Prescribed Fire in Gila National Forest

County Fire Plan

Sierra SWCD - Your local leaders in natural resources.

With the extreme Wildland fire situations in New Mexico that began in 2000, communities were encouraged to develop a Fire plan that identifies areas that are susceptible to Wildland fires in urban interface areas and what steps need to be taken to mitigate those hazards.

The Sierra SWCD serves as the lead agency in Sierra County to draft a Wildland-Urban interface fire plan and find ways to implement that plan. The group includes the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land management, Bureau of Reclamation, NM State Forestry Division, County of Sierra, Department of Transportation, utility companies and the eleven volunteer fire departments.

The Sierra County national Fire Plan has identified five areas of concern for Wildland-Urban Interface fires, issues with highway right of ways, utilities, communication needs, VFD training and equipment needs and information and education. Action items have been identified. Two County wide FireWise workshops have been held and small timber utilization workshops.

Sierra County National Fire Plan

Landowner thinning projects– The Sierra SWCD has received funding to provide a 70/30% cost-share assistance program to landowners who would like to create a fuelbreak or defensible space around their home and property to reduce the threat of a wildfire. Landowners complete an application, an assessment and treatment plan is provided to the landowner . If he concurs, State Forestry reviews the plan and if approved the landowner implements the plan. Upon completion and review for compliance the landowner can receive 70% of the total cost of the treatment plan. Please contact Stephanie Bason, Sierra SWCD Resource Management Specialist for details.

20 communities cost share app; 20 communities handout