Lake County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Prepared for: Lake County, Montana In Cooperation with: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Prepared by: Environmental Science Associates (ESA) Lake County Fire Mitigation Office website http://www.lakemt.gov/384/Fire-Mitigation Share your input at http://bit.ly/LakeCountyCWPP Lake County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update Wildfires in Montena are primarily caused by accidental human ignitions. One of the most useful tools for wildfire prevention are Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) Loke County adopted its current CWPP in 2005. In the last 18 years, many changes have occurred across the county, including the construction of new homes and infrastructure within wildfire risk areas. These changes can effect the way a community copes with fire and have prompted the need to update the CWPP What is the Lake County CWPP? A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a community-based plan focused on identifying and addressing the local threats of wildfire. The CWPP determines what is at risk and provides a roadmap of clear actions for the community. CWPPS have been a national standard of practice since 2003 when the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) was signed into law. Lake County adopted its current CWPP in 2005. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) recommends that CWPPs be updated every five years to account for the many changes that can take place in a community such as housing development, fuel treatments, wildfires, and new available data to better support decision making Is an update underway? Yes! Lake County is undergoing an update to its CWPP. This will include: DNRC > Maps and figures of wildfire risk An updated definition of the Wildland Urban Interface (WU) > Recommendations to reduce risk at an individual homeowner and community- wide level Priority fuels reduction projects eligible for funding What is the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)? The WUI is the area where wildland fuels meet development, often in the form of homes, businesses, infrastructure (e.g., power lines, drinking water supplies), and other valuable assets. Targeting these areas for fire risk reduction projects is likely to have the greatest effect in protecting residents' homes, livelihoods, and valued natural resources. Defining a WUI not only allows a county to focus its own resources on reducing wildfire risk in the most vulnerable areas, but also to direct management of federal lands within the county. Lake County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Prepared for : Lake County , Montana In Cooperation with : Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation , Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Prepared by : Environmental Science Associates ( ESA ) Lake County Fire Mitigation Office website http://www.lakemt.gov/384/Fire-Mitigation Share your input at http://bit.ly/LakeCountyCWPP Lake County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update Wildfires in Montena are primarily caused by accidental human ignitions . One of the most useful tools for wildfire prevention are Community Wildfire Protection Plans ( CWPP ) Loke County adopted its current CWPP in 2005. In the last 18 years , many changes have occurred across the county , including the construction of new homes and infrastructure within wildfire risk areas . These changes can effect the way a community copes with fire and have prompted the need to update the CWPP What is the Lake County CWPP ? A Community Wildfire Protection Plan ( CWPP ) is a community - based plan focused on identifying and addressing the local threats of wildfire . The CWPP determines what is at risk and provides a roadmap of clear actions for the community . CWPPS have been a national standard of practice since 2003 when the Healthy Forests Restoration Act ( HFRA ) was signed into law . Lake County adopted its current CWPP in 2005. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation ( DNRC ) recommends that CWPPs be updated every five years to account for the many changes that can take place in a community such as housing development , fuel treatments , wildfires , and new available data to better support decision making Is an update underway ? Yes ! Lake County is undergoing an update to its CWPP . This will include : DNRC > Maps and figures of wildfire risk An updated definition of the Wildland Urban Interface ( WU ) > Recommendations to reduce risk at an individual homeowner and community wide level Priority fuels reduction projects eligible for funding What is the Wildland Urban Interface ( WUI ) ? The WUI is the area where wildland fuels meet development , often in the form of homes , businesses , infrastructure ( e.g. , power lines , drinking water supplies ) , and other valuable assets . Targeting these areas for fire risk reduction projects is likely to have the greatest effect in protecting residents ' homes , livelihoods , and valued natural resources . Defining a WUI not only allows a county to focus its own resources on reducing wildfire risk in the most vulnerable areas , but also to direct management of federal lands within the county .