Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

National Fire Plan banner

National Fire Plan Success Story

Revised Idaho Strategy Signed in Boise

On December 12, 2006, Idaho Governor Jim Risch joined a delegation of nearly one dozen state, federal, and local agencies in signing the revised Idaho Implementation Strategy for the National Fire Plan. The updated plan was signed at the meeting of the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners.

"This plan shows Idaho's continued dedication towards implementation of the National Fire Plan," said Governor Risch. "Idaho has been recognized nationally for its past successes in local collaboration and implementation of projects to reduce hazardous fuel loads on private and public lands."

The revised Idaho Implementation Strategy comes on the heels of an updated national strategy unveiled at the Western Governors' Association winter meeting December 7, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Fire Plan was initiated in response to the unprecedented wildfires in the summer of 2000, including many large fires that burned across Idaho.

"The essence of the Idaho Strategy is to focus on reducing fuels in forest and rangelands that are a wildfire hazard, and to increase the capability of local fire departments and districts who provide a front-line defense on private lands where people live," said Governor Risch.

The revised Idaho Implementation Strategy establishes a collaborative partnership between the Idaho State Fire Plan Working Group and working groups organized at the county level. Some important changes include:

Composition: At a minimum, County Working Groups should include a county representative, local fire chief (or chiefs), and federal, state, and tribal representatives as appropriate.

County Contact: Each County Working Group will designate a County Contact that will interface directly with the Idaho State Fire Plan Working Group. It is the responsibility of the State Working Group to keep County Working Groups abreast of National Fire Plan policy changes that may take place statewide or nationally.

CWPP Updates: County Commissioners and/or County Working Groups will ensure that a current copy of their Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is on file with the Idaho Department of Lands. The State Working Group will work with County Working Groups to ensure that each CWPP is compliant with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act.

Project Prioritization: County Working Groups are asked annually to submit a list of priority needs for hazardous fuels treatments (on both federal and non federal lands) and firefighting assistance funds to the Idaho State Working Group in order to receive highest priority for assistance funds. The State Working Group has provided a simple form for County Working Groups to fill out that will serve as an addendum to a county's CWPP.

Representatives of state and federal agencies and organizations who signed the Idaho Strategy include:

  • James E. Risch, Idaho Governor
  • George B. Bacon, Interim State Forester, Idaho Department of Lands
  • Richard A. Smith, Boise National Forest Supervisor, US Forest Service
  • Thomas Dyer, Idaho State Director, Bureau of Land Management
  • Robert A. Whistler, NW Regional Forester, Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Deputy Chief Doug Brown, President, Idaho Fire Chiefs Association
  • Dr. Robert Cope, Lemhi County Commissioner, Idaho Association of Counties
  • Morris Huffman, Idaho Resource Conservation & Development Association
  • Major General Lawrence F. Lafrenz, Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security
  • Mark Larson, State Fire Marshal, Idaho Dept. of Insurance