Firewise Home Assessment Program

Apply online for the Firewise Program. Applications received after September 30, 2009 will receive home assessments in Spring of 2010.

Objectives

• Reduce life and property losses from wildland-urban interface fire by treating forested areas to limit fire spread and intensity.
• Improve the health of local forested areas by thinning and pruning conifer trees to enhance vigor and encourage regeneration.
• Educate homeowners about safe burning practices, emergency preparedness, and forest stewardship.

Program Overview

For residents living in neighborhoods exposed to wildfires, AFD provides on-site visits to offer specific recommendations for vegetation management and home maintenance. Through federal funding assistance, AFD provides financial assistance to remove dead, beetle killed spruce and densely growing coniferous trees from private property. The primary goal is to reduce the potential for homes to ignite during a wildfire.

The potential for home ignition is determined by the “home’s fuel characteristics and the heat sources within 100-200 feet adjacent to a home” (Cohen 2000). Treating the fuels in this area can reduce the severity of fire behavior by limiting the amount of combustible material. Forest fuels in Southcentral Alaska account for the trees, shrubs, and grass in your yard that can burn toward your home and ignite any combustible materials on or around your home.

This program applies to parcels that are 5 acres and smaller. If your parcel is larger than 5 acres, please contact the Division of Forestry Stewardship Program in Palmer, Alaska at (907) 761-6268.

How to sign up

AFD will provide this service on a first come – first serve basis to homeowners while funding is available.

1. Complete the Application & Agreement and return it to AFD. You can apply on-line, by calling 267-4980, or by emailing wildfire@muni.org.
2. When your application is received, AFD staff will make an appointment to meet with you on your property. During the assessment, you will be provided with the completed Firewise Home Assessment Form with recommendations on how to make your home Firewise.
3. If professional tree work is recommended, homeowners are eligible for 70% reimbursement. The maximum reimbursable amount is $2,000 per acre, pro-rated for properties less than one acre. Homeowners must obtain two bids from the tree contractor referral list. Once the tree work is completed, the homeowner pays the entire invoice total to the contractor. Then, the homeowner submits the paid invoice and the two bids to AFD.
4. AFD will conduct a quality assurance site inspection to confirm the tree work is completed to the standard specified by AFD and document with photos. If all requirements are met, the reimbursement will be processed within 45 days.

APPLY NOW

For more information, call 267-4980 or email