Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan: 15. Wildfires

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Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires 5. Lack of public awareness of the wildfire threat, to include lack of appropriate awareness by elected officials, planning agencies, large land owners, land managers, scientists, and homeowners (especially absentee owners)regarding: a. Fire history and fire hazards; b. Fire-mitigating landscaping techniques; c. Importance of mitigation; d. Fuels management tools and methods; and e. Common human-caused fire starts, such as roadside ignitions, fireworks, catalytic converters, green-waste dumping, and arsonists. 6. Need to increase/integrate communication (protocols, equipment, pre- and post- fire planning)between state, federal, and county agencies,particularly to maximize initial attack capabilities and to utilize specialized wildland expertise and training for wildfire situations. 7. Need to reduce and/or control invasive species that possess inherent fire or ignition properties, e.g. ignite easily and/or carry fire easily. 8. Arson-- It is not well known whether there is amnesty for reporting, nor what civil liabilities and penalties exist for arsonists. 9. Lack of emergency access staging areas and safety zones/areas within subdivisions for evacuation purposes. 10. Inadequate community egress and firefighting vehicle ingress during a wildfire a. Need to identify evacuation routes/roads within subdivisions; and b. Need to educate community about evacuation protocols. 15.5 Risk Assessment 15.5.1 Purpose and Methods The purpose of the community risk assessment is to: • Provide site-specific information to the community to promote wildfire awareness; • Help identify and prioritize areas for treatment; and • Determine the highest priority uses for available financial and human resources. The methods for the community wildfire risk assessment followed the guidelines established for the HFRA,which requires the following actions: • Step 4-Establish a Community Base Map • Step 5a-Develop a Community Risk Assessment • Step 5b-Identify Overall Community Priorities 15.5.2 Communities at Risk from Wildfires,Island of Hawaii The communities at risk from wildfires on the Island of Hawaii assessment made by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, was mapped in 2005. Community priorities were based on the updated hazard rankings and overall risk assessment(Table 15-2. above)and fire history(Figure 15.4). 15-9 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan