Fire Management - Firewise
The Division of Forestry has recently made an addition to its list of priorities: Wildland Urban Interface Fire Safety.
This is a very serious issue of concern, and has not gone without notice in the past. However, in October 2003, the Division stepped up its effort and implemented a statewide program dedicated solely to urban interface fire prevention and education.
The Firewise Ohio Program is a multi-organizational initiative designed to include not only fire safety professionals, but also homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in localized efforts to lessen the risk of interface wildfires.
The ultimate goal of this program is to reduce the susceptibility of homes, communities, and structures to wildfire through cooperative education and mitigation techniques.
 Firewise addresses the risk of homes in the wildland urban interface to wildland fire.
As more homes are built in and near the woods and fields of Ohio, the existing firefighting resources are less able to protect everyone's property while trying to control wildfires. Through education, prevention, and supportive mutual effort, Ohio property owners can take steps which may reduce the risk of property loss and/or damage.
For more information about the national Firewise Communities USA program, visit www.firewise.org/usa
For details about Firewise Ohio, contact the Ohio Division of Forestry at 614-265-6896 (toll free 1-877-247-8733) or email Aaron Kloss.
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