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Firewise Events

Several Firewise events are scheduled for March 2011.  

 

Click here for more information.

 

Firewise In Mississippi

Firewise Links:  Firewise Communities in Mississippi; Firewise Communities USA; Firewise FAQs  MS_-Firewise_new_website
 

Podcast on Firewise with Leslie Blackwell and Garden Mama. (October 9, 2010)

 

Firewise is an educational program for homeowners and community leaders. This program is for anyone living in, or connected to, the Wildland Urban Interface. Information is available on how to design, construct, landscape, and maintain home or community so as to withstand a wildfire without the aid of firefighting resources on scene.

 

Firewise principles are based on National Fire Protection Association guidelines.

  • Design and construction - Use fire resistant materials in building and retrofitting a home. use fire proof screens and vents on all openings.
  • Landscaping - Create and maintain at least 30 feet of defensible space around your home. Within this 30 feet of defensible space, reduce or remove the vegetation that has a high content of flammable resins, oils, or waxes.  Remove hazards such as woodpiles on the front porch and prune overhanging tree limbs.  Consider the use of fire resistant mulch and consider planting species that have a high moisture content in the leaves.
  • Maintenance - Mow the lawn regularly, sweep the roof and clean out the gutters - reduce the amount of fuel that will bring a wildfire into the home.

 

Firewise Workshops

Firewise workshops are FREE events, however, pre-registration is required.  Meals, refreshments and workshop materials will be provided.  Firewise workshop and/or field days are a one-day event, bringing together citizens, business, and community leaders involved in planning, financing, building, sustaining, and protecting communities in the wildland/urban interface. This will be a learning experience and participants will learn about why homes burn, various wildland fuel reduction techniques, and how to assess the fire danger of their own home.

 

Type of Firewise Events and their CFE/CEU/CLE and other Professional Credits

 

How To Have A Firewise Home.  This event is approximately half a day in length and covers the basics principles of Firewise in Mississippi. The following CFE/CEU/CLE are given for this event:  Registered Forester, 2 hrs of category II; Certified Loggers, 2 hrs of category II; Realtors, 3 hrs Elective Real Estate Course, Approval Code 10181; Structural Firefighter, Certificate of Attendance, 2 hrs; credit is not available for Teachers and Professional Disciplines.

 

Firewise Awareness Field Day.  This event is slightly longer than the How To Have A Firewise Home event. The additional time is taken to view a sample of three fuel reduction technique. The following CFE/CEU/CLE are given for this event:  Registered Forester, 3 hrs of category II; Certified Loggers, 2 hrs of category I and 1 hour of category II; Realtors, 3 hrs Elective Real Estate Course, Approval Code 10182; Structural Firefighter, Certificate of Attendance, 3 hrs; credit is not available for Teachers and Professional Disciplines.

 

Living On The Edge (LOTE). LOTE workshops are all-day events. All stakeholders are invited but strong emphasis is placed on Community Leaders. LOTE is a community education program developed in response to the increasing number of families moving to rural areas. Stakeholders living in the wildland/urban interface (WUI) need to understand the issues involved in living safely on the edge. Through interactive exercises, participants identify potential wildfire risks encountered while living in the WUI. These exercises include evaluating, then modifying, an existing community and designing a new community, all of which incorporate Firewise principles. The following CFE/CEU/CLE are given for this event:  Registered Forester, 4 hrs of category II; Certified Loggers, 4 hrs of category II; Realtors, 3 hrs Elective Real Estate Course, Approval Code 10180; Structural Firefighter, Certificate of Attendance, 4 hrs; Teachers, 0.6 CEU's from Mississippi College and Professional Disciplines, 0.7 CEU's from National Fire Protection Association.

 

Scheduled Workshops

  • The Crosby Arboretum and the Mississippi Forestry Commission are sponsoring a How To Have A Firewise Home event to be held at the Crosby Arboretum on Saturday, March 10, 2012.  Please complete the pre-registration form and return by fax to (601) 799-2372.  Deadline for pre-registration is February 29, 2012.  If you have an questions, please contact Richelle Stafne at (601) 799-2311. Click here for a introduction letter, program agenda and pre-reregistration letter.
  • The Kemper County SWCD, Northeast RC&D and the Mississippi Forestry Commission are sponsoring a How To Have A Firewise Home event on March 20, 2012 at the Farmers Market Building in Dekalb, MS.  Please contact Cindy Moore, Kemper County SWCD Clerk  at (601) 743-9588 ext 3 for more information.
  • The Lauderdale County SWCD and the Mississippi Forestry Commission are sponsoring a How To Have A Firewise Home event on March 22, 2012 at the EMEPA auditorium. Please complete the pre-registration form and return by fax to (601) 693-5379.  Deadline for pre-registration is March 16, 2012.  If you have an questions, please contact Cassie Wing at (601) 483-4100 ext 3 or Cassie.Wing@ms.nacdnet.net.  Click here for a introduction letter, program agenda and pre-reregistration letter.
  • The Itawamba County SWCD and the Mississippi Forestry Commission are sponsoring a How To Have A Firewise Home event on March 27, 2012 at the Woodman of the World Building.  Please contact Polly Tutor , Itawamba County SWCD Clerk at (662) 862-9794 ext 3 for more information.
  • The Monroe County SWCD, Northeast RC&D Council and the Mississippi Forestry Commission are sponsoring a How To Have A Firewise Home event on April 17, 2012 at the USDA Service Center, 517 Highway 145N, Aberdeen, MS 39730. Please contact Ronda Chism, Monroe County SWCD Clerk at (662) 369-0044 ext 3 for more information.

Firewise Publications:

 

Flammability Key

This is a guide for making local Firewise plant lists that can assist local homeowners with firewise landscaping.  It includes a step-by-step method for determining whether or not a particular plant is appropriate for firewise landscaping.

 

 

 FirewiseLogoColor

Visit the National Firewise web site for additional information

 

 

For more information on the Firewise program, contact:

Leslie "Opie" Blackwell

Firewise Program Coordinator

1689 Highway 35 South

Carthage, MS 39051

(601) 540-3358 cell

lblackwell@mfc.state.ms.us