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National Fire Plan Success Story

Carolina Lakes
North Carolina Division of Forest Resources
National Fire Plan - Community Assistance
2006

Carolina Lakes is a 1,565-acre gated community located in Harnett County near Spout Springs, North Carolina. The community is heavily wooded and in undeveloped areas is overgrown with heavy vegetation. Seven lakes of varying size dot the property that contains 1,560 lots. The area currently has 800 homes with others under construction.

In August of 2002, a 20-acre fire burned within one section of the community and the next month the homeowners association contacted the Spout Springs fire department to discuss ways to protect the community. In November, letters were mailed to all property owners informing them of their common wildfire risk and proposing that a controlled burn be performed. Signed consent forms were returned to the property owners' office. In January of 2003, an informational community meeting was held with the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources (NCDFR) and the fire department on the topic of controlled burning. This was the beginning of an excellent wildfire mitigation and education relationship between the homeowners, the local fire department, and the NCDFR.

In January of 2005, the first controlled burn was completed in the community by the NCDFR and the local fire department utilizing community block grant funds awarded to Carolina Lakes. In February, bush-hog work funded by the grant was completed, and road signs for evacuation routes during wildfires were received and installed.

In 2006, additional grant funds were awarded to Carolina Lakes through the community block grant program for purchasing educational materials, fuel reduction (mechanical and controlled burning), road widening for fire suppression equipment access, and installation of an emergency exit road.

Additional grant funds were awarded in 2007 to continue removal and modification of hazardous fuels within the community by controlled burning and mechanical methods. Widening of secondary streets within the community has continued to improve access of fire suppression equipment. The Carolina Lakes Firewise Board has served to educate other communities about the benefits of the Firewise Communities USA program. Their efforts to date have encouraged another community to incorporate the principles and practices of Firewise into their community.

Contact: Gary Wood, North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, 919-553-6178 ext. 225, gary.wood@ncmail.net.