Wildfire Mitigation

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Wapiti Fire, September 2024 (Source: CMAT)

Wildfires pose a significant threat to our landscapes and communities in and around Lowman. As we face an increasing risk of fire, it’s imperative that we, as residents, take proactive measures to safeguard our homes and environment. This resource page is dedicated to equipping you with essential information and actionable steps for effective wildfire mitigation. 

Contact Information

• For wildfire mitigation guidance in Boise County contact Jordan Jones, Wildfire Mitigation Forester, 208-807-0073, jjones@co.boise.id.us  or Melanie Barkalow, 208.781.8535 mbarkalow@co.boise.id.us

Important Mitigation Information for Residents

• Do you receive emergency alerts? Sign up for Boise County alerts with Alert Sense: https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx?regionid=1163 
• What do you do with slash, pine needles, and yard debris? 
  • The slash drop off location: Lowman Transfer Site, 21 Richards Creek Road (On Ten Mile Creek Road at the Lowman Nature Ponds). You can drop off slash on Thursdays and Sundays.
• Who can help with tree and mitigation work? 
  • Vendor List:
    • Elijah Coley, 208-859-0763. Services offered: Technical tree cutting and removal.
    • Northwest Defensible Space, Krys Crane and Jenna Baron, 208-922-0867. Services offered: Tree cutting and wildfire mitigation consultations.
    • Click here for more options Fire Mitigation Contractors: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PW16oO_47hmfhAoMXixDFvW0tF4k5Pqa/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=104479987891080750258&rtpof=true&sd=true

Wildfire Mitigation Resources

• Lowman Mitigation Tool Box: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/196DwdZ_-oIavcHt5ndPaz3s1-Yax9CB1

• Idaho Firewise: Providing resources on fire resistant homes, landscapes, evacuation, fire prevention, and fire ecolocy and management.  https://idahofirewise.org/
  
• Idaho Fire Information: Comprehensive website with Idaho wildfire information and links to other resources. http://www.idahofireinfo.com/
  
• “Wildfire Mitigation: Living in a Fire Prone Ecosystem” video https://youtu.be/8LRulMj1Fh0
  
• Boise County Evacuation Tips for Residents: This guide provides essential steps for preparing and responding to a wildfire evacuation. It includes creating an evacuation checklist, organizing critical items such as medications, personal papers, and pet supplies, and developing a detailed evacuation route map with multiple options. https://www.boisecounty.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/719FireEvacuati_00000007038.pdf 

• Idaho Prescribed Fire Council: Learn when and how to burn slash and piles. https://www.frames.gov/idahoprescribedfirecouncil/resources

• Burn Permits, Idaho Department of Lands: Burn permits are required May 20 through October 20. Curing the closed burning season, free burn permits are required. Obtain a burn permit prior to lighting your slash pile. https://burnpermits.idaho.gov/

• Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide: This guide includes specific recommendations for how to retrofit existing components of a home to withstand wildfire. https://readyforwildfire.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/wildfire-home-retrfito-guide-1.26.21.pdf 

• Ready, Set, Go! Tips on how to prepare you and your family for a wildfire threatening your home. https://www.iafc.org/docs/default-source/pdf/idaho_actionguide.pdf

• Immediate Zone Fact Sheet (National Fire Protection Association): https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Project/Storefront/Catalog/Files/Firewise/Fact-sheets/FirewiseFactSheetsImmediateNoncombustibleZone.pdf?rev=3474ff7786a94cf584d51e743f6b9357&hash=C0FFBE5E37F1FAD7AEB603C3800E6F24 

• Firewise USA: Firewise recognition program and various other helpful tips and resources. https://firewise.org/ 
  • Firewise Resources: https://www.nfpa.org/en/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa/firewise-usa-resources 
  • Band Together Toolkit: https://www.nfpa.org/downloadable-resources/firewise/firewise-band-together-toolkit

• Protect Your Business from Wildfire: https://disastersafety.org/wildfire/protect-your-business-from-wildfire/ 

Let’s Prepare for the Next Wildfire Together