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Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Maintaining a Community Wildfire Protection Plan
One of the core responsibilities of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council (FSC) is to oversee the maintenance and implementation of the Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The plan is generally updated every five years and, in order to be certified, it must meet the standards of a CWPP under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA).
A CWPP, as defined by the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA), is a plan for a community at risk that:
- Is developed collaboratively.
- Identifies and prioritizes fuel reduction projects.
- Recommends measures to reduce the ignitability of structures.
CWPP: 2019 Update
The 2019 CWPP is the culmination of two years of collaboration among the members of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council (HCFSC). In addition to the broad range of fire protection and prevention entities represented by the HCFSC, the CWPP update process included extensive communication and coordination with local fire departments and fire safe councils, state and federal agencies, personnel from various county departments, and the general public.
This is the third edition of the CWPP. Since 2006, the CWPP has served as the guiding document for the work of the HCFSC and has been an excellent tool for planning and securing funding for numerous projects that have helped local residents and community groups prepare for the impacts of wildfire. Keeping this plan current and actionable is more important than ever as California faces unprecedented losses of life, property, and ecological values to wildfire.
The Humboldt County 2019 CWPP was certified as meeting the three criteria defined by the HFRA by the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council, the Humboldt-Del Norte California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Unit Chief, the Humboldt County Fire Chiefs’ Association, and the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. Certification of a CWPP by these entities does not constitute plan adoption or approval but does represent the signees’ agreement that the contents of the plan conform to the three HFRA CWPP standards.
HCFSC members and partners are working together to implement the CWPP using the identified objectives, metrics, and priority action recommendations to meet each of the following six goal areas:
- WILDFIRE IGNITION PREVENTION: Reduce human-caused wildfire ignitions.
- WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS: Increase community resilience and adaptation to wildfire.
- DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Increase residents’ ability to effectively prepare for and survive wildfire.
- FIRE PROTECTION: Support fire protection for people, property, communities, and natural resources.
- RESTORATION OF BENEFICIAL FIRE: Restore beneficial fire at the landscape scale.
- INTEGRATED PLANNING: Maximize integration of planning efforts to improve community and ecosystem resilience to wildfire.
The Humboldt County Fire Safe Council (HCFSC) and its partners have already made a great deal of progress on implementation of the CWPP since its certification in January 2019— from securing over $3 million in grant funding to support demonstration projects, roadside clearance, and prescribed fire training to developing educational resources tailored to Humboldt County, including a photo library and home-hardening brochure. Visit the HCFSC Programs page to learn about current programs. The HCFSC has continued to build partnerships with entities big and small, from Six Rivers National Forest to the landowner-led Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association. Be sure to stay up-to-date on progress by joining the HCFSC mailing list and signing up for email alerts!
CWPP WebGIS Database
The Plan document is a significant part of the CWPP but did you know the HCFSC also maintains a CWPP WebGIS Database of projects, risks/hazards, and assets/values? The database is intended to be a "living" component of the CWPP; keeping it updated enables project planning among partners across the county. The HCFSC Project Input and Update Process describes how projects are added and by whom. If you are considering developing a project proposal, start by reading this document. Once you are ready, download the CWPP WebGIS Request Form.
CWPP History
The original Humboldt County CWPP was called the Humboldt County Master Fire Protection Plan (MFPP). The need for a countywide fire plan was born out of the Humboldt County General Plan update (GPU) process. During the GPU community-scoping meetings, members of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and county planners heard from community members that there were serious challenges in rural areas related to local fire protection. In addition, the destructive wildfire season of 2002 led to a statewide mobilization encouraging all Californians to make their homes, neighborhoods, and communities fire safe. These factors, combined with the availability of outside funding, provided the motivation for the county to draft its first fire plan under the guidance of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council, which was formed for this purpose. The effort brought together for the first time local Fire Safe Councils (FSCs), fire departments, and other key players in wildfire management and community protection at the countywide scale.
The first update of the Humboldt County CWPP began in 2012 and was completed in 2013. This version included significant changes, including organization of the County into 13 planning units.
The current CWPP is the second update, or third version of the Humboldt County plan. Community input was gathered through a series of 14 workshops hosted around the county. Update collaborators streamlined the document to make it more useful for local fire protection practitioners and other plan partners. Metrics were added to the Action Plans, and potential implementation steps and outcomes were defined for each priority action to facilitate their successful completion over the next five years. A fourteenth planning unit (Avenue of the Giants) was carved out of the Southern Humboldt Unit to facilitate planning in these two distinct areas. In early 2019, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, CAL FIRE, and the Humboldt County Fire Chiefs' Association certified that the updated plan meets all the standards listed under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act.
Learn more about the plan's history by reading pages 1-7 of the 2019 CWPP.
2019 Humboldt County
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Cover Pages and Table of Contents (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Parts 1, 2, and 3 (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Parts 1, 2, and 3 represent the main body of the 2019 Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan; provided here as a single combined document for ease of download and use. Individual downloads of these Parts can be found below. The Risk assessment detail, additional supporting information, and planning unit specific action plans can be found in Parts 4, 5 and 6 below.
Part 1 – Background and Introduction (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Part 1 provides an overview of what a CWPP is, why it’s necessary, and its audience. It describes the process used to develop this edition of Humboldt County’s CWPP and delivers a progress report on the actions implemented since the 2013 CWPP.
Part 2 – Risk Assessment Summary (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Part 2 is a summary of the risk assessment detailed in Part 5, including a table of identified issues and priority needs for each of the four chapters of Part 5. The issues and needs identified in the risk assessment informed the priority actions in Part 3. It is assumed that a basic understanding of local wildfire risks and hazards will inspire Humboldt County residents to prepare for the eventuality of wildfire here.
Part 3 – Countywide Action Plan (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Part 3 is divided into six chapters based on the goals in section 1.1.2 above. Each chapter identifies a set of metrics and priority actions to meet the goals and objectives of the HCFSC over the next five years. It is designed as the five year, strategic work plan for the HCFSC to guide its actions and measure its success. A more detailed version of each action plan, including potential action steps, is found in Appendix O.
Part 3 Table of Contents (PDF Opens a New Window. )
3.0 Countywide Action Plan Introduction (PDF Opens a New Window. )
3.1 Wildfire Ignition Prevention (PDF Opens a New Window. )
3.2 Wildfire Preparedness (PDF Opens a New Window. )
3.3 Disaster Preparedness (PDF Opens a New Window. )
3.4 Fire Protection (PDF Opens a New Window. )
3.5 Restoration of Beneficial Fire (PDF Opens a New Window. )
3.6 Integrated Planning (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Part 4 – Planning Unit Action Plans (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Part 4 contains local information on fire risks and preparedness for each of the 14 planning units within Humboldt County; functioning as a “mini-CWPP” for each. Each Planning Unit Action Plan includes a brief introduction to the planning area, discusses its wildfire environment, community preparedness, wildfire-protection capabilities, and evacuation issues and options, concluding with a list of Priority Action Recommendations. Additionally, potential actions organized by the CWPP goals identified in section 1.1.2 above are included in an Action Catalogue for each.
Not sure which one is your planning unit? Take a look at the Fire Planning Units map Opens a New Window. .
To view an interactive map of features illustrated in the maps linked below visit the CWPP Web GIS Portal Opens a New Window. .
4.0 Introduction (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.1 Orick–Redwood Park (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.2 Upper Yurok Reservation (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.3 Mid Klamath (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
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4.4 Hoopa (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.5 Trinidad (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.6 Redwood Creek (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.7 Willow Creek Area (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.8 Humboldt Bay Area (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
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4.9 Kneeland–Maple Creek (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.10 Eel (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.11 Mad–Van Duzen (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.12 Mattole–Lost Coast (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.13 Southern Humboldt (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
4.14 Avenue of the Giants Opens a New Win(PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Unit Map (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Protection Resources, Values / Assets, & Risks / Hazards (PDF) Opens a New Window.
- Community-Identified Projects (PDF) Opens a New Window.
Part 5 – Risk Assessment Detail (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Part 5 describes the planning-area context in a qualitative assessment of the factors that contribute to wildfire in Humboldt County. It explores issues such as structural ignitibility, marijuana production, sudden oak death, and climate change, and their impact to local wildfire risk. It includes detailed information on what is at risk, fire history and behavior, response capacity, and community preparedness in the face of wildfire.
5.1 Assets and Values at Risk (PDF Opens a New Window. )
5.2 Wildfire Environment (PDF Opens a New Window. )
5.3 Wildfire-Protection Capabilities (PDF Opens a New Window. )
5.4 Community Preparedness (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Part 6 – Appendices (PDF Opens a New Window. )
Part 6 contains background and supporting information for the rest of the plan. The main body of the CWPP was streamlined as part of this latest update to make it more user-friendly and accessible to a wider audience. However, there are details that the HCFSC did not want to lose; those are now found in the appendices.
A. CWPP Requirements (PDF Opens a New Window. )
B. Planning Process Details (PDF Opens a New Window. )
C. Accomplishments Since Last Plan (PDF Opens a New Window. )
D. Background Information for Assets and Values at Risk (PDF Opens a New Window. )
E. Background for Wildfire Environment (PDF Opens a New Window. )
F. Climate Research (PDF Opens a New Window. )
G. Background for Wildfire Protection (PDF Opens a New Window. )
H. Living with Wildfire (PDF Opens a New Window. )
(Appendix H is the second edition of Living with Wildfire. This publication is now in its third edition.)
I. Regulations and Compliance (PDF Opens a New Window. )
J. Humboldt County State Responsibility Area (SRA) Fire-Safe Regulations (PDF Opens a New Window. )
K. Public Resource Code (PRC) 4291 (PDF Opens a New Window. )
L. Acronyms (PDF Opens a New Window. )
M. Glossary (PDF Opens a New Window. )
N. References (PDF Opens a New Window. )
O. Countywide Action Plan with Action Steps
O.1 Wildfire Ignition Prevention (PDF Opens a New Window. )
O.2 Wildfire Preparedness (PDF Opens a New Window. )
O.3 Disaster Preparedness (PDF Opens a New Window. )
O.4 Fire Protection (PDF Opens a New Window. )
O.5 Restoration of Beneficial Fire (PDF Opens a New Window. )
O.6 Integrated Planning (PDF Opens a New Window. )