North Georgia Fire Prevention & Education Team 2013
Mark L. Wiles
Wildfire Prevention SpecialistGeorgia Forestry Commission
Prevention Team Focus Areas
Haralson & Polk CountiesMay 7-14, 2013
Rabun CountyMay 15-22, 2013
Polk and Haralson Counties(May 7, 2013 thru May14, 2013)
• Promote “Human-Caused Fire” awareness.• Spread the Fire Prevention Message.• Promote the Firewise Program in local communities.• Promote “Arson Awareness Week” (May 6-May 10).• Train District Fire Prevention Coordinators as Fire
Prevention Team members.
Focus Areas for this Project
Delegation of Authority1. Provide consistent Firewise & Fire Prevention messages to the public,
local governments, and media.2. Promote regional Firewise, prevention, and CWPP efforts and events
already underway, including presentations to civic groups, homeowners associations, schools, local organizations and participation in community events such as fairs and local celebrations.
3. Raise overall awareness of fire danger, burning restrictions, and regulations currently in place for counties in North Georgia.
4. Help Promote Arson Awareness Week (May 5th-11th)
5. Create and distribute new Fire Prevention products.
6. Provide CDI training to District Fire Prevention Coordinators
7. Help develop new Fire Prevention Strategy for the District.
Polk and Haralson County Team
• Mark Wiles. GFC, Team Leader• Beryl Budd, GFC, Team Member• Denise Croker, GFC, Team Member• Chris Dunn, GFC, Team Member• Jenny Brunner, GFC, Team Member• Eric Mosley, GFC, Team Liason
Polk and Haralson CountiesArson Fires within these two counties
accounted for roughly 25% of the
arson fires throughout the state during the last year.
These arson fires have traditionally been the primary
cause of wildfires in these two counties
for many years!
Polk and Haralson CountiesThe team worked out of the Polk County Emergency
Management Office located in Cedartown.
Polk and Haralson CountiesTeam Objectives:
Fire Prevention Education for all human caused wildfires with an emphasis on Arson.
Target Audience:•Local Governments•Media•School programs•Civic and Community Groups •Local Organizations •Local Events•General Public
Local Governments Contacted Polk and Haralson Counties
Team members made contact with key officials in these communities:
Haralson County Polk County
• Board of Commissioners• City of Buchanan• City of Bremen• City of Tallapoosa• City of Waco
• Board of Commissioners• City of Cedartown• City of Rockmart• City of Aragon• City of Braswell
Media Outreach
The team spread the Fire Prevention message through a variety of media sources.
• Cedartown Journal• Rockmart Journal• WSB TV• Fox Atlanta• Radio
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Information Distribution
School Campaign Team members made 43 fire prevention
presentations to approximately 1600 students and educators during the week.
• Haralson Middle School• Rockmart Middle School• Buchanan Elementary• Buchanan Primary• Polk County Elementary
Schools at Farm Day event sponsored by Polk County Farm Bureau
Civic and Community Groups Team members made four presentations to
approximately 131 local leaders.
• Tallapoosa Lion’s Club
• Bremen Rotary Club
• Bremen 5:14 Community meeting
• Buchanan Kiwanis Club
Local Organizations and Businesses Team members met with and distributed materials to many local
organizations. Three presentations were also made to local Senior Centers and a Boy Scout troop.
• Bremen Senior Center• Tallapoosa Senior Center• Haralson Boy Scout troop• Chamber of Commerce• Carroll EMC• Georgia Power Company• Saved to Serve Volunteers• Ministry Association of Haralson County• Polk and Haralson Farm Bureau• Boys and Girls Club• West Georgia Technical College• Haralson County Wildlife Association
General Public Team Members provided fire prevention table exhibit and distributed
materials to the general public at local events and shopping centers.
• West Georgia Technical College Rodeo
• Haralson County Fishing Rodeo• Bremen Wal-mart• Cedartown Home Depot
Campaign Follow-upPolk & Haralson Counties
•Revitalize County Fire Prevention Programso County School SystemsoCommunity EventsoCivic Organizations
•Follow-up with contacts for each community who are interested in the Firewise Program.
•Continue Outreach with local schools and civic groups
•GFC Investigators should agressively inspect arson fires, and prosecute if possible.
Campaign Follow-upPolk & Haralson Counties
•Continue outreach with local county and city governments, in coordination with sheriff and fire departments
•Continue fire department training.
•Continue to develop GFC fire prevention personnel to revitalize prevention program.
•Utilize Fire Prevention Specialists to promote arson awareness, fire prevention and Firewise programs
•Introduce landowners to various fuel mitigation methods through mastication and prescribed burning.
•Provide support through the Community Protection Grant
Rabun County Firewise Assignment (Phase II of the Fire Prevention Campaign)
Rabun County Firewise(May 15, 2013 thru May 22, 2013)
• Promote “Firewise” Program awareness.• Identify at risk communities.• Promote the “Firewise” Program in the local
communities, as well as the governing bodies of those communities.
• Train District Fire Prevention Coordinators as Fire Prevention Team members.
Focus Areas for this Project
Rabun County Team
Mark Wiles, GFC ,Team LeaderDon Walker, USFS, Team Leader TraineeBeryl Budd, GFC, Team MemberDenise Croker, GFC, Team MemberAllison Segrest, GFC, Team MemberPatrick Mahoney, FFS, Firewise RepresentativeMark Sparrow, GFC, Team MemberShannon Dean, GFC, Team Member Shawn Diddie, GFC, Team MemberEric Mosley, GFC, Liason
The Team:
Team Members conduct initial planning meeting at the Tiger EMA facility, which was used as the teams headquarters.
Local Government Team Members met with key officials from all local municipalities. • Rabun County Board of
Commissioners• City of Sky Valley• City of Scaly Mountain• City of Dillard• City of Clayton• City of Tiger• City of Tallulah Falls• City of Mountain City
Media OutreachTeam members had success with spreading the Firewise message.
Team members conduct a media tour of a certified Firewise
Community. Sky 104 Radio Station
Access North Georgia News (online)
Clayton Tribune
Laurel Magazine
Link on Rabun County website
Developments and Homeowners Associations
Team members identified and made contacts with high risk developments.
•Rabun Bluff•Lake Rabun•Sylvan Lake Falls•Sky Valley•Pinnacle Point•Spruce Creek•WynnGate•Hampton Place•Hickory Nut Mountain•Lakemont•Lake Burton Team members give a Firewise
Communities presentation to the Lake Burton Property Owner’s
Association.
Community AssessmentsTeam members complete a Firewise
Community application and assessment for the Hampton Place Community
Firewise Community application and assessment for Camp Rainey Mountain, Boy Scout Camp were completed.
Local Community and Business Outreach Team members distributed
materials and made contacts throughout the community.
Chamber of Commerce
Bear Creek Realty
Better Homes & Garden Metro Brokers
United Community Bank
Sky Valley Golf Club
Rabun Gap Nacoochee School
Sky Valley REMAX Realty
Rabun REMAX Realty
Billingsley’s Garden Center
Rabun County Farm Bureau
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Blackrock Mountain State Park
Chattooga Ranger District, USFS
Team members provide table exhibit and distribute materials at the Rabun County Carnival.
Civic and Community Presentations Presentations were made to several Civic and other
community organizations.
• Rotary Club of Clayton• BSA Northeast Georgia
Council• REMAX Realtors sales
meeting• Lake Burton Civic Association
Fire Department Training Team members present
Firewise training to 80 volunteers at the Rabun County Training Center.
Team members meet with and conduct several Firewise training meetings for local Volunteer Fire
Departments.
• Valley Fire Department•Chechero Fire Department•Wildcat Fire Department•Scaly Mountain Fire Department
Firewise Message
The team distributed literature, used signage, and table top
exhibits to spread the Firewise message in a variety of ways to
thousands of local citizens.
A local advertising firm provided a billboard Firewise message
at no cost.
Campaign Follow-upRabun County
•Follow-up with Firewise contactsoMediaoLeaders, ex. MayorsoBoy Scouts, ex. Camp Rainey Mountain
•Attend scheduled community meetings
•Complete community assessments
•Schedule and support in the conduction of Firewise Day
•Continue fire department training
•Recruiting new communities, continue outreach efforts•Engage State Parks in Firewise programs.oChattooga Ranger District (USFS)
Campaign Follow-upRabun County
•Train current GFC employees on Firewise
•Create partnership with North Carolina Forest Service
•Utilize Wildfire Prevention Specialist (TDL) employees to promote human caused fire awareness, fire prevention and the Firewise program within these communities
•Introduce landowners to various fuel mitigation methods through mastication and prescribed fire
• Provide support through the Community Protection Grant.
Campaign Follow-upRabun County
•Currently working with Boy Scouts if America, Future Farmers of America and 4-H to promote Firewise message throughout Georgia
•Firewise Communities created as a result of the campaignShades of TigerRabun BluffBear GapCity of Tallullah FallsRainey Mountain Community (BSA)Scoutland Community (BSA)Screamer MountainCity of DillardDenver York LaneHeaven’s LandingHampton PlaceSky Valley
Lake RabunLake BurtonLaurel RidgeCedar Cliff (Towns County)Pine Crest (Towns County)High River (Towns County)City of Talmo (Jackson County)City of Mansfield (Newton County)Pineywoods (Hart County)
The Campaign Continues
There is still much to be done!