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Boise plays host to Southwest Idaho Fire Adapted Communities Forum

Forum focuses on wildfire prevention, education
Posted at 5:57 AM, May 07, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-07 08:41:09-04

BOISE, Ida. — Stakeholders from across Idaho met in Boise this week during the annual Southwest Idaho Adapted Communities Forum. The forum focuses on coordinating and sharing wildlife mitigation, education and prevention strategies.

Experts who work for and with the public in the area of wildland fire education and mitigation took part in the forum. The presentation is supported by promoting ecosystem resilience and Fire Adapted Communities Together, a cooperative agreement between The Nature Conservancy, USDA Forest Service and agencies of the Department of the Interior through a sub award to the Watershed Research and Training Center.

The goal is to get everyone at the forum and in the community on the same page.

"It's about building partnerships, networking, trying to figure out how to best work together to make the City of Boise, Ada County, and Southwest Idaho more fire adapted," says Wildfire Mitigation Specialist and Boise Fire Department Captain Jerry McAdams.

Cpt. McAdams says the forum encourages new partnerships and build efficiencies in area wildfire mitigation efforts. That includes new cooperative efforts for homeowners, fire managers, non-profits, funding agencies, utility companies and other stakeholders.

Attendees from past forums include members and representatives from: fire departments, the Bureau of Land Management. US Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Office of Emergency Management, Idaho Firewise, Idaho State Fire Marshal's Office, County managers, local university professors and students, city planners, open space managers, conservation organizations, non-profit organizations, as well as residents and Firewise advocates that live in the wildland urban interface. The Firewise USA Program teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action to annually reduce their risk from wildland fire.

Homeowners and neighbors can work together, doing small things each year to reduce the risk of fire. To find out more, click here.