Full Text
State of Utah Community Wildfire Preparedness Plan For the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) 2021 Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands 1594 W North Temple, PO Box 145703, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5703 1 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Declaration and Concurrence Page Adopting this CWPP doesn't mean you are fully engaged in the CWS process. Other participation and documentation are required for State delegated fire funding. Please consult with Utah State Forestry, Fire & State Lands in your area to ensure the process is complete. This list needs to be customized to the individual plan. Provide the names and affiliations of all cooperators. This page will then be signed after all cooperators have reviewed the plan and concur with its contents. This document provides the outline for and specifies the information recommended for inclusion in a wildfire preparedness plan. Completed Community Wildfire Preparedness Plans should be submitted to the local Area Manager or Fire Management Officer with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands for final concurrence. 2 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP 3 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP 4 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP 5 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP INTRODUCTION Over 600 of Utah’s communities have been classified as “at risk” of wildfire. The safety of the citizens of any community and the protection of private property and community infrastructure is a shared responsibility between the citizens; the owner, developer or association; and the local, county, state and federal governments. The primary responsibility, however, remains with the local government and the citizen/owner. The purpose of wildfire preparedness planning is to… ● Motivate and empower local government, communities, and property owners to organize, plan, and take action on issues impacting the safety and resilience of values at risk ● Enhance levels of fire resilience and protection to the communities and infrastructure ● Identify the threat of wildland fires in the area ● Identify strategies to reduce the risks to structures, infrastructure and commerce in the community during a wildfire ● Identify wildfire hazards, education, and mitigation actions needed to reduce risk ● Transfer practical knowledge through collaboration between stakeholders toward common goals and objectives Outcomes of wildfire preparedness planning… ● Facilitate organization of sustainable efforts to guide planning and implementation of actions: 1. Fire adapted communities 2. Resilient landscapes 3. Safe and effective fire response ● Improve community safety through: ✓Coordination and collaboration ✓Public awareness and education ✓ Firefighter training ✓ Fuel modification ✓ Improved fire response capabilities ✓ Fire prevention ✓ Development of long-term strategies RESOURCES For resources to complete a wildfire preparedness plan for your community, consider organizations such as the following: ✓ Local / Primary fire protection provider ✓ Local Resource, Conservation and Development Districts ✓ Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands ✓ Utah State Fire Marshal (Dept. of Public Safety) ✓ Utah Division of Emergency Management ✓ Utah Living With Fire ✓ Local fire agencies ✓ Local emergency management services ✓ USDA Forest Service ✓ U.S. Department of Interior Agencies ✓ Utah Resource Conservation Districts ✓ Utah Soil Conservation Districts STATEMENT OF LIABILITY The activities suggested by this template, associated checklist and guidance document, the assessments and recommendations of fire officials, and the plans and projects outlined by the community wildfire council, are made in good faith according to information available at this time. The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands assumes no liability and makes no guarantees regarding the level of success users of this plan will experience. Wildfire still occurs, despite efforts to prevent it or contain it; the intention of all decisions and actions made under this plan is to reduce the potential for, and the consequences of, wildfire. Last revised March 2016 6 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP PLANNING OVERVIEW Briefly describe the overall planning process that took place to complete this plan. Be sure to include a timeline of the events/meetings, the organizations and partners that participated, a description of why this planning process was initiated, and the overall intended outcome of the process, and how outcomes were accomplished. This is much like the information described above (purpose and outcome) but tailored to your community. If desired, please acknowledge any individuals or organizations that were essential to accomplishing the final plan. 3/14/2017 - CWPP Fire Council planning meeting at UFA Station #106 with Mt. Olympus Community Council, FFSL, UFA and other community members. 9/14/2017 - CWPP planning meeting at UFA Station #106 with FFSL, UFA and the USFS. 10/4/2017 - CWPP Fire Council meeting at UFA Station #106. Meeting goal to develop community mitigation actions for implementation. 11/27-28/2017 - Solicited community contacts and individuals to take lead roles on community goals and actions. 4/1/2021 - Wasatch Front Area Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Coordinator Dax Reid initiated the CWPP update with Andrew Clark. Elements from the 2017 plan were added. Adopted and signed CWPP is valid for 5 years. PLAN OVERVIEW MAP – Area of Interest 7 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP 8 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP 9 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP 10 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Communities At Risk = GPS Coordinates = PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION Millcreek Canyon is managed by the USFS and Salt Lake County. The canyon has two commercial entities (Millcreek Inn and Log Haven) and two cabin communities (Porter Fork and The Firs). Fire danger is considerable and the USFS and SLCo have partnered with the community HOAs, Central Wasatch Commission, SL Public Utilities, U.S. Forest Service and Forestry, Fire & State Lands to partner on project identification, prioritization, implementation and maintenance regarding hazardous fuels mitigation and defensible space in the canyon. Some suggested cross-jurisdictional priorities include; Parleys Historic Nature Park, Millcreek Canyon Road and Neff’s Canyon. 11 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP PART I COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION Community Legal Structure List the government entities associated with the community – city, town, unincorporated community, special service district, homeowner association(s), other. Organization Contact Person Phone Number E-mail Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini [EMAIL REDACTED] Millcreek Emergency Manager Andrew Clark [EMAIL REDACTED] Olympus Cove Community Council - Chair David Baird [EMAIL REDACTED] East Millcreek Community Council Nancy Carlson- Gotts [EMAIL REDACTED] Canyon Rim Citizen’s Association Jeff Waters [EMAIL REDACTED] Millcreek Community Council - Chair Diane Angus [EMAIL REDACTED] Unified Fire Authority Rob Ayres [EMAIL REDACTED] Unified Police Department Steve DeBry [EMAIL REDACTED] SLC Public Utilities Laura Briefer [EMAIL REDACTED] U.S. Forest Service Jordan River Commission Population – all focus areas Approximate number of homes 26,000 Approximate number of lots Approximate number of commercial entities Approximate number of full-time residents 60,000 Approximated number of part-time residents Notes/comments: 12 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Restricting Covenants, Ordinances, etc. (Attach as appendix) – all focus areas For example, home association bylaws may have requirements regarding building construction materials or vegetation removal, or regarding access in a gated community. Source Details SL County Foothill and Canyons Overlay Zone (FCOZ) SL County SL County WUI Fire Annex Access – Enter Focus Area 1 Directions to community 3800 South east of Wasatch Blvd. Millcreek Canyon is a Fee Service Area. Public vehicles are allowed up the canyon to Maple Grove (winter gate) year-round. Many gated / locked communities exist throughout the city. Seasonal access Travel beyond the winter gate is limited from November 1 to June 30 and is primarily foot traffic and service vehicles. Cabin owners at The Firs are provided keys to the gate and can drive through the winter gate to access the cabins even when the gate is closed seasonally. Roads – Enter Focus Area 1 None Some All Adequate Inadequate % Pavement % gravel % dirt Road signs present Will support normal flow of traffic Are loop roads Are dead-end roads Turnaround space available at end of road for emergency equipment Notes/comments: Driveways – Enter Focus Area 1 Adequate Inadequate None Few Most All 13 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Most driveways width and height clearance, road grades and vegetation appearance are… Individual homeowners have posted their name and address Notes/comments: Structures – Enter Focus Area 1 None Few Some Many Most All Wood frame construction Have wood decks or porches Have wood, shake or shingle roofs Are visible from the main subdivision road Notes/comments: Bridges, Gate, Culverts, other – Enter Focus Area 1 None Some All Bridges support emergency equipment Gate provides easy access to emergency equipment Culverts are easily crossed by emergency equipment Notes/comments: Utilities – Enter Focus Area 1 Below ground Above ground Provided by Phone number % marked with a flag or other highly visible means % utilized Telephone service Electrical service Are there homes utilizing propane? Are there homes utilizing natural gas? Notes/comments: 14 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP List locations of propane tanks above ground – all focus areas Owner Address, lat/long, etc. Size Notes/comments: Primary Water Sources – all focus areas Approximate % homes using central water system Approximate % homes using individual wells Approximate % homes having additional private water source Water provided by Notes/comments: List locations of water sources – all focus areas Owner Address, lat/long, etc. Accessible Notes/comments: PART II: RISK ASSESSMENT Estimated Values at Risk Provide an approximation of the estimated current values of residential and commercial property in the area. The County Assessor should be able to assist with this information. Estimated values at risk of commercial and residential property Year 15 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Natural Resources at Risk Describe the natural resources at risk in the area, such as watershed, forest products, wildlife, recreation tourism, etc. Neff’s Canyon Recreation Area, Mt. Olympus Wilderness, Millcreek Canyon Recreation Area, Tanner’s Park, Parley’s Creek, Neff’s Creek, Jordan River Parkway, Jordan River, Aesthetics, water quality, soil health, habitat, recreation The following information is based on the Communities At Risk (CARs) list that was developed cooperatively at the local and state level to assist land management agencies and other stakeholders in determining the scope of the WUI challenge and to monitor progress in mitigating the hazards in these areas. This information is updated annually through the interagency fuel groups. Input the fields that are reflected on the state list found on our website at forestry.utah.gov. Fire Occurrence: Number of fires in the area for the last 10 years to 0 No Risk 1 Moderate 0 to 1 fire 2 High 2 to 14 fires 3 Extreme Greater than 14 fires Rating 2 Area Fire History Name Acres Burned Year Cause Neff’s Canyon Fire 80 2020 Lightning Millcreek Fire 15 2020 Power line Fuel Hazard: Assess the fuel conditions of the landscape and surrounding the community 0 No Risk 1 Moderate Moderate to low to control, fire intensities would generally cause moderate damage to resources based on slope, wind speed and fuel. Vegetation Types: Ponderosa pine/mountain shrub, grassland, alpine, dry meadow, desert grassland, Ponderosa pine, Aspen and mountain riparian. 2 High High resistance to control, high to moderate intensity resulting in high to moderate damage to resources depending on slope, rate of spread, wind speed and fuel loading. Vegetation Type: Maple, mountain shrubs, sagebrush, 16 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP sagebrush/perennial grass, salt desert scrub, Black Brush, Creosote and Greasewood. 3 Extreme High resistance to control, extreme intensity level resulting in almost complete combustion of vegetation and possible damage to soils and seed sources depending on slopes, wind speed, rate of spread and fuel loading. Rating Values Protected: Evaluate the human and economic values associated with the community or landscape, such as homes, businesses and community infrastructure. 0 No Risk 1 Moderate Secondary Development: This would be seasonal or secondary housing and recreational facilities. 2 High Primary Development: This would include primary residential housing, commercial and business areas. 3 Extreme Community infrastructure and community support: This would be water systems, utilities, transportation systems, critical care facilities, schools manufacturing and industrial sites. It may also include valuable commercial timber stands, municipal watersheds and areas of high historical, cultural and/or spiritual significance which support and/or are critical to the well-being of the community. Rating 2 Insurance Rating Provide the current insurance rating for the community ISO Fire Insurance Rating: Protection Capabilities: Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating for the community will serve as an overall indicator of the protection capabilities. 1 Moderate ISO Rating of 6 or lower 2 High ISO Rating 7 to 9 3 Extreme ISO Rating 10 Rating Fire Occurrence Fuel Hazard Values Protected Fire Protection Capabilities Overall Rating Total: 4-7 Moderate, 8-11 High, 12 Extreme 17 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP The following information is based on the Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (UWRAP) and Area of Interest (AOI) Summary Reporting Tool. Reports are generated using a set of predefined map products developed by the West Wide Wildfire Risk Assessment (2012) project. The UWRAP provides a consistent, comparable set of scientific results to be used as a foundation for wildfire mitigation and prevention planning in Utah. Wildland Development Area (WUI) Impacts: Data set is derived using a Response Function modeling approach. To calculate the Wildland Development Area Impact Response Function Score, the Wildland Development Area housing density data was combined with flame length data and Response Functions assignments to represent potential impacts. Wildfire Threat: A number that is closely related to the likelihood of an acre burning. Wildfire Risk: Combines the likelihood of a fire occurring (Threat), with those of areas of most concern that are adversely impacted by fire (Fire Effects). Wildfire Threat Index is derived from historical fire occurrence, landscape characteristics including surface fuels and canopy fuels, percentile weather derived from historical weather observations and terrain conditions. Fire Effects are compiled of Value Impacts and Suppression Difficulty factors. Total Acres AOI for each Category with the percentages added Wildfire Risk WUI Impacts Wildfire Threat Low (1-4) 17,082 / 38.3% Moderate (5-7) 22,895 / 51.2% High (8-10) 4.65310 / 4% Including maps from the UWRAP report may also be beneficial in this section. Consider using the following as an example. ● Location Specific Ignitions ● Ignition and Fire occurrence density ● Water Impacts ● Rate of Spread ● Suppression Difficulty ● Fire Effects ● Slope and aspect Prevention: Activities directed at reducing the occurrence of fires, including public education, law enforcement, and personal contact. Preparedness: Activities that lead to a state of response readiness to contain the effects of wildfire to minimize loss of life, injury, and damage to property. Including access to home/community, combustibility of homes/structures and creating survivable space. 18 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Mitigation: Actions that are implemented to reduce or eliminate risks to persons, property or natural resources including fuel treatments and reduction. Maintenance: The process of preserving actions that have occurred including fuel treatments and reduction. Past Accomplishments Prevention ● Annual community planning meeting ● Developed Community Wildfire Prevention Plan (CWPP) in collaboration with Forestry, Fire & State Lands (FFSL), USFS, UFA, SL Public Utilities and SL County (2021) ● Mt. Olympus Community Council held community safety fairs / events with UFA (annually) ● UFA has trained wildland firefighters and apparatus to respond in the event of a wildfire (annually) ● Preparedness ● Community theft protection, limited gate access, cabin owner defensible space efforts and private hazard tree removal ● Work with Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) and the USFS on EMS response capability and reduction of fire risk from power lines ● Re-paved road improving resident and EMS access (2020) ● Worked with legislature on fireworks restrictions during high fire danger and in high risk areas of the city (2018) ● Assessed the need for rebuilding UFA Station #112 in Olympus Cove ● Mitigation ● Partnered with FFSL, UFA and USFS on hazard tree removal, chipping and defensible space (2020) ● Worked with USFS to address recreational fires in Neff’s Canyon (2018) ● Worked with UPD to develop a community evacuation plan and provide education to the public and responding resources (2018) ● Planned and implemented chipper days with UFA and FFSL (2018) ● Worked with the Jordan River Commission (JRC) on reducing fuels along the Jordan River corridor ● Maintenance ● Annual review of area projects ● Annual review of CWPP with updates to Past Accomplishments and Goals ● PART III: RISK REDUCTION GOALS/ ACTIONS Goals of Plan: Provide a brief statement under the Prevention, Preparedness, Mitigation and Maintenance goals. These should align with the pillars of the National Cohesive Strategy and the Utah Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy (1.Resilient Landscapes 2. Fire Adapted Communities 3. Wildfire Response). 19 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Identification of Actions: Provide detailed project information. These projects/actions can be mapped/tracked in the Utah WRA portal and should be consistent with a Cooperative Agreement in compliance with the Wildfire Policy if applicable. GOAL A: PREVENTION – Activities directed at reducing the occurrence of fires, including public education, law enforcement, and personal contact. A.1 - Prevention Actions: Timeline: Community Lead: Priority: Ready, Set, Go! information outreach Annually HOA / UFA / FFSL Medium Defensible space information outreach Annually HOA / UFA / FFSL High Notes, updates, and monitoring GOAL B: PREPAREDNESS – Activities that lead to a state of response readiness to contain the effects of wildfire to minimize loss of life, injury, and damage to property. Including access to home/community, combustibility of homes/structures and creating survivable space. Goal B.1 – Evaluate, upgrade and maintain community wildfire preparation Action(s): Timeline: Community Lead: Priority: Develop and adopt CWPP (5-year shelf life) 2021 FFSL / UFA / USFS / SLCPU / HOA / Millcreek High Lot assessments 2021-2026 UFA / FFSL High Identify and update community evacuation plan 2021-2026 HOA / FFSL / UFA / Millcreek High Added evacuation and other signage as needed for EMS responders 2021-2026 HOA / USFS / UFA / Millcreek High Install KNOX BOX on gate post near canyon road 2021 UFA High Notes, updates, and monitoring Goal B.2 – Educate community members to prepare for and respond to wildfire. Action(s): Timeline: Community Lead: Priority: Firewise certification 2021-2022 HOA / FFSL / Millcreek Medium 20 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Community education events and chipper day(s) 2021-2026 HOA / FFSL / UFA High Neff’s Canyon Trailhead Redesign (easier means of egress, expanding parking lot to 30 additional parking stalls, additional area for staging, 16,000-gallon Heliwell tank, Helicopter Landing pad, trailhead improvements, etc.) 2021-2026 FFSL / SLCo / Millcreek / USFS Medium Notes, updates, and monitoring Goal B.3 – Address identified regulatory issues impacting community wildfire prevention and response needs. Action(s): Timeline: Community Lead: Priority: Update restrictions, covenants and ordinances affecting wildfire response and mitigation in this plan including: FCOZ, SL County, HOA etc 2021-2026 HOA High Notes, updates, and monitoring Goal B.4 – Evaluate response facilities and equipment. Action(s): Timeline: Community Lead: Priority: Work with Rocky Mountain Power and USFS to ensure energized lines are cleared and upgraded 2021-2026 RMP / USFS / HOA High Notes, updates, and monitoring GOAL C: MITIGATION – Actions that are implemented to reduce or eliminate risks to persons, property or natural resources including fuel treatments and reduction. Goal C.1 – Decrease fuels within the community to reduce wildfire impact in and around the community. Action(s): Timeline: Community Lead: Priority: Identify target areas for prioritized fuel mitigation efforts 2020-2026 HOA / UFA / FFSL / USFS High Notes, updates, and monitoring Goal C.2 – Work with local, state and federal fire officials to decrease fuels on private and adjacent public lands to reduce wildfire intensity and impact in and around the community. Action(s): Timeline: Community Lead: Priority: 21 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Identify ways to leverage funding and resources 2021-2026 HOA / UFA / FFSL High Work with surrounding cities and land managers for cross-boundary mitigation projects 2021-2022 HOA / UFA / FFSL / USFS / SL County HIgh Notes, updates, and monitoring GOAL D: MAINTENANCE – The process of preserving actions that have occurred including fuel treatments and reduction. Goal D.1 - Regularly evaluate, update and maintain project commitments. Action(s): Timeline: Community Lead: Priority: Annually update CWPP goals and priorities with maps Annually Dax Reid / SL County Fire Warden / UFA High Review and evaluate past projects for successes, lessons learned and re-treatments 2021-2026 HOA / UFA / FFSL / Liaisons Medium Notes, updates, and monitoring PART IV: CONTACTS The contacts in this part identify community resources that can be used to complete the goals of the plan. Planning Committee Member List Name Affiliation Phone Number E-mail Dax Reid WFA WUI Coordinator [EMAIL REDACTED] Robert Sanders County Fire Warden [EMAIL REDACTED] Geoff Whatcott UFA Wildland Specialist [EMAIL REDACTED] Guy Wilson USFS [EMAIL REDACTED] Mike Latshaw Porter Fork HOA President [EMAIL REDACTED] A’lissa Olson Porter Fork HOA Secretary [EMAIL REDACTED] Mark Olson Porter Fork HOA Treasurer [EMAIL REDACTED] Bruce Woolstenhulme Firs Cabins HOA President [EMAIL REDACTED] Rob Ayres UFA Captain [EMAIL REDACTED] David Baird Mt. Olympus Community Council [EMAIL REDACTED] John Knoblock Mt. Olympus Community Council 22 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Brian Case UFA [EMAIL REDACTED] Jeff Silvestrini Millcreek Mayor [EMAIL REDACTED] Andrew Clark Millcreek Emergency Manager [EMAIL REDACTED] Commercial Entities Organization Contact Person Phone Number E-mail Address Millcreek Inn [EMAIL REDACTED] Log Haven Ed Marshall [EMAIL REDACTED] Formal Associations Organization Contact Person Phone Number E-mail Mt Olympus Community Council David Baird [EMAIL REDACTED] Canyon Rim Citizen’s Association Jeff Waters [EMAIL REDACTED] East Mill Creek Community Nancy Carlson-Gotts [EMAIL REDACTED] Millcreek Community Council Diane Angus [EMAIL REDACTED] Jordan River Commission Media Support Organization Email Phone News Entity and Contact Email Address Phone Number Channel 2 (KUTV) News Desk [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] Channel 4 (ABC) John Gleason [EMAIL REDACTED] Channel 5 (KSL) Sam Penrod [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] Channel 13 (FOX) Renai Bodley [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] KBYU Television [PHONE REDACTED] Daily Herald [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] Daily Herald Kurt Hanson, Reporter [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] 23 I Page ---PAGE BREAK--- Millcreek CWPP Daily Herald Janice Peterson, Online Editor [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] Daily Herald Stacy Johnson, Online Editor [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] Daily Herald David Kennard, Executive Editor [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] Deseret News Sara Israelsen-Hartley [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] Salt Lake Tribune Stephen Hunt [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] Metro News Tom Jordan [EMAIL REDACTED] [PHONE REDACTED] Transportation Organization Contact Person Phone Number E-mail Utah Transit Authority [PHONE REDACTED] APPENDIX Appendix A: Appendix B: Appendix C: Appendix D: 24 I Page