.
Watt- Discussed Steve’s mapping work. They are reassessing their response actions which could mean using float pumps in creeks in order to increase the number of water sources. Bill showed the map of the Libby area with geocodes that the planning department had made. Something similar would work well for Crawford’s fuel hazard identification sub-committee.
Kenelty- Keith has been trying to re-engage the Chain of Lakes Firewise Community. He will be attending the May 29th meeting of the Angel Island Homeowner Assoc.
Smith- Kristin said they are working with the city of Libby on a growth plan. The news is that tax collections for fire service areas has been inadequate and should have been more.
Levert- I related the current marginal situation with the Kootenai Forest Stakeholder Coalition. I met with Dan Williams, county weed specialist about excess funds that he has that are available for fuel reduction projects on county or city properties. I reminded everyone that the third week of June is Wildfire Preparedness Week and I hope we can have another proclamation by the commissioners. I also said that I had an editorial to the county newspapers that I would send out for review.
New Business-
• Lisa Osborn gave us a presentation on the new personal wildfire action plan called Ready, Set, Go! The program was put together by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and appears to be something that could work well for Lincoln County.
• I suggested that we have a bus tour for community leaders this summer. I have discussed sharing the costs with Vaagen Lumber of Colville. The tour would look at fuel treatments in the Libby area and planned strategies for the Libby Firewise Community. A BBQ would be included in the 10AM-3PM trip. I will be working out the details for sometime in July.
• I suggested doing a revision of the Lincoln County CWPP sometime this fall. Kristin has offered to help me with the effort.
Old Business-
Libby Firewise Community- We discussed the time involved for doing this exercise as a part of the Firesafe council. It was decided that we would schedule the next Libby Firewise Community meeting prior to the regular Firesafe Council meeting.
Next Meeting- June 24 9-10 AM(Libby Firewise Community); 10-12 AM(Lincoln Firesafe Council)
March 2, 2010 Lincoln County FireSafe Council Meeting Minutes (Draft)
Ed Levert, Lincoln Co. Forester; Doug Turman, DNRC; Keith Kenelty; Nancy Keller; Lisa Osborn, USFS Fire Prevention Tech; Vicky Lawrence, Libby City Council; Don Crawford, Northwest RC&D; Kristin Smith, Lincoln Co. Planning Director, Vic White, Lincoln Co. DES; Gene Tracy, Em Kayan Firewise Communtiy Fire Board; Steve Lauer, Libby RFD; John Konzen, commissioner.
Round Robin-
Osborn- The Kootenai is going to a new radio system. Lisa talked about education/prevention needs.
Kenelty- Keith reported on the Fairmont Wildfire and Communities Workshop last week. Very informative session. Keith also discussed his planned work for the county through RC&D to work on the Firewise Community Program.
Turman- The timber sale in Flower Cr.(Sec. 16) is completed. Section 20 scheduled for sale in late June or July. Shotzberger’s vacancy is being advertised. Harold Gimmell is leaving.
Crawford- Most of the South Libby Stimulus money for fuels treatment has been obligated. Trego/Fortine/Stryker Stimulus money is going fast. Brief discussion on Corp of Engineers plans to treat fuels above Highway 37 and below Em Kayan Village.
Lauer- Steve gave us an update on the plywood plant fire. He said the industrial district was excluded from the fire district. The fire department was primarily concerned with protecting houses adjacent to the mill.
Tracy- Gene provided information to our group on the Em Kayan Firewise Community Plan and efforts to upgrade their water system.
Smith- New planning regs adopted in Jan. Meeting scheduled for sub-division fire risk assessors on March 5.
Keller- Nancy expressed her concern for the care of animals in the event of a catastrophic fire in Libby. Has invited a friend from the animal shelter to attend our meeting.
White- Vic reported on the plywood plant fire. He said the fire departments performance was outstanding. Vic gave us an update on the northern tier radio system.
Konzen- John gave us a update on the plywood plant fire. Options are to leave alone until it goes out or go ahead and put out. Leaving it alone is not a viable option. John said that the asbestos from the fire is chrystolite sp. and not tremolite and hopefully will not constitute a health hazard.
Levert- I reported on the positive meeting Keith, Don and myself had with the Upper Yaak Fire Dept. We have been invited back along with Lisa to participate in their fund raiser on March 17. Sharon Sullivan, from the fire department attended the session at Fairmont and has indicated that the department is interested in becoming a Firewise Community.
I gave an update on the Sparring Bulls and Flower Cr. projects. I reported that the county environmental director has given tacit approval to move forward with the management plan for the Libby Landfill, which includes several fuel reduction opportunites.
New Business- The group viewed the Are We Safe From Wildfire(Protecting Idaho Communities). This is an excellent DVD.
Old Business-
Libby Firewise Community- We agreed that the next step in this process is to get the nominated board together. The first order of business is to review the draft plan and submit it through channels to the national Firewise Community group for recognition. Implementation of the action items can be discussed in more detail at this time and assignments will be made. Ed is responsible for getting together with the fire department to set the meeting time and agenda.
Ed Levert, Chair
January 28, 2010 Lincoln County FireSafe Council Meeting Minutes (Draft)
Attendees: Mark Romey, Lincoln Co. Conservation District; Ed Levert, Lincoln Co. Forester; Doug Turman, DNRC; Keith Kenelty; Nancy Keller; Lisa Osborn, USFS Fire Prevention Tech; Kevin Cardwell; Vicky Lawrence, Libby City Council; Don Crawford, Northwest RC&D; Jerry Wolcott, Plum Creek Timber Co.
Round Robin-
Osborn- The Northern Rockies Coordinating Group is starting the Think campaign to stop slash pile burns from getting away. Handing out gloves is a part of the campaign. Kevin said he could get leather gloves for about the same price as what Lisa can get the cotton ones.
Lisa talked about efforts to train teachers on the use of the FireWise Trunk. Ed said Diane Rewerts at the Libby Middle School had a trunk and was no longer using it because of conflicts with the time taken from the regular curriculum.
Kenelty- Keith is starting a new job working through RC&D for Lincoln County. The job will concentrate on the Firewise Community program and will need the approval of the county commissioners once the first $5,000 is spent.
Turman- The timber sale in Flower Cr.(Sec. 16) should be completed in 1 month. The pulp continues to go out as a part of the sale, but the slash for hog fuel is in question because of the poor market.
Cardwell- The Libby District will be filling a prevention position. Many fuel projects have been completed including: 40 acres of masticating behind the county weed building on Pipe Cr., 20 acres of piles in Bobtail. Other projects to be completed are 450 acs. of understory removal near Lindy Peak and 1500 acs. of fuels work awaiting award.
Romey- The new sub-division rules are ready to go to the commissioners.
Wolcott- Charlie Decker has been masticating large slash piles for Plum Cr. in the Libby air shed. Jerry talked about the economic difficulty the company is now facing in dealing with biomass.
Crawford- Don said that 80% of the South Lincoln stimulus funding of $230,000 has been spent. 250 acres have been completed of the 190 acre target. 50% of the Trego/Fortine/Stryker funding of $140,000 has been spent. No grants are currently in the forecast.
McCormick grant funds are now spent. $50,000 moved from Lincoln Co. to Sanders Co.
Levert- Have prepared a draft vegetative management plan for Lincoln County Landfill. Kootenai Forest Stakeholder Coalition projects Flower Cr. and Sparring Bulls are currently on hold because of an impasse with Lands Council.
I have been invited to meet Feb. 4th with Yaak Volunteer Fire Dept. Keith and Crawford will attend also. Lisa invited.
Thus far Lisa, Steve Lauer, Keith, Mark and myself are planning on attending the
Montana FireSafe Council Workshop that is scheduled for February 25, 26 and 27th at Fairmont Hot Springs.
I told everyone that I had received an application for membership from Crystal Hagerman. Although we are already a member of the council, Crystal is trying to better define what our goals and objectives are. There is also a better definition of the role of the chapter and the council. Crystal said that there was an opportunity for our chapter to apply for up to $250 grant to help offset costs of the chapter. Because of the confusion associated with re-applying I will send out the information again.
Old Business-
Libby Firewise Community- The Libby VFD District 1 has decided that they will take the lead for the Libby Firewise Community. Membership for the board at this time will include: Libby school system(Kirby Maki), Lincoln Co. FireSafe Council, Keith Kenelty; Kevin Cardwell, Forest Service(Libby District), Doug Turman, DNRC, Lincoln County, Don Crawford, Northwest RC&D, Nancy Keller, Bill Watt, Libby VFD, Libby VFD Board, Vicky Lawrence, Libby City Council, Ed Levert, Lincoln County Forester; Vic White, Lincoln County Disaster and Emergency Services, Mark Romey, Lincoln County Conservation District. Kirby Maki will be asked by Vicky to represent the school system and Bill Watt will ask for the rep from the Libby VFD Board.
We reviewed the revised draft of the plan and decided that this plan can suffice to hand off to the new Firewise Community Board. The next stage will call for me to come up with a date for this new board to meet and decide how they will operate. The primary objective of this meeting is to try and demonstrate the benefits of becoming a Firewise Community to the new members.
Some action items include: Vicky will talk with interested citizens in the garden club and see if someone might be interested in being on the board; Lisa will get the video from White Bird demonstrating their efforts as a Firewise Community, Keith will invite Gene Tracy from Em Kayan Village Firewise Community to attend and tell about their experience; Ed will try and get the video from the Boise area where they explain their efforts as a Firewise Community.
Next meeting is scheduled for March 2, 2010.
Ed Levert, Chair