SWAMP
     Story Wildfire Assessment & Mitigation Plan
... a plan of action to help the community of Story deal with the threat of wildfire in our ‘Wildland/Urban Interface. The plan is based on efforts that were started in 1996 after the Moncrieffe/Long Draw & Stockwell fires above Story.

After the fire season of 2000 it was decided that we would be prudent to be more pro-active and implement a plan before a fire started in the area.

The Story Fire District hired Land Stewardship Associates of Colorado (http://www.landstewards.net/HomePage.htm) to help us evaluate and document our wildfire threat and make recommendations.

The funding for this plan was made possible by working with the Wyoming State Forestry Division (http://lands.state.wy.us/forestry.htm) through the National Fire Plan (http://www.fireplan.gov) and its Wildland Urban Interface Grant Program.

The plan addresses 7 key issues.

1. A system of fuel breaks was needed on the west side of Story.

2. Homeowners needed to take responsibility for creating 'Defensible Space' around their homes.

3. Accessibility to homes, roads & bridges needed to be addressed.

4. Additional resources were needed to strengthen the Story Fire District and to provide necessary support for the fire department needs.

5. Power lines needed to be cleared of branches and brush.

6.Pre planned tactical responses needed to be developed for a wildfire within or adjacent to Story.

7. The ability of the Story Fire District to implement the SWAMP needed to be strengthened.

All of  these issues are being addressed

1. 300’ wide ‘Shaded Fuel Break’ has been built from North Piney Creek to South Piney Creek. A shaded fuel break is one in which serious tree thinning occurs in the center 100’ then the 100’ on either side of this center the trees are thinned somewhat less and blended into the adjacent vegetation. After nearly two years of planning the first tree fell on the fuel break on June 18, 2003 and the last tree fell on January 21, 2004. The break crosses 7 private landowners and the Wyoming owned Story Fish Hatchery (http://gf.state.wy.us/admin/hatchery/story.asp). A tremendous amount of slash was generated and removal of this slash is still in progress. Chipping and burning are the two main procedures for this process.

2. The fire district has mailed ‘Home Defensibility’ information to Story area residents and landowners. The Wyoming State Division of Forestry has mailed ‘Home Defensibility’ information to residents. The fire district has sponsored ‘Home Defensibility’ workshops at local residences with more to come. We have done guest presentations at some of the local organizations. We applied for and received ‘Firewise Community’ Status from the ‘Firewise Community’ program (http://www.firewise.org). We have implemented a Cost Share Program to help landowners create Defensible Space.  We will continue to help residents understand what ‘Home defensibility’ is and the importance of it. Thanks to those of you who are practicing ‘Home Defensibility’.

3. A study of our bridges is underway to determine if they are safe for our volunteer firemen to take fire equipment across. Road widths and driveway turnarounds need to be evaluated by residents to determine if they meet recommended specifications. You will hear us talking more about this in the future.

4. We have submitted grant requests to increase funding for equipment. In 2003 we received a grant from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (http://www.usfa.fema.gov) for the purchase of a wildland fire fighting mobile trailer (see Link). The fire department has recruited new volunteers. We will continue to work with the firemen to help the them do their jobs safer and more efficiently.

5. The local power company, MDU, Montana Dakota Utilities (http://www.montana-dakota.com) is in the process of  clearing the power lines of vegetation and replacing power poles where necessary. If they are working on or near your property please cooperate with them. This is important.

6. Pre planned tactical responses are outlined in the SWAMP.

7. A coordinator was hired to implement the SWAMP.  We realized that someone needed to be active every day to keep the various projects rolling.  The coordinator can be reached by e-mailing John Lunbeck