Saddle Ridge
Walland TN
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
An Action Plan for Wildfire Mitigation
September 26, 2017
Reviewed and Updated
August 2021
Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Saddle Ridge Community Wildfire Protection Plan
An Action Plan for Wildfire Mitigation – Updated
June 2021
The Tennessee Division of Forestry has adopted the model shown below to guide the development of a Fire Adapted Communities Network and a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
A fire adapted community accepts fire as part of the natural landscape. The community understands its fire risk, and takes action before, during, and after a wildfire to minimize harm to residents, homes, businesses, parks, utilities, and other community assets. These collective actions empower all residents to be safer in the environment. The graphic below shows current elements of the concept. . . . A community pursuing the concept may not have to address all elements shown in the graphic; however, it is important for a community to consider how important all elements are to the community . . . a checklist for the community to consider.
Figure 1. Fire Adapted Communities Network. https://www.tn.gov/tnwildlandfire/prevention/ tennessee-fire-adapted-communities, May 22, 2021)
The Saddle Ridge Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a cooperative effort between various entities participating in the Fire Adapted Communities Network. The 2021 CWPP builds on the 2017 Action Plan to describe the current Saddle Ridge environment and identify risks that need to be addressed over the next 3-4 years.
This report also serves to record the history of the Firewise program in Saddle Ridge. Volunteers have worked the equivalent of $202,057 or almost 7,500 in volunteer hours since the program was adopted in 2017—and, that is with less than 10% of owners reporting their fire-mitigation activities. The $33,300 in Firewise grants have been used to purchase equipment and pay for vegetation removal.
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Firewise Committee
Betsy Smith
Chair, Firewise Committee
2073 Oakwood Road
Walland TN 37886
615-631-1173
tennsmith@gmail.com
Margaret Akers
CWPP Report
2548 Elks Point Road
Walland TN 37886
865-207-7457
saunders@orsg.us
Barbara Clinansmith
Welcome Packets, Home Assessments 2023 Oakwood Road
Walland TN 37886
865-981-3990
bclinansmith@gmail.com
Community Representatives
SRPOA Vice President, Road Manager Sue DuBois
2153 Oakwood Road
Walland TN 37886
407-758-8275
sodubois@gmail.com
SRPOA, Chair, Equipment Committee Keith Kennedy
2231 Bluff View
Walland TN 37886
512-716-5059
kkcajun@gmail.com
Local Fire Department Representatives
Chief Doug McClanahan
Blount County Fire Protection District 2549 E. Broadway
Maryville TN 37804-4488
865-755-0155 (c)
blountfire@msn.com
Karen Richardson
Home Assessments
1968 Oakwood Road
Walland TN 37886
937-594-8172
richardsontheridge@gmail.com
Tom Sardella
Photographs
1801 Grouse Top
Walland TN 37886
865-233-2104
tsardella57@gmail.com
G. Robert Smith, Jr.
Equipment, CWPP Report
2073 Oakwood Road
Walland TN 37886
615-631-5836
tennsmitty@gmail.com
SRPOA, Chair, Environmental Committee Judy Pearson
1904 Quail Hollow
Walland TN 36778
865-982-5729
jrpearson1942@att.net
SRPOA, Treasurer
Sally Whelan
2198 Oakwood Road
Walland TN 37886
508-847-9140
sapwhelan@gmail.com
Deputy Chief Jerry Phillips
Blount County Fire Protection District 2549 E. Broadway
Maryville TN 37804-4488
865-983-2133
jerry.phillips@blountfire.org
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Local Tennessee Division of Forestry Representative
Eric Miller
Area Forester
East Tennessee District
884 Hwy 70W
Lenoir City TN 37771
865-250-8693 (c)
eric.j.miller@state.tn.gov
Doug Phillips
Seasonal Wildland Firefighter
Monroe County Tower
Hiawassee Road
Madisonville TN 37354
Great Smoky Mountain National Park Representative
Shane Paxton
Acting Fire Management Officer
Appalachia-Piedmont-Coastal Zone
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg TN 37738
865-414-6460
shane_paxton@nps.gov
Other Community Resources
Shane Snoderly
Director of Public Works & Engineering
City of Alcoa
Alcoa Electric Department
725 Universal Street
Alcoa TN 37701
865-380-4800
Doug Lynn
Forestry Technician
Madisonville Tower
PO Box 913
Madisonville TN 37354
865-429-7020
865-617-2810 (c)
doug.lynn@tn.gov
Clayton Lawrence
FA2
London County Tower
884 Hwy 70W
Lenoir City TN 37771
Thomas Lloyd
Director/Building Commissioner Blount County Government
Department of Development Services 1221 McArthur Road
Maryville TN 37804
865-273-5700
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
CWPP Contents
1. Community Background and Existing Situation ................................................................ 5 2. Community Risk Assessment ............................................................................................. 8 3. 2021 Action Plan: Goals, Objectives, Fire Mitigation Recommendations ....................... 17 4. Wildfire Pre-Suppression Plan .......................................................................................... 19 5. Additional Comments ....................................................................................................... 22 6. Attachments
A. Map of Saddle Ridge
B. Land Use Restrictions, Protective Covenants and Building Standards for Saddleridge
C. 2021 Community Accomplishments (2021CA)
D. 2021 Action Plan (2021AP)
E. Community Wildfire Risk Assessment (CWRA)
F. Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report (SWRA)
G. The Ridge Rambler (Saddle Ridge newsletter)
H. Saddle Ridge Firewise Web Page
I. Saddle Ridge Evacuation Map
J. Survey – Firewise Activities
List of Abbreviations
2021AP 2021 Action Plan
2021CA 2021 Community Accomplishments
BC Blount County
BCFPD Blount County Fire Protection District
CWPP Community Wildfire Protection Plan
CWRA Community Wildfire Risk Assessment
EO Education/Outreach
FWC Firewise Committee (subcommittee of SRPOA Environmental Committee) GSMNP Great Smoky Mountains National Park
HR Hazard Reduction
RC Road Committee
SR Saddle Ridge
SRPOA Saddle Ridge Property Owners Association
SWRA Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report
SI Structural Ignitability
TDF Tennessee Division of Forestry (East Tennessee District)
WUI Wildland Urban Interface
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
1. Community Background and Existing Situation
Saddle Ridge (SR) is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee just off East Millers Cove Road (EMC) in Walland. The community is approximately 12 miles southeast of Maryville and 23 miles southeast of Knoxville. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park borders on the south with the Foothills Parkway running along the south boundary of the community.
Saddle Ridge is a gated community of about 1,175 acres, divided into 235 platted lots (averaging about 5 acres each) and 7 other unplatted areas of about 132 acres. There are 74 homes, with the majority occupied year-round. A kiosk at the entrance is the delivery point for newspapers, mail, and packages. An old barn, 2 small service barns, and a gazebo stand in the community common area. A wetland area and pond provide fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities (Figures 2 and 3). There are approximately 20 miles of private gravel roads. (Attachment A – Map of Saddle Ridge.)
Figure 2 Pond (Chilhowee Loop) Figure 3 Wetlands (Chilhowee Loop)
The Saddle Ridge Property Owners Association (SRPOA) Board of Directors manages the community as the developer. The covenants and restrictions and SRPOA bylaws provide guidelines for the Board (Attachment B – Land Use Restrictions, Protective Covenants and Building Standards for Saddleridge). Board members chair committees composed of volunteers from the community. The 6 committees are Architectural, Communications, Environment, Equipment, Events/Hospitality, and Road.
The 2016 fires in Saddle Ridge on Waters End, on Chilhowee Mountain—Walland (Figure 4), and the Gatlinburg fire increased the community’s awareness of its vulnerability to fires. The blizzard of 1993, a breach of the dam, recent derechos, and flooding at the gate (Figure 5), along Saddle Ridge Road, and East Millers Cove Road in Spring 2021 also illustrate the need to be prepared for emergencies.
Updating the 2017 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) will increase awareness of fire mitigation activities and also assist with other emergency plans. The 2017 Action Plan was reviewed and is now the 2021 Community Accomplishments (2021CA, Attachment C). Components of the 2021 Action Plan (2021AP) are discussed throughout this report. The complete 2021AP is found in Attachment D.
Saddle Ridge is accessed by East Millers Cove Road (EMC) from Walland with Saddle Ridge Road connecting the community to EMC. Saddle Ridge Road ends at the gate where the private road begins. This is the only entrance/exit to Saddle Ridge. EMC and Saddle Ridge Road are county-maintained roads. The SRPOA maintains the gravel roads in Saddle Ridge which are typical mountain roads, steep in areas and often winding with heavy vegetation and dense forest alongside the roads.
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Figure 4 Walland Fire on Chilhowee Mountain, November 2016
Figure 5 Flooding at Saddle Ridge gate, May 2021
Barns and a gazebo are located in the common area of the community. The original barn protects the community’s tractor and other large equipment. It is a wooden barn with a metal roof on the largest section and an asphalt roof on the overhang above the tractor. The trash barn and equipment barn are smaller, metal buildings. The gazebo is wooden with an asphalt roof. The common area is located at the southwest end of the pond and about .5 miles from the gate. The kiosk is wooden with a metal roof. (Figures 6 and 7)
On the drive-around April 15, 2021, the Tennessee Division of Forestry (TDF) and Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GSMNP) representatives noted that the common area would be a good staging area if there is an emergency. The gate area at the entrance is another good, flat area for staging in an emergency. Each event and situation will determine the need and location of a staging area. (Figures 8 and 9)
Figure 6 Kiosk Figure 7 Barns and Gazebo
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Figure 8 Barn, Possible Staging Area Figure 9 Gate, Possible Staging Area
Community Description:
County: Blount
Latitude/Longitude: 35 43 47 N / -83 45 41 W – 1130’ elevation - at the entrance to Saddle Ridge Frontage Road: Saddle Ridge Road
Nearest Intersection: Saddle Ridge Road and East Millers Cove Road (EMC) Nearest Fire Dept: Blount County Fire Protection District (BCFPD), Station 5, Walland TN 37886 Interface Areas: Wildland Urban
Year Established: 1977
Tax Map #: 062 and 073
Community Size:
Number of Lots: 235 platted lots (223 parcels platted in Saddle Ridge; 12 additional platted Saddle Ridge-Burchfield7); additional 7 unplatted areas
Number of Structures: 75 = 74 homes + 1 barn; 2 small, metal service barns for trash and equipment; 1 gazebo
Estimated Acres: 1,320 (1,195 acres platted – approx. 5-acre lots + 125 acres associated with SR) Development Status: active sales of homes and properties
Community Infrastructure:
Home Owners Assoc.: Yes – Saddle Ridge Property Owners Association
Attachment B – Land Use Restrictions, Protective Covenants and Building
Standards for Saddleridge
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Contacts:
Janet Kolarik
President
2029 Chilhowee Loop Walland TN 37886 865-805-0348
jamkolarik@gmail.com Resident Population:
Mary Glarner
Vice President
1906 Waters End Walland TN 37886 865-982-3432
mglarner@gmail.com
76% Full-time (56 homes) 24% Part-time (18 homes)
Wildfire Hazard Rating:
Risk Rating: High Hazard (score 182)
Date Evaluated: April 15, 2021
2. Community Risk Assessment
Four documents provide the information for this section of the report:
2021 Community Accomplishments (2021CA – Attachment C)
Community Wildfire Risk Assessment (CWRA – Attachment E)
2021 Action Plan (2021AP – Attachment D)
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report (SWRA – Attachment F)
First, members of the SR Firewise Committee (FWC) reviewed the actions identified in the 2017 Action Plan—now referred to as the 2021 Community Accomplishments (2021CA). The FWC is pleased to report that all actions were completed with the exception of one: a fire break along the SR boundary with the GSMNP (Action # 17).
Members of the Firewise Committee and representatives from the Tennessee Division of Forestry and Great Smoky Mountain National Park met on April 15, 2021, and completed the Community Wildfire Risk Assessment (CWRA) after a drive-around. The CWRA focused on Suppression Assessment (the ingress/egress, the roads, and local resources), Surrounding Environment Assessment (vegetation,
defensible space, and topography), and Structure Assessment (building materials and utilities).
The 2021 Action Plan (2021AP) identifies 16 actions planned for the next 3-4 years. Each of these is cross-referenced in the CWRA in red in Attachment E.
The CWRA sections—Suppression, Surrounding Environment, and Structure Assessment—provide the outline for the discussion below. The description includes improvements that have been made since becoming a Firewise community in 2017 and identifies the 2021 Action Plan items.
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Suppression:
Saddle Ridge roads are cut through forest that has dense stands of hardwoods, pines, laurel, and rhododendron. The hardwood forest has grown back after heavy lumbering in the 1900s. Vegetation is described as Heavy – “dense stands of brush like laurel and rhododendron, young pine stands 3’-20’ tall” (2006 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code).
Many of the homes have less than 30’ of defensible space. Homeowners are reminded through articles in The Ridge Rambler (Attachment G), the Saddle Ridge website (www.saddleridgepoa.com, Attachment H), via email, and annual meetings of the importance of the 30’ of defensible space (2021AP # 6).
Better management of the stands of laurel, rhododendron, and pines along roads or near houses will reduce the fuel for fires (Figures 10 and 11). The Road Committee work on vegetation removal year around. Community members focus on vegetation removal particularly during the bi-annual community clean-up days and home assessments (2021AP # 8).
Figure 10 Vegetation (Eagle Pass)
Figure 11 Vegetation – Steep Roads
Figure 12 Pond at entrance to Saddle Ridge Figure 13 Dry Hydrant
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
The pond provides a water source for the community. The pond is 20 minutes or less roundtrip from any structure in Saddle Ridge. The BCFPD maintains the dry hydrant. (Figures 12 and 13). The BCFPD tested the hydrant August 25, 2017. The Saddle Ridge pond is also a designated Dip Site for Blount County (Table 5).
Surrounding Environment:
Saddle Ridge Road off of East Miller’s Cove Road is the only paved, two-lane road leading to the community’s gated entrance. Saddle Ridge Road is more than 20’ wide, but it is curvy with less than a 5% grade. It is the only ingress/egress for the community. Smith Branch of Reed Creek runs alongside Saddle Ridge Road.
The community is laid out with 3 loops of roads with dead-end roads greater than 200’ in length off each of the loops. The houses are scattered throughout the community with few instances of homes close together. The Road Committee monitors and maintains the roads as needed using equipment purchased with Firewise funds (Table 7). When needed, an outside contractor grades the roads and adds gravel and culverts. Emergency equipment access is considered each time there is major road work. (Attachment A – Map of Saddle Ridge)
Within Saddle Ridge, the roads are gravel roads with the typical curves and hills of a mountain community. Most of the primary roads within the community are 20’ wide with road grades more than 5%. Roads move up the Saddle Ridge section of Miller Cove Mountain from the gate and pond area. Many of the roads and driveways are steep (greater than 30% grade). (Figures 14 and 15)
Figure 14 Steep Roads – House Numbers Figure 15 Steep Roads – Cul-de-sac (Waters End)
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Figure 16 Reflective Guides (Chilhowee Loop)
Figure 17 Choke-point Chilhowee Loop
Several choke-points were noted during the 2017 assessment that have been resolved. Figure 17 is the chokepoint on Chilhowee Loop that has been widened. Additionally, reflectors were installed along sections of Chilhowee Loop.
The wooden road signs (Figure 18) were replaced in 2018 with metal signs (Figure 19). Firewise funds were used. Most of the homes have clearly visible, reflective signs with house numbers. Owners are reminded with articles in The Ridge Rambler of the importance of visible house numbers (2021AP # 6).
Figure 18 Original Wooden Road signs Figure 19 Metal Road Signs
2021AP # 13 calls for a review of road signs. For example, additional signs may be needed to mark roads that come to a T with the house numbers for each direction. On the drive-around with TDF representatives, several of the dead-ends and cul-de-sacs were evaluated for ease of turning emergency equipment around. No turn-around signs may need to be added. (Figures 20 and 21)
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Figure 20 Dead End (Eagle Pass) Figure 21 Cul-de-sac (Fox Trail)
Structure Assessment:
The majority of the homes have noncombustible siding and a combustible deck. Building materials include vinyl siding, cedar siding, brick, and logs. The homes and barn have either asphalt or metal roofs Frame houses and log cabins range in size from approximately 1,500 sq. ft. to over 3,000 sq. ft. Mobile homes are not allowed. The houses are not clustered enough to pose a risk of fire between structures. Several homes have small outbuildings that pose some risk to the home.
All but 3 short sections of power lines (noted in red on Figure 22) are above ground. Power outages are not uncommon with most caused by trees falling across a line. Alcoa Electric responds quickly. And, Alcoa Electric comes through every 2-3 years to trim back trees.
Propane tanks are prevalent. Some are buried, but most are above ground. During the recent drive-around, TDF representatives encouraged clearly marking underground propane and septic tanks. If a bulldozer is brought in to fight a fire, it helps prevent more damaged if the tanks are marked (2021AP # 6, 8).
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Figure 22 Buried Utility Lines (red)
Community Wildfire History:
The BCFPD, TDF, and the GSMNP provided the information for this section. Relative Frequency:
Table 1 Fires Reported in Saddle Ridge by Blount County Fire Protection District, 2005-2016 Cause Count Acres
Powerlines 2 2
Lightening 2 9
Residential 1 0
Undetermined 1 3
6 14
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Table 2 Fires Reported by Tennessee Division of Forestry, 2007-2016 (map, Figure 23) Cause Acres
Agricultural 4.0
Building 5.0
Campfire 2.5
Debris 60.9
Fireworks 4.1
Lightening 70.0
Misc. Other 53.5
Powerlines 189.6
Undetermined 1,517.8
1,907.4
Figure 23 Wildfires Reported to Tennessee Division of Forestry, 2009 - 2019
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Figure 24 GSMNP Response to fires near Saddle Ridge, 1960s - 2010s
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
The November 2016 Chilhowee Mountain fire and a construction-related fire along the Foothills Parkway are the recent fires that GSMNP responded to in the area.
Common Causes: brush fires, lighting strikes, wind knocking trees into power lines Areas of Future Concern: continue to monitor trees overhanging power lines along roads Additional Comments:
Residents are on alert when the power goes out. They immediately report the outage to Alcoa Electric and post the outage on Facebook to let neighbors know. They also check in their area for fires. Community volunteers remove downed trees from roads after storms have passed.
The November 2016 Chilhowee Mountain and the Gatlinburg fires were fueled by extremely dry conditions and high winds. The BCFPD reported that Chilhowee fire was a canopy fire, not the usual brush fire they normally fight. A fire in Saddle Ridge at the same time was sparked by lightning hitting a tree. Fortunately, a light rain dampened the area enough to help the crew from BCFPD extinguish the fire.
The Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report (SWRA) (Attachment F) provides a number of visuals that give an overview of the risk of fire for Saddle Ridge. The report was created on May 12, 2021, following a drive-around April 15, 2021.
The Wildland Urban Interface Risk Index indicates that Saddle Ridge risk is in the minor impact to moderate range (Figure 23 below from Attachment F, page 11). The Foothills Parkway is the southern boundary of Saddle Ridge.
Figure 25 Wildfire Urban Interface Risk for Saddle Ridge
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
3. 2021 Action Plan: Goals, Objectives, Fire Mitigation Recommendations
The 2017 and 2021 goals are the same: fuel reduction and structure ignitability reduction to protect Saddle Ridge and its essential infrastructure. The objectives are
Identify hazardous fuel concerns.
Identify structural ignitability concerns.
Promote home and property owner awareness of fire mitigation activities.
The 2021 CWPP identifies actions the SRPOA and homeowners will take to reduce hazardous fuel, reduce structure ignitability, and provide homeowner education and outreach. The plan also documents the activities of property owners and offers justification for the SRPOA to apply for TDF Hazard Mitigation Grants.
The following recommendations were developed in 2017 by the SR Firewise Committee, the SRPOA, the TDF, the BCFPD, and the GSMNP, with additional community resources consulted. The members of the FWC and SRPOA Board and representatives from the TDF, BCFPD, and GSMNP collaborated on the 2021 update of Community Wildfire Risk Assessment (Attachment E).
Below, the 2021 priority list responds to the 2017 priority list and identifies the action planned for 2021 and going forward. The complete 2021 Action Plan is found in Attachment D.
Proposed Community Hazard Reduction Priorities:
2017: Document the highest priorities areas of Saddle Ridge to remove fuel alongside the roads, around phone poles, in the community areas (the barn area, kiosk, and pond), and particularly hazardous tracts of private property that significantly impact other structures.
2021: The SRPOA Road Committee and community members monitor the roads and the vegetation. Homeowners post problem areas on the SRPOA Facebook or report the problem to a SRPOA Board member. Spring and Fall clean-up days focus on vegetation removal. 2021AP # 10, 11, 15
2017: Hold community clean-up day(s) to promote clearing around individual homes and the barn area. Because steep slopes are common, promote fuel removal and thinning within 30’ as a guideline.
2021: Spring and Fall clean-up days focus on vegetation removal. 2021AP # 9, 10, 11, 15
2017: Publicize the county’s locations for disposal of solid, non-hazardous waste disposal. Alert residents to county-wide disposal options for hazardous waste.
2021: Posts to the SR Facebook page alert community members of Blount County resources. Neighbors frequently combine trips to the BC landfill. 2021AP # 6
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
2017: Coordinate boundary fuel reduction projects that are carried out within the GSMNP for fire break areas.
2021: Shane Paxton, Acting Fire Management GSMNP, walked two areas of the SR boundary with the GSMNP—Sky Top and Park Spur. No fire break projects are planned for this area in the foreseeable future. 2021AP #12
Proposed Structural Ignitability Reduction Priorities:
2017: Work with home and property owners on the individual TDF Home Assessment. 14 home assessments were completed 2017-2019.
2021: Home assessments are resuming now that it is safe to meet with neighbors. The homeowners will be reminded of the importance of the 30’ of defensible space. They will be encouraged to mark underground propane and septic tanks. 2021AP # 8, 9, 14
2017: Identify roads and driveways that need better access for emergency vehicles.
2021: Community representatives, including the chair of the Road Committee, met with the TDF. Each dead-end and cul-de-sac will be reviewed for access and signage. A meeting with the BCFPD is planned. 2021AP # 2, 5
2017: Improve gate access for the emergency vehicles.
2021: When SRPOA representatives meet with the BCFPD gate access will be reviewed. The BCFPD has an assigned a gate code. 2021AP # 5
2017: Improve road and house signage to ensure that it meets Firewise standards.
2021: Review signage. 2021AP # 6, 8, 13
Proposed Education and Outreach Priorities:
2017: Provide all residents with Firewise and Ready, Set, Go! materials. Make sure new residents receive the materials shortly after they purchase property.
2021: Each new owner is emailed a packet of information and the SR website
(www.saddleridgepoa.com) has SR covenants and restriction, architectural review guidelines, Firewise information, and more. 2021AP # 6
2017 / 2021: Continue articles in The Ridge Rambler, the Saddle Ridge quarterly newsletter. 2021AP # 6
2017 / 2021: Continue to make Firewise presentations at the annual SRPOA meeting in July. 2021AP # 6
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
2017: Train several homeowners to become the Firewise Home Assessors for Saddle Ridge (starting with the Firewise committee members). Plan to evaluate 20 homes per year.
2021: Two residents lead the Home Assessments, Barbara Clinansmith and Karen Richardson. Now that it is safe, they are resuming home assessments. 2021AP # 8
2017: Continue to hold community-wide Firewise training to give owners a basic understanding of Firewise principles and program.
2021: Develop training held outside of the annual meeting and clean-up days. 2021AP # 6
2017 / 2021: Continue to post alerts about power outages and trees down across roads on the Saddle Ridge Facebook page. 2021AP # 6
2017: Develop a phone tree to alert residents of the need to evacuate.
2021: Blount County Emergency Management uses Reverse 911 calling for landlines and works with FEMA to ping/send an alert message to any cell phone in the area. The phone tree has been discontinued. A map with evacuation routes is posted at the kiosk and on the SR website. 2021AP # 7
4. Wildfire Pre-Suppression Plan
Wildfire Protection Responsibility
Structural Protection Blount County Fire Protection District
Wildland Protection Tennessee Division of Forestry
Incident Command Post / Incident Staging Area / Medical Unit Staging Area Location
Depending on the location of the fire, the gate or barn area could serve as a staging area. The gate is the only entrance/exit to SR. The barn is located about .5 miles from the gate.
Alarm Response
Table 3 Blount County Fire Protection District Response
Alarm Responder Travel Distance Response Time 1st BCFPD – Walland – Station 5 4.5 miles 10-12 minutes 2nd* Townsend 15-20 miles 15-20 minutes
*The call goes out for more trucks if needed. Townsend or other stations will respond depending on the situation.
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
The initial equipment response for structure and brush fires is shown below—with adjustments made as needed for the fire.
Table 4 Responding Equipment (BCFPD)
Type of Fire Equipment Water and other resources
Structure Fire Engine 1,000 gallons
2 Tanker Trucks 3,000 gallons, each
Support truck Extra equipment: saws, air pumps, etc.
Engine Dry Hydrant
Brush Fire Brush Truck 250 gallons
2 Tanker Trucks 3,000 gallons, each
1 engine truck 1,000 gallons
Air Support
Helicopter and air tanker availability varies greatly during the year. Aerial suppression resources should not be assumed available. Local TDF personnel must be involved in the decision to use aerial suppression resources. The TDF Fire Chief and Army National Guard determine if the mission request is fulfilled. Federal Air Tanker requests must be made from TDF personnel on the fire through the TDF Fire Chief.
Two 600-gallon capacity Bambi buckets are stationed year-round at ANG located at McGhee Tyson Airport, and use is subject to availability. Water fill sites are available at the Little River in Walland, and at Douglas & Loudon reservoirs.
The nearest fill site for Air Tankers is at the National Park Service Air Tanker Base located at the Chattanooga Airport.
Base Name: CHATTANOOGA-CHA
Type of Retardant: Phos-Chek D75-R
Geographic Area: SOUTHERN AREA-R8
Address: Cherokee National Forest
1022 Jubilee Dr.
Chattanooga, TN 3742
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
Table 5: Blount County Dip Sites 2019 Community Address
Longitude
Latitude Approved by/Date
Maryville 6983 Holiday Drive Tallassee
Maryville 5644 Flats Rd Tallassee
N35*38.300 W083*55.596
N35*39.464 W83*54.399
Top of the World Homeowners Association 2019
Top of the World Homeowners Association 2019
Walland 1723 Chilhowee Loop Rd N35*44.088 W83*45.590
Walland 350 Martin Valley Rd N35*43.708 W083*48.349
Townsend 379 Laurel Valley Rd N35*40.375 W083*47.789
Saddle Ridge Properties Owners Association 2019
Larry and Hilda Chesney 2019
Laurel Valley Homeowners Association-Jim Rose 2019
Townsend 1260 Little Round Top Way
Water Availability
N35*41,466 W083*41.076
Little Round Top Homeowners Association 2019
Saddle Ridge has a dry hydrant located at the north end of the pond across from the gate to the community. The BCFPD services the dry hydrant with annual maintenance checks. The most recent was completed August 25, 2017.
Table 4 identifies the types of responding equipment. The tanker trucks each carry 3,000 gallons of water. In addition to the pond in Saddle Ridge accessed through the dry hydrant, the BCFPD has back-up water supplies through hydrants at Walland Elementary School and Fire Station 5 (Walland).
Communications
The BCFPD is part of the Blount County emergency dispatch system—a digital system. Once on scene, the BCFPD uses their local, analog frequency for tactical operations.
Evacuation
A map with evacuation routes is posted at community kiosk and on the SR website. (Attachment I)
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Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
5. Additional Comments
The 2021 CWPP sets clear priorities for continued implementation of wildfire mitigation in the Saddle Ridge community. This plan includes prioritized recommendations for the community as a whole and for individual homeowners. The plan promotes the Fire Adapted Community strategy with Firewise and Ready, Set, Go! programs (Figure 1).
The SRPOA, SRPOA Board of Directors, SR Firewise Committee, and homeowners are working together with the BCFPD, TDF, GSMNP, Alcoa Electric, and other community resources to continue the plan established in 2017.
The 2021 CWPP emphasizes collaboration among Saddle Ridge volunteers and community resources. A significant part of the plan focuses on reducing the risk of structure ignitability. Volunteers work with individual residents on the TDF Home Assessment to help alleviate problem areas. The SRPOA works on community-wide projects to reduce fuel sources.
For 2021, volunteer hours x $27.20 (Firewise-assigned dollar value) = value of volunteer hours
Residents are sent via email a bi-monthly survey (Attachment J) to report their Firewise activities. For example, one homeowner reported through the bi-monthly survey that her household had worked 163 hours to “cut down dead trees/leaning trees and processed wood and chipped debris, mulched leaves for flower beds, removed leaves from trails to create fire breaks”:
163 hours [2 volunteers] x $27.20 = $4,433.60
Saddle Ridge has a clean-up day in the Fall and Spring. 10-15 volunteers work on vegetation removal projects and picking up trash on EMC. They work for about 2 hours, a community total of 20-30 hours. The value of the hours is $544 – $816. The community held virtual clean-ups in Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021. Volunteers signed up for a project, completed it on their own, and reported it in a Google spreadsheet.
Saddle Ridge has had no problem meeting the required annual volunteer investment and that is with less than 10% of the residents reporting their activities (Table 6).
Table 6. Annual Community Investment (Volunteer Hours)
$$ Investment $$ Required
November 2017 $ 325.89 $ 144.00
November 2018 53,622.48 1,762.22
November 2019 28,348.53 1,907.25
November 2020 75,378.69 1,907.25
As of May 23, 2021 $ 44,381.00 $ 2,012.80
22
Saddle Ridge – 2021 CWPP
The Firewise grants (Table 7) have provided funds to improve signage and purchase equipment to help homeowners with vegetation removal.
Table 7. Firewise Grants Awarded
Grant Award Expenditures
March 2018 – June 2019 Start-up grant
$ 20,000 road signs, flail ditch mower, trimmers, pruners, safety equipment. Chokepoint widening. Vegetation removal.
Spring 2019 5,000 wood chipper
2019-2020 3,300 tractor tires and counterweights, come-a-long, fire danger sign
2020-21 5,000 brush cutter, backpack blower, chipper blade/belts, safety equipment. Vegetation removal.
$ 33,300
Saddle Ridge residents for years have held spring and fall clean-up days. Not only do members of the community remove trash and debris in Saddle Ridge, but they also walk East Millers Cove Road and pick trash. The clean-up days often coincide with Keep Blount County Beautiful days and are easily incorporated into the Firewise days.
The community relies on volunteers to remove trees that fall across roads and other debris that blocks roads. Residents post problems on Facebook and within a couple of hours volunteers respond. Derechos and other wind events often fell trees on the roads and on private property. Trees on the roads are removed first—but neighbors help neighbors remove trees across houses, driveways, and yards. Recent severe weather caused flooding at the gate and on Saddle Ridge Road and Walnut Flats.
Saddle Ridge depends on neighbors helping neighbors. This volunteer spirit complements the Firewise program goal of community involvement. The community can check-off the network items in Figure 1. Residents “understand the fire risk”—and their actions, documented in this CWPP, show their efforts to “minimize harm” to the residents and the community.
23
2021 Saddle Ridge Community Accomplishments
Saddle Ridge community members accomplished all the actions we identified in 2017. Our Spring and Fall clean-ups help to focus our efforts on specific areas—even during Covid. We hope you will skim this list to see what our community has done in almost four years. (Abbreviations are listed at the end.)
The Firewise Committee and the Saddle Ridge Property Owners Association Board thank community members for their hard work. 2017 Action Plan – Saddle Ridge
Priority Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
1 Project: Meeting with Blount County Fire Protection District (EO)
Action: Met with Chief McClanahan and Captain Johnny Leatherwood of the BCFPD
Assess: Briefed committee members (Sue DuBois, Debra James, Margaret Saunders, Betsy Smith, and Robert Smith) on the role of the BCFPD
0 FWC, BCFPD
n/a 4/26/2017 4/26/2017
2 Project: Firewise Conference (EO)
Action: Smitty and Betsy Smith attended Firewise Conferences
Assess: Informative overview of the Firewise and Ready, Set, Go! programs and how the TDF works with communities.
0 FWC n/a 5/23/2017 5/23/2017 2018
2019
2020 --
Covid-19
1
Priority Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
3 Project: Introduction to Saddle Ridge (HR/SI)
Action: Drive-thru with Chief McClanahan and Deputy Chief Phillips led by Smitty and Betsy Smith
Assess: 2+ hour drive around Saddle Ridge over most roads; stopped at driveways to review access issues; went to the emergency exit on Sky Top
0 BCFPD, FWC
n/a 5/17/2017 5/17/2017
4 Project: Information to Residents (EO)
Action: Article in The Ridge Rambler*
Assess: Emailed to all property owners; posted on Facebook, website
0 FWC n/a Spring 2017
5/1/2017
5 Project: Introduction to Firewise (EO)
Action: Firewise Training conducted by Nathan Waters, TDF, and Greg Salansky, GSMNP
Assess: 17 residents (10 households) attended the 2 hour workshop. Firewise and Ready, Set, Go! materials were distributed and discussed.
0 FWC, GSMNP,
TDF
n/a 7/14/2017 7/14/2017
2
Priority Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
6 Project: SRPOA Annual Meeting (EO)
Action: Firewise materials distributed; brief overview of plans to become recognized as a Firewise community
Captain Johnny Leatherwood, Station 5, spoke briefly at the meeting.
Assess: 28 households (representing 53 assessed properties) were represented at the meeting
0 FWC, BCFPD
n/a 7/15/2017 7/15/2017
7 Project: Community-Wide Hazard Assessment (EO)
0
Action: Drive-thru with Nathan Waters and Eric Miller, TDF, and Greg Salansky, GSMNP, led by Sue DuBois and Tom Braun
Assess: 2-hour drive around SR to complete Community-Wide
0
Hazard Assessment; walked out Sky Top escape route/fire break option; noted choke-points, dead-ends, turnarounds, brush and other vegetation around phone poles, and clusters of pine, rhododendron, mountain laurel; suggested gate and/or barn as one staging area for emergency equipment—improve gate entry system for emergency responders.
FWC,
SRPOA, TDF,
GSMNP
n/a 8/15/2017 8/15/2017
3
Priority Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
8 Project: Home Assessment (EO)
Action: TDF Home Assessment Training conducted by Nathan Waters and Eric Miller, TDF, and Greg Salansky, GSMNP
Assess: 9 homeowners (representing 6 households) attended; 4 houses were used for the assessment training.
Fall 2017 – 4 homes assessed; Spring 2018 – 2 homes; Fall 2018 – 2 homes; Fall 2019 – 2 homes. 9 packets given to new homeowners shortly after they moved in. Packets available at annual meetings for current homeowners; have not tracked who took the information.
0 FWC, SRPOA,
TDF,
GSMNP
n/a 8/15/2017 8/15/2017 Ongoing
9 Project: Evacuation Plan (EO)
Action: Confirm assignments, organization of tree. Publish, activate the phone tree.
Assess: Phone tree was discontinued in 2020. Blount County Emergency Management uses Reverse 911 calling for landlines and works with FEMA to ping/send alert message to any cell phone in the area. Map of evacuation routes posted on bulletin board at Kiosk and on SRPOA website
0 SRPOA n/a 6/10/2017 May 2021
4
Priority Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
10 Project: Firewise Fall Clean-up Day (HR, SI, EO)
Action: Train residents to do TDF Home Assessment–complete 10- 15; remove debris from roads, barn area; pick up trash on East Millers Cove Road. Borrow TDF chipper; rent dumpster for household trash ($300). Purchase trailer to haul trash and trailer to store equipment ($600). Purchase backpack blower, leaf blower, ear protectors, weed wacker, gloves for residents to use in common areas and borrow for home use ($500). Provide refreshments ($200)
Assess: Held bi-annually in the Spring and Fall. Until 2020 residents met on a Saturday morning to work on an assigned task. With Covid 19, the clean-ups have continued; however, a task list was posted online. Residents chose a task and reported back when it was completed.
$1,000- 1,600
SRPOA TDF 10/21/2017 Ongoing – annually
Spring/Fall
11 Project: Fall—Reduce Fuel Around Homes (HR, SI)
Action: Have equipment available for homeowners: leaf blowers, weedwackers, ear protectors, gloves.
Assess: Homeowners borrow the backpack blower, long trimmers, and other equipment as needed to keep the area around their residence clear of debris. Residents report their activities through the bi-monthly online survey.
12 Project: Community Bulletin Board (HR, SI, EO)
Action: Purchase and install outdoor community notice board to post Firewise, evacuation, and other community information.
Assess: A bulletin board has been installed at the kiosk.
See #10 SRPOA 9/30/2017 Ongoing $300 SRPOA TDF 11/30/2017 Spring 2019
5
Priority Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
13 Project: Gate Access (HR)
Action: Improve gate access with state-of-the-art, compatible radio frequency system for emergency responder access
Assess: Researched. Found technology not there yet for radio frequency access. A Knox box is not what we want. The gate can be pushed open. Emergency personnel given dedicated gate code.
$300- 500
SRPOA, BCFPD
TDF 11/15/2017 Spring/ Summer
2019
14 Project: Signage (SI)
Action: Replace wooden road signs and posts with metal, reflective signs. 1. inventory current signs, 2. determine new signs, 3. research vendors, 4. contract installation
Assess: Steps 1-3 completed Summer 2018. Signs installed Fall 2018. 15 Project: Vegetation Removal (HR)
Action: Reduce fuel by removing debris and vegetation from roadsides and culverts. Thin out rhododendrons, laurels, pine stands.
Assess: Ongoing
16 Project: Choke-points (HR)
Action: Determine points on roads that need widening or pullovers to alleviate choke-points. Set priorities and widen the areas.
Assess: A&L Land Management repaired and widened upper Chilhowee Loop at a washout; worked on turn-arounds at end of Walnut Flats and Eagle Pass; graded, graveled end of Sky Top to Park boundaries.
$7,500- 8,000
$15,000- 20,000
$15,000- 20,000
SRPOA TDF 11/15/2017 November 2018
SRPOA TDF 1/15/2018 Ongoing SRPOA TDF 1/15/2018 May 2019
6
Priority Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
17 Project: Fire Breaks (HR)
Action: Coordinate with GSMNP boundary fuel reduction projects that are carried out within the GSMNP
Assess: Will work with Park Service when this occurs. A section of the Foothills Parkway now runs close to Saddle Ridge.
0 SRPOA, GSMNP
TDF 1/15/2018 Not started
18 Project: Staging Area (HR)
Action: Improve defensible space
around fuel tank at staging area near
the barn.
Assess: The area has been cleared of debris and old equipment. Defensible space has been increased as much as possible.
19 Project: Firewise Spring Clean-up Day (HR, SI, EO)
Action: Continue to train residents to do TDF Home Assessment– complete 10-15; remove debris from roads, barn area; pick up trash on East Millers Cove Road. Borrow TDF chipper; rent dumpster for household trash ($300). Provide refreshments ($200).
Assess: Held bi-annually in the Spring and Fall. Until 2020 residents met on a Saturday morning to work on an assigned task. With Covid 19, the clean-ups have continued; however, a task list was posted online. Residents chose a task and reported back when it was completed.
$500 SRPOA TDF 2/15/2018 Spring 2019
$500 SRPOA TDF April 2018 Ongoing annually –
Spring/Fall
7
* Saddle Ridge community members are notified of all Firewise activities through email, saddleridgepoa@gmail.com, Facebook postings on the private Saddle Ridge page, the Saddle Ridge website www.saddleridgepoa.com, and in the quarterly newsletter, The Ridge Rambler. In addition, the SRPOA Board is updated on activities through the Environment Committee. In 2021, the Environment Committee chair is Judy Pearson. The current chair of the Firewise Committee is Betsy Smith; current committee members are Margaret Akers, Barbara Clinansmith, and Robert Smith.
Abbreviations
BCFPD Blount County Fire Protection District
EO Education/Outreach
FWC Firewise Committee – subcommittee of SRPOA Environmental Committee
GSMNP Great Smoky Mountains National Park
HR Hazard Reduction
SI Structural Ignitability
TDF Tennessee Division of Forestry (East Tennessee District)
8
2021 Action Plan – Saddle Ridge
Saddle Ridge community members are notified of all Firewise activities through email (saddleridgepoa@gmail.com), Facebook postings on the private Saddle Ridge page, the Saddle Ridge website (www.saddleridgepoa.com), and in the quarterly newsletter (The Ridge Rambler). In addition, the SRPOA Board is updated on activities through the Environment Committee. In 2021, the Environment Committee chair is Judy Pearson. The current chair of the Firewise Committee is Betsy Smith; current committee members are Margaret Akers, Barbara Clinansmith, Karen Richardson, Tom Sardella, and Robert Smith.
Abbreviations
BCFPD Blount County Fire Protection District HR Hazard Reduction EO Education/Outreach SI Structural Ignitability
FWC Firewise Committee (subcommittee of SRPOA Environmental Committee)
GSMNP Great Smoky Mountains National Park
TDF Tennessee Division of Forestry (East Tennessee District)
Priority
Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
1 Project: Review 2017 Action Plan to prepare for 2021 Community Wildfire Preparation Plan. (EO)
Action: Firewise committee members Betsy Smith, Robert Smith, Barbara Clinansmith, and Margaret Akers reviewed each action item.
Assess: At the suggestion of Eric Miller, TN Forestry, renamed the 2017 Action Plan the 2021 Saddle Ridge Community Accomplishments. All actions were completed.
0 FWC
n/a 2/18/2021 4/10/2021
1
Priority
Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
2 Project: Meet with Tennessee Division of Forestry Eric Miller, Area Forester, and Doug Lynn, Forestry Technician. (EO, HR, SI)
Action: Drive-around with representatives of TN Forestry: Eric Miller, Doug Lynn, Doug Phillips, and Clayton Lawrence. Saddle Ridge representatives: Betsy Smith, Sue DuBois, and Judy
Pearson. Discussed points on Community Assessor Worksheet.
Assess: Drove Chilhowee Loop to Elks Point out Eagle Pass and back via Oakwood Road. Stopped at different points. Noted Eagle Pass is not wide enough to be a turnaround for fire equipment. Completed all but GSMNP section of Community Wildfire Risk Assessment.
3 Project: Meet with Tennessee Forestry Eric Miller, Area Forester, and Shane Paxton, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service. (EO, HR, SI)
Action: Drive-around with Eric Miller, TN Forestry, and Shane Paxton, GSMNPS; Betsy Smith, Sally Whelan, and Keith
Kennedy, Saddle Ridge representatives.
Assess: Drove Chilhowee Loop – Walnut Flats – Bear Paw – Sky Top and walked to Foothills Parkway. Drove to Park Spur and Popular Bluff. Drove to Park Spur and Overlook View and walked in along Saddle Ridge / GSMNP boundary. Drove to end of Overlook View then back via Elks Point, Eagle Pass, and
Oakwood to Chilhowee Loop.
Completed the Community Wildfire Risk Assessment. Final Report received. (Attachment E)
0 TDF FWC
0 TDF FWC
n/a 4/15/2021 4/15/2021 n/a 4/22/2021 4/22/2021 5/12/2021
2
Priority
Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
4 Project: Tennessee Fire Adapted Communities – Firewise – Annual Conference. (EO)
Action: Community representative(s) attend Firewise Conference
Assess: Updated Firewise communities on best practices and grant opportunities. Reviewed the Fire Adapted Communities Network model. Betsy Smith participated in Zoom meeting.
5 Project: Meet with Blount County Fire Protection District Chief McClanahan and Captain Johnny Leatherwood. (EO, HR, SI)
Action: Drive-around to evaluate Saddle Ridge fire-readiness. Confirm have access to gated community. Check dry hydrant.
Assess:
0 TDF
0 BCFPD FWC
5/20/2021 5/20/2021
n/a 9/30/2021
6 Project: Information to Residents (EO)
Action: Articles in The Ridge Rambler, on website, via email, at annual meeting. Distribute packets of information to new property owners.
Develop education/training sessions apart from annual meeting and clean-up days. Apply for TDF $500 education grant.
Assess:
0 FWC TDF quarterly
3
Priority
Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
7 Project: Evacuation Plan (EO)
Action: Post evacuation routes on the bulletin board at the kiosk and on SRPOA website. Distribute maps at annual meetings.
Assess:
0 FWC SRPOA
n/a 7/17/21
8 Project: Home Assessment (EO)
Action: Conduct Home Assessments when requested. Promote through The Ridge Rambler, website, email, and annual meeting. Encourage homeowners to mark underground propane and septic tanks.
Assess:
9 Project: Reduce Fuel Around Homes (HR, SI)
Action: Have equipment available for homeowners to maintain 30’ of defensible space. Leaf blowers, weed trimmers, pruners, ear protectors, gloves, and more.
Residents report their activities through the bi-monthly online survey.
Assess:
0 FWC n/a ongoing $500 SRPOA TDF ongoing
4
Priority
Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
10 Project: Spring / Fall Clean-up Days (HR, SI, EO)
Action: Residents choose a task and report back when it is completed. Resume Saturday morning clean-ups.
Assess:
$500 SRPOA TDF SRPOA
ongoing
11 Project: Vegetation Removal (HR)
Action: Reduce fuel by removing debris and vegetation from roadsides and culverts. Thin out rhododendrons, laurels, and pine stands.
Assess:
12 Project: Fire Breaks (HR)
Action: Coordinate with GSMNP boundary fuel reduction projects that are carried out within the GSMNP
Assess:
$4,000 SRPOA TDF ongoing 0 GSMNP GSMNP TBD
13 Project: Road signs (EO)
Action: Review road signs, for example
roads come to a T that splits right and left. May need arrows with addresses for each direction (ex. Walnut Flats)
dead-end roads vs cul-de-sacs. No Turn-around signs Assess:
$500 SRPOA BCFPD
TDF 9/1/2021
5
Priority
Project, Action, Assessment Cost
Responsible Party
Funding Source
Target
Start Date
Date
Completed
14 Project: Homeowner’s Insurance (EO)
Action: Encourage homeowners to check with their insurance company. Determine what documentation the insurance companies need.
Assess:
15 Project: Leaf Removal
Action: Research leaf vacuum and purchase if research shows it is appropriate for SR roads. Will it attach to tractor? What happens to the collected leaves?
Assess:
16 Project: Annual Review of 2021 Action Plan
Action: Review Action Plan annually in June. Report progress at the Saddle Ridge annual meeting the third Saturday in July.
Assess:
0 SRPOA n/a 9/1/2021 $5,000 SRPOA TDF 11/1/2021
0 SRPOA n/a June annually
6
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
Community Wildfire Risk Assessment
Total Assessed Rating
182 - High
Suppression Rating
High Hazard
Surrounding Environment Rating
Extreme Hazard
Structures Rating
High Hazard
Fire Protection District
Blount County Fire Protection District
Community Information
Latitude 35° 43' 47"
Longitude -83° 45' 41"
Dwelling Units 74
Size 1,320.83 acres
Residential Type Fixed
Assessed By: Eric Miller
Assessment Date: 04-15-2021
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 1
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
SUPPRESSION ASSESSMENT
Ingress and Egress
2 or more roads in and out
→ One road in and out (entrance and exit are the same)
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Keep community ingress/egress open and maintained (cleared of vegetation) Ongoing. Mowing service and community members maintain the entrance. Action #10, 11, 15
◻ Develop community plan for evacuation routes, safe zones, staging areas. Plans posted at community kiosk and on the SR website (updated May 2021). Action #7
◻ If community is gated, develop evacuation plan and ensure emergency responder access. Emergency responders have a gate code. Action #5
◻ Ensure residents know their closest exit in case of emergency. Residents are encouraged to know their options for evacuating in case of an emergency (updated May 2021). Will publish reminders periodically. Action #6 ◻ Evaluate adding a secondary ingress / egress route for use in emergencies. Road not possible.
Road Width
Road width is > 24 feet
→ Road width is > 20 feet and < 24 feet
Road width is < 20 feet
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Keep shoulders of road clear for emergency vehicle use whenever possible Routine mowing and vegetation removal ongoing. Action #10, 11, 15
◻ Consider providing pull-offs every 100 yards. Terrain and vegetation do not make this feasible. Road Accessibility
Surfaced road
Non-surfaced road, grade less than or equal to 5%
→ Non-surfaced road, grade greater than 5%
Non-maintained dirt road
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Consider road improvements to reduce the risk of getting stuck in sand or mud, driving in extreme grades, tight corners, and road intersections Work SR Road Committee. Action #2 and 3
◻ Coordinate with fire department to test access with emergency response vehicles. Action #5
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 2
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
Secondary Road Terminus
Road ends in a cul-de-sac, diameter > 100 feet
Road ends in a cul-de-sac, diameter < 100 feet
→ Dead end road <200 feet long
Dead end road >200 feet long
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Ensure emergency responder are aware of dead-end roads Action #5, 13
Street Signs
→ Present, lettering 4 inches high, non-flammable and reflective
Present but wooden, non-reflective, or lettering less than 4"
Not present
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Keep street signs visible and clear of vegetation and fine fuels Action #10, 11
Driveways
→ Average driveway allows access to homes
Average driveway restricts access to homes
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Maintain driveway access and clearance Action #9, 10, 11
Water Supply
Has pressurized hydrants
Dry Hydrant(s) / Draft available within the community
→ Other accessible sources within community (pond, lake, etc.)
Water sources located within 4 miles of community (incl heli dip sites)
No water sources in or within 4 miles of the community
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Coordinate with fire department and land owners to train/test use of local water sources (e.g. ponds, lakes) Action #5
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 3
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
Hazardous Features
No notable hazardous features present to hinder fire suppression
→ Fire suppression hindered by hazardous features
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Be aware of local hazardous features and plan appropriately in the event of a wildfire approaching your area Action #6, 8
◻ Ensure emergency responders are aware of local hazardous features that can hinder fire suppression efforts Action #5
Local Response Resources
→ 5 miles or less from fire department
More than 5 miles from fire department
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ N/A
Homeowners Association
→ HOA has organizational structure for sustained fire prevention and mitigation
HOA lacks organizational structure for sustained fire prevention and mitigation
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Host a Community Education Event at least once a year Action #6, 8
◻ Complete a Community Risk Mitigation Project Action #10
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 4
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT
Predominant Vegetation
Light
Medium
→ Heavy
Extreme / Slash
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #10, 11
◻ Consider removal of ladder fuels that allow fire to climb from lower to higher vegetation ◻ Trim tree canopies regularly to keep their branches a minimum of 10' from structures and other trees ◻ Leave 30 feet between clusters of two to three trees, or 20 feet between individual trees ◻ Prune trees 6'10 feet from the ground
Defensible Space
> 100 ft. of vegetation treatment from structure(s)
71 to 100 ft. of vegetation treatment from structure(s)
30 to 70 ft. of vegetation treatment from structure(s)
→ < 30 Ō. of vegetaƟon treatment from structure(s)
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9 information directly to homeowners about issues listed below
◻ Be aware of the risks from falling embers in relation to nearby fuels and defensible space ◻ Mow lawns regularly
◻ Water grass, plants, trees and mulch regularly
◻ Create a spacing of 30 feet between tree crowns
◻ Create a 'fire-free' area within 5 feet of your home, using non-flammable landscaping materials ◻ Remove dead vegetation from under the deck and within 10 feet of the house
◻ Consider xeriscaping if you are affected by water restrictions
◻ Plant a mixture of deciduous trees (e.g. oak and maple) and coniferous trees (e.g. pine) ◻ Create fuel breaks like driveways and gravel walkways
◻ Remove smaller conifers that are growing between taller trees
◻ Remove heavy accumulations of woody debris
◻ Reduce the density of tall trees so canopies do not touch
Structure to Structure Ignition
→ No Possible Structure to Structure IgniƟon
Possible Structure to Structure Ignition
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ N/A
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 5
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
Slope
Slope 0% - 5%
Slope 6 % - 10%
Slope 11% - 30%
→ Slope > 30%
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Increase defensible space in areas with steeper slopes Action #6, 8
History of Wildfire
No recent History of High Fire Occurrence
→ Area with History of High Fire Occurrence
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Develop awareness about local fire occurrence history and include education of community residents in a wildfire prevention plan Action #6
Topographical Features
No topographical features that adversely affect wildland fire behavior
→ Topographical features that adversely affect wildland fire behavior
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Maintain situational awareness of fire danger in your area, as local topographical features can adversely affect wildland behavior Action #6, 8
Adjacency to Wildlands
Not adjacent to wildlands with accumulated fuels and no program for fuel management
→ Adjacent to wildlands with accumulated fuels and no program for fuel management
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ When possible, install firebreaks and reduce fuel loads around community boundary to reduce risk from adjacent wildlands Action #12
Severe Wind Exposure
Not in an area with regular exposure to severe winds
→ Regularly exposed to severe winds that adversely affect fire behavior
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Maintain situational awareness of fire danger in your area, as local severe wind exposure can adversely affect wildland behavior Action #6, 8
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 6
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
Undeveloped Lots with Restricted Access and/or Not Maintained Fewer than 10% of lots are undeveloped
10% to 50% of lots are undeveloped
→ 51% to 75% of lots are undeveloped
Greater than 75% of lots are undeveloped
Recommended Mitigation Strategies
◻ Provide FIREWISE construction guidelines to developers / owners Action #6 ◻ Consider developing covenant restrictions, if applicable Restrictions in place
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 7
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
STRUCTURE ASSESSMENT
Roofing Materials
→ > 75% of homes have metal, Ɵle or class A asphalt or fiberglass shingles
50 to 75% of homes have metal, tile or class A asphalt or fiberglass shingles
< 50% of homes have metal, tile or class A asphalt or fiberglass shingles
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8
◻ Use fire-resistant roofing material such as metal, tile or Class A shingles
◻ Inspect for and address gaps in roofing that can expose roof decking or supports ◻ Place angle flashing over openings between the roof decking and fascia board
Debris on Roof
→ No
Yes
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #9, 10
◻ Clear branch, leaf-litter and other debris from roof regularly
◻ Prune tree limbs away from roof
Ventilation and Soffits
> 75% of homes have non-combustible ventilation soffits with mesh or screening
→ 50-74% of homes have non-combustible ventilation soffits with mesh or screening
< 50% of homes have non-combustible ventilation soffits with mesh or screening
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9, 10
◻ Clean vents to keep them free of debris, allowing them to keep embers out while allowing air flow for ventilation
◻ Enclose or box-in eaves with non-combustible materials such as metal, cement board or stucco ◻ Install a 1/8 inch metal screen behind roof vents
Siding
> 75% of homes have non-combustible siding
→ 50-74% of homes have non-combustible siding
< 50% of homes have non-combustible siding
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9, 10
◻ Keep landscaping materials and vegetation away from combustible siding
◻ Increase defensible space from combustible siding
◻ Replace with noncombustible siding when possible
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 8
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
Underskirting
> 75% of homes have skirting underneath raised floors/decks
→ 50-74% of homes have skirting underneath
< 50% of homes have skirting underneath
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9, 10
◻ Remove combustible vegetation and leaf litter
◻ Spread gravel or other non-combustible material under the deck
◻ Screen in the bottom of the deck with metal 1/8-inch screening
◻ Separate wooden fences from the house with a stone or metal barrier
Wooden Attachments
> 75% of homes have NO Wooden Attachments
50-74% of homes have NO Wooden Attachments
→ < 50% of homes have NO Wooden Attachments
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9, 10
◻ Maintain debris-free decks (e.g. remove ignitable furniture, planters and covering propane grills, especially during high fire danger periods)
◻ Consider disconnecting fences from structures, or replacing materials directly attached to structures with fire resistant materials
◻ Be aware that wooden attachments can act as a fuse to the structure
Gutters
→ NoncombusƟble
Combustible with leaf litter present
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9, 10
◻ Keep gutters clear of fine fuels and debris
Building Setback
Not applicable
Greater than or equal to 30 feet from slope
→ Less than 30 feet from slope
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9, 10
◻ Review suggested defensible space and vegetation management as pertains to building setback
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 9
Saddle Ridge
Blount County, Tennessee
Windows
Not known
→ MulƟ-paned
Single-paned
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9, 10
◻ Use metal framing or aluminum coverings for wood or vinyl
◻ Use a fiberglass or metal screen
◻ Use drapes and shutters that are fire resistant to help reduce the likelihood of fire spread Gas Utilities
Underground/clearly marked or Not applicable
Above ground/clearly marked with a 30 foot cleared perimeter
→ Underground/not marked
Above ground/not marked
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9, 10
◻ Keep vegetation pruned to a minimal level near gas utilities
◻ Place non-flammable mulch (rock, stone) around base of propane tanks
◻ Keep fine fuel accumulation cleared away from propane tanks
◻ When possible, place propane tanks 20' away from home and structures
Electric Utilities
Underground/clearly marked
→ Overhead with a 20 foot wide maintained right of way
Underground/not marked
Overhead with right of way not maintained
Recommended Mitigation Strategies Action #6, 8, 9, 10
◻ Keep vegetation pruned and mowed around electric cabinets
◻ Place non-flammable mulch (rock, stone) around base of electrical cabinets
◻ Plant less flammable bushes and shrubs around electrical cabinets
COMMENTS
Regarding the Adjacency to Wildlands section, further collaboration with GSMNP will continue for the shared boundary on the southern reach of the community. |
Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal - Community Assessor 10
SOUTHERN WILDFIRE
RISK ASSESSMENT
SUMMARY REPORT Saddle Ridge
Report was generated using www.southernwildfirerisk.com
Report version: 4.0
Report generated: 5/12/2021
Table of Contents
Hold Control and Click to navigate to the section of your interest.
Disclaimer
Introduction
Wildland Urban Interface
WUI Risk Index
Community Protection Zones
Burn Probability
Fire Behavior
Characteristic Rate of Spread
Characteristic Flame Length
Characteristic Fire Intensity Scale Fire Type - Extreme
Surface Fuels
Dozer Operability Rating
References
Disclaimer
Southern Group of State Foresters makes no warranties or guarantees, either expressed or implied as to the completeness, accuracy, or correctness of the data portrayed in this product nor accepts any liability, arising from any incorrect, incomplete or misleading information contained therein. All information, data and databases are provided “As Is” with no warranty, expressed or implied, including but not limited to, fitness for a particular purpose.
Users should also note that property boundaries included in any product do not represent an on-the-ground survey suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. They represent only the approximate relative locations.
Introduction
Welcome to the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Summary Report.
This tool allows users of the Professional Viewer application of the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SWRA) web Portal (SouthWRAP) to define a specific project area and summarize wildfire related information for this area. A detailed risk summary report is generated using a set of predefined map products developed by the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment project which have been summarized explicitly for the user defined project area. The report is generated in MS WORD format.
The report has been designed so that information from the report can easily be copied and pasted into other specific plans, reports, or documents depending on user needs. Examples include, but are not limited to, Community Wildfire Protection Plans, Local Fire Plans, Fuels Mitigation Plans, Hazard Mitigation Plans, Homeowner Association Risk Assessments, and Forest Management or Stewardship Plans. Formats and standards for these types of reports vary from state to state across the South, and accordingly SouthWRAP provides the SWRA information in a generic risk report format to facilitate use in any type of external document. The SouthWRAP Risk Summary Report also stands alone as a viable depiction of current wildfire risk conditions for the user defined project area.
SouthWRAP provides a consistent, comparable set of scientific results to be used as a foundation for wildfire mitigation and prevention planning in the South.
Results of the assessment can be used to help prioritize areas in the state where mitigation treatments, community interaction and education, or tactical analyses might be necessary to reduce risk from wildfires.
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The SouthWRAP products included in this report are designed to provide the information needed to support the following key priorities:
Identify areas that are most prone to wildfire
Identify areas that may require additional tactical planning, specifically related to mitigation projects and Community Wildfire Protection Planning
Provide the information necessary to justify resource, budget and funding requests
Allow agencies to work together to better define priorities and improve emergency response, particularly across jurisdictional boundaries
Define wildland communities and identify the risk to those communities
Increase communication and outreach with local residents and the public to create awareness and address community priorities and needs
Plan for response and suppression resource needs Plan and prioritize hazardous fuel treatment programs
To learn more about the SWRA project or to create a custom summary report, go to www.southernwildfirerisk.com.
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Products
Each product in this report is accompanied by a general description, table, chart and/or map. A list of available SouthWRAP products in this report is provided in the following table.
SouthWRAP Product Description
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Depicts where humans and their structures meet or intermix with wildland fuel
WUI Risk Index | Represents a rating of the potential impact of a wildfire on people and their homes |
Community Protection Zones | Represents those areas designated as primary and secondary priorities for community protection planning |
Burn Probability | Probability of an area burning given current landscape conditions, percentile weather, historical ignition patterns and historical fire prevention and suppression efforts |
Characteristic Rate of Spread | Represents the speed with which a fire moves in a horizontal direction across the landscape |
Characteristic Flame Length | Represents the distance between the tip and base of the flame |
Characteristic Fire Intensity Scale | Quantifies the potential fire intensity for an area by orders of magnitude |
Fire Type - Extreme | Represents the potential fire type (surface or canopy) under extreme percentile weather conditions |
Surface Fuels | Contains the parameters needed to compute surface fire behavior characteristics |
Dozer Operability Rating | Level of difficulty to operate a dozer in an area based on limitations associated with slope and vegetation type |
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Wildland Urban Interface
Description
The South is one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, with an estimated population growth of 1.5 million people per year. The South also consistently has the highest number of wildfires per year. Population growth is pushing housing developments further into natural and forested areas where most of these wildfires occur. This situation puts many lives and communities at risk each year.
In particular, the expansion of residential development from urban centers out into rural landscapes, increases the potential for wildland fire threat to public safety and the potential for damage to forest resources and dependent industries. This increase in population across the region will impact counties and communities that are located within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).
The WUI is described as the area where structures and other human improvements meet and intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. Population growth within the WUI substantially increases the risk from wildfire.
For the Saddle Ridge project area, it is estimated that 74 people or 100.0 % percent of the total project area population (74) live within the WUI.
The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) layer reflects housing density depicting where humans and their structures meet or intermix with wildland fuels.
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WUI housing density is categorized based on the standard Federal Register and U.S. Forest Service SILVIS data set categories, long considered a de facto standard for depicting WUI. However, in the SWRA WUI data the number of housing density categories is extended to provide a better gradation of housing distribution to meet specific requirements for fire protection planning activities. While units of the actual data set are in houses per sq. km., the data is presented as the number of houses per acre to aid with interpretation and use by fire planners in the South.
In the past, conventional wildland urban interface data sets, such as USFS SILVIS, have been used to reflect these
concerns. However, USFS SILVIS and other existing data sources do not provide the level of detail for defining population living in the wildland as needed by Southern state WUI specialists and
The new SWRA WUI 2012 dataset is derived using advanced modeling techniques based on the SWRA Where People Live (housing density) dataset and 2012 LandScan population count data available from the Department of Homeland Security, HSIP Freedom Data Set. WUI is simply a subset of the Where People Live dataset. The primary difference between the WPL and WUI is that populated areas surrounded by sufficient non-burnable areas (i.e. interior urban areas) are removed from the Where People Live data set, as these areas are not expected to be directly impacted by a wildfire. Simply put, the SWRA WUI is the SWRA WPL data with the urban core areas removed.
Data is modeled at a 30-meter cell resolution, which is consistent with other SWRA layers. The following table shows the total population for each WUI area within the project area.
WUI – Population and Acres
local fire protection agencies.
Housing Density WUI Population
Percent of WUI Population
WUI Acres Percent of WUI Acres
LT 1hs/40ac 25 33.8 % 502 51.0 % 1hs/40ac to 1hs/20ac 42 56.8 % 417 42.3 % 1hs/20ac to 1hs/10ac 7 9.5 % 66 6.7 % 1hs/10ac to 1hs/5ac 0 0.0 % 0 0.0 % 1hs/5ac to 1hs/2ac 0 0.0 % 0 0.0 % 1hs/2ac to 3hs/1ac 0 0.0 % 0 0.0 % GT 3hs/1ac 0 0.0 % 0 0.0 % Total 74 100.0 % 985 100.0 %
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WUI Risk Index
Description
The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Risk Index layer is a rating of the potential impact of a wildfire on people and their homes. The key input, WUI, reflects housing density (houses per acre) consistent with Federal Register National standards. The location of people living in the Wildland Urban Interface and rural areas is key information for defining potential wildfire impacts to people and homes.
The WUI Risk Rating is derived using a Response Function modeling approach. Response functions are a method of assigning a net change in the value to a resource or asset based on susceptibility to fire at different intensity levels, such as flame length. The range of values is from -1 to -9, with -1 representing the least negative impact and -9 representing the most negative impact. For example, areas with high housing density and high flame lengths are rated -9 while areas with low housing density and low flame lengths are rated -1.
To calculate the WUI Risk Rating, the WUI housing density data was combined with Flame Length data and response functions were defined to represent potential impacts. The response functions were defined by a team of experts based on values defined by the SWRA Update Project technical team. By combining flame length with the WUI housing density data, you can determine where the greatest potential impact to homes and people is likely to occur.
Fire intensity data is modeled to incorporate penetration into urban fringe areas so that outputs better reflect real world conditions for fire spread and impact in fringe urban interface areas. With this enhancement, houses in urban areas adjacent to wildland fuels are incorporated into the WUI risk modeling. All areas in the South have the WUI Risk Index calculated consistently, which allows for comparison and ordination of areas across the entire region. Data is modeled at a 30-meter cell resolution, which is consistent with
other SWRA layers.
Class Acres Percent
-9 Major Impacts 0 0.0 % -8 0 0.0 % -7 0 0.0 % -6 40 4.1 % -5 Moderate 105 10.7 % -4 168 17.2 % -3 137 14.0 % -2 452 46.3 % -1 Minor Impacts 75 7.7 % Total 977 100.0 %
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Community Protection Zones
Description
Community Protection Zones (CPZ) represent those areas considered highest priority for mitigation planning activities. CPZs are based on an analysis of the Where People Live housing density data and surrounding fire behavior potential. Rate of Spread data is used to determine the areas of concern around populated areas that are within a 2-hour fire spread distance. This is referred to as the Secondary CPZ.
General consensus among fire planners is that for fuel mitigation treatments to be effective in reducing wildfire hazard, they must be conducted within a close distance of a community. In the South, the WUI housing density has been used to reflect populated areas in place of community boundaries (Primary CPZ). This ensures that CPZs reflect where people are living in the wildland, not jurisdictional boundaries.
Secondary CPZs represent a variable width buffer around populated areas that are within a 2-hour fire spread distance. Accordingly, CPZs will extend farther in areas where rates of spread are greater and less in areas where minimal rate of spread potential exists. Secondary CPZ boundaries inherently incorporate fire behavior conditions.
Primary CPZs reflect areas with a predefined housing density, such as greater than 1 house per 20 acres. Secondary CPZs are the areas around Primary CPZs within a 2 hour fire spread distance.
All areas in the South have the CPZs calculated consistently, which allows for comparison and ordination of areas across the entire region. Data is modeled at a 30-meter cell resolution, which is consistent with other SWRA layers.
Class Acres Percent
Primary 66 22.2 %
Secondary 231 77.8 %
Total 297 100.0 %
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Burn Probability
Description
The Burn Probability (BP) layer depicts the probability of an area burning given current landscape conditions, percentile weather, historical ignition patterns and historical fire prevention and suppression efforts.
Describe in more detail, it is the tendency of any given pixel to burn, given the static landscape conditions depicted by the LANDFIRE Refresh 2008 dataset (as resampled by FPA), contemporary weather and ignition patterns, as well as contemporary fire management policies (entailing considerable fire prevention and suppression efforts).
The BP data does not, and is not intended to, depict fire-return intervals of any vintage, nor do they indicate likely fire footprints or routes of travel. Nothing about the expected shape or size of any actual fire incident can be interpreted from the burn probabilities. Instead, the BP data, in conjunction with the Fire Program Analysts FIL layers, are intended to support an actuarial approach to quantitative wildfire risk analysis (e.g., see Thompson et al. 2011).
Values in the Burn Probability (BP) data layer indicate, for each pixel, the number of times that cell was burned by an FSim-modeled fire, divided by the total number of annual weather scenarios simulated. Burn probability raster data was generated using the large fire simulator - FSim - developed for use in the Fire Program Analysis (FPA) project. FSim uses historical weather data and current landcover data for discrete geographical areas (Fire Planning Units - FPUs) and simulates fires in these FPUs. Using these simulated fires, an overall burn probability and marginal burn probabilities at four fire intensities (flame lengths) are returned by FSim for each 270m pixel in the FPU.
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The fire growth simulations, when run repeatedly with different ignition locations and weather streams, generate burn probabilities and fire behavior distributions at each landscape location (i.e., cell or pixel). Results are objectively evaluated through comparison with historical fire patterns and statistics, including the mean annual burn probability and fire size distribution, for each FPU. This evaluation is part of the FSim calibration process for each FPU, whereby simulation inputs are adjusted until the slopes of the historical and modeled fire size distributions are similar and the modeled average burn probability falls within an acceptable range of the historical reference value (i.e., the 95% confidence interval for the mean).
Please refer to the metadata available for this dataset for a detailed description of the data processing methods, assumptions and references that pertain to the development of this data. This information is available from the USFS Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Please refer to the web site link in the report References to obtain more detailed descriptions of FPA and the related data products such as Burn Probability.
Burn Probability replaces the Wildland Fire Susceptibility Index (WFSI) layer developed in the original SWRA project completed in 2005.
Class Acres Percent
1 252 30.4 %
2 432 52.2 %
3 144 17.4 %
4 0 0.0 %
5 0 0.0 %
6 0 0.0 %
7 0 0.0 %
8 0 0.0 %
9 0 0.0 %
10 0 0.0 %
Total 828 100.0 %
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Fire Behavior
Description
Fire behavior is the manner in which a
fire reacts to the following
environmental influences:
1. Fuels
2. Weather
3. Topography
Fire behavior characteristics are attributes of wildland fire that pertain to its spread, intensity, and growth. Fire behavior characteristics utilized in the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SWRA) include fire type, rate of spread, flame length and fire intensity scale. These metrics are used to determine the potential fire behavior under different weather scenarios. Areas that exhibit moderate to high fire behavior potential can be identified for mitigation treatments, especially if these areas are in close proximity to homes, business, or other assets.
Fuels
The SWRA includes composition and characteristics for both surface fuels and canopy fuels. Significant increases in fire behavior will be captured if the fire has the potential to transition from a surface fire to a canopy fire.
Fuel datasets required to compute both surface and canopy fire potential include:
Surface Fuels, generally referred to as fire behavior fuel models, provide the input parameters needed to compute surface fire behavior.
Canopy Cover is the horizontal percentage of the ground surface that is covered by tree crowns. It is used to compute wind reduction factors and shading.
Canopy Ceiling Height/Stand Height is the height above the ground of the highest canopy layer where the density of the crown mass within the layer is high enough to support vertical movement of a fire. A good estimate of canopy ceiling height would be the average height of the dominant and co-dominant trees in a stand. It is used for computing wind reduction to midflame height and spotting distances from torching trees (Fire Program Solutions, L.L.C, 2005).
Canopy Base Height is the lowest height above the ground above which here is sufficient canopy fuel to propagate fire vertically (Scott & Reinhardt, 2001). Canopy base height is a property of a plot, stand, or group of trees, not of an individual tree. For fire modeling, canopy base height is an effective value that incorporates ladder fuel, such as tall shrubs and small trees. Canopy base height is used to determine if a surface fire will transition to a canopy fire.
Canopy Bulk Density is the mass of available canopy fuel per unit canopy volume (Scott & Reinhardt, 2001). Canopy bulk density is a bulk property of a stand, plot, or group of trees, not of an individual tree. Canopy bulk density is used to predict whether an active crown fire is possible.
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Weather
Environmental weather parameters needed to compute fire behavior characteristics include 1-hour, 10-hour, and 100-hour timelag fuel moistures, herbaceous fuel moisture, woody fuel moisture, and the 20- foot 10 minute average wind speed. To collect this information, weather influence zones were established across the region. A weather influence zone is an area where for analysis purposes the weather on any given day is considered uniform. Within each weather influence zone, historical daily weather is gathered to compile a weather dataset from which four percentile weather categories are created. The percentile weather categories are intended to represent low, moderate, high, and extreme fire weather days. Fire behavior outputs are computed for each percentile weather category to determine fire potential under different weather scenarios.
The four percentile weather categories include:
Low Weather Percentile (0 – 15%)
Moderate Weather Percentile (16 – 90%)
High Weather Percentile (91 – 97%)
Extreme Weather Percentile (98 – 100%)
Topography
Topography datasets required to compute fire behavior characteristics are elevation, slope and aspect.
FIRE BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS
Fire behavior characteristics provided in this report include:
Characteristic Rate of Spread
Characteristic Flame Length
Characteristic Fire Intensity Scale
Fire Type - Extreme
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Characteristic Rate of Spread
Description
Characteristic Rate of Spread is the typical or representative rate of spread of a potential fire based on a weighted average of four percentile weather categories. Rate of spread is the speed with which a fire moves in a horizontal direction across the landscape, usually expressed in chains per hour (ch/hr) or feet per minute (ft/min). For purposes of the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment, this measurement represents the maximum rate of spread of the fire front. Rate of Spread is the metric used to derive the Community Protection Zones.
Rate of spread is a fire behavior output, which is influenced by three environmental factors - fuels, weather, and topography. Weather is by far the most dynamic variable as it changes frequently. To account for this variability, four percentile weather categories were created from historical weather observations to represent low, moderate, high, and extreme weather days for each weather influence zone in the South. A weather influence zone is an area where, for analysis purposes, the weather on any given day is considered uniform.
For all Southern states, except Florida and Texas, this dataset was derived from updated fuels and canopy data as part of the 2010 SWRA Update Project recently completed in May 2014. For Texas, the 2010 Texas risk update data is portrayed. For Florida, the 2010 Florida risk assessment update data is shown.
Rate of Spread Acres Percent
Non-Burnable 69 6.0 % 0 - 5 (ch/hr) 666 58.0 % 5 - 10 (ch/hr) 199 17.3 % 10 – 15 (ch/hr) 107 9.3 % 15 - 20 (ch/hr) 83 7.2 % 20 - 30 (ch/hr) 25 2.2 % 30 - 50 (ch/hr) 0 0.0 % 50 - 150 (ch/hr) 0 0.0 % 150 + (ch/hr) 0 0.0 % Total 1,149 100.0 %
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