Maryland Forest Service. Report to the. Maryland State Firemen s Association

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Melvyn Mervyn Lynch
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1 Maryland Forest Service Report to the Maryland State Firemen s Association August 20, 2011

2 Wildfire Report The Forest Service has responded to 114 wildfires burning 8,275 acres this year. The four regions reported the following statistics for 2011 through August 12: Region # Fires Acres Burned Western Southern Central Eastern Totals The graph below depicts the number of wildfire starts per month that the Forest Service responded to in 2011: 2011 Wildfire Starts # Wildfires March February January 5 2 May April August July June December November October September Month

Currently the most of the state is experiencing moderate drought conditions with severe drought conditions on parts of the Lower Eastern Shore.

3 Currently the most of the state is experiencing moderate drought conditions with severe drought conditions on parts of the Lower Eastern Shore. US Drought Monitor - Maryland Valid August 9, 2011 Wildfires occurring in drought areas will require additional mop up operations and may continue to burn into the ground after the fire has been contained. Personnel / Staffing In July & August DBM approved the long term contractual conversion of four employees to permanent full time positions. The positions are the Western Firewise Coordinator and three Watershed Foresters in Western & Central regions and headquarters. The necessary paperwork is in process to complete the contractual conversions. The vacant Forester position in Wicomico County was also recruited and filled in June. Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) The 2011 VFA grants applications were distributed in May with applications due by June 30. Applications were received and reviewed from 44 volunteer fire departments in 12 counties. This year departments requested $92,000 in matching funds with a total project cost of $238,294. There were 20 departments requesting funds that did not apply last year.

4 Both the number of grant applications and amount of the grant request dropped this year. Grant funds were available and awarded to all 44 volunteer fire departments that applied during this year s application period. The following is a list of departments awarded grants: 2011 VFA Grant Awards Volunteer Fire Department County Project Cost Award Arbutus VFRD Baltimore $1,148 $574 Barton Hose Company # 1 Allegany $6,522 $3,000 Bedford Road VFD Allegany $1,260 $630 Bloomington VFC Garrett $6,093 $3,000 Community VFC (Millington) Kent $4,000 $2,000 Corriganville VFC Allegany $6,000 $3,000 Earleigh Heights VFC Anne Arundel $10,500 $3,000 Eldorado Brookview VFC Dorchester $5,057 $2,529 Ellerslie VFC Allegany $2,800 $1,400 English Consul VFD Baltimore $2,810 $1,405 Fruitland VFD Wicomico $5,282 $2,641 Funkstown VFC Washington $4,390 $2,195 Gorman VFD Garrett $5,840 $2,920 Greensboro VFC Caroline $6,063 $3,000 Hancock VFC Washington $2,113 $1,057 Hurlcok VFC Dorchester $5,846 $2,923 Kingsville VFC Baltimore $6,000 $3,000 Kitzmiller VFD Garrett $2,774 $1,387 Lakes & Straits VFC Dorchester $3,483 $1,742 LaVale VFD Allegany $2,759 $1,380 Leitersburg VFC Washington $2,822 $1,411 Lineboro VFD Carroll $2,377 $1,189 Madison VFC Dorchester $3,000 $1,500 Marion VFD Somerset $6,000 $3,000 Maugansville VFC Washington $1,229 $615 Mt. Airy VFC Carroll $6,032 $3,000 Mt. Vernon VFD Somerset $6,100 $3,000 Neck District VFC Dorchester $3,550 $1,778 New Windsor Carroll $2,073 $1,037 Oldtown VFD Allegany $7,000 $3,000 Orleans VFC Allegany $4,945 $2,473 Owings Mills VFC Baltimore $3,683 $1,842 Parsonsburg VFC Wicomico $54,000 $3,000 Pocomoke City VFC Worcester $3,076 $1,538 Potomac Fire Company # 2 Allegany $3,903 $1,951 Potomac Valley VFC Washington $4,206 $2,103 Rawlings VFD Allegany $5,230 $2,615

5 Rockaway Beach VFC Baltimore $1,465 $733 Secretary VFC Dorchester $6,000 $3,000 Sharpsburg VFC Washington $1,431 $716 Taylors Island VFC Dorchester $5,950 $2,975 Vienna VFC Dorchester $4,882 $2,441 White Marsh VFC Baltimore $6,000 $3,000 Wise Avenue VFC Baltimore $2,600 $1,300 Total $238,294 $92,000 Departments awarded grants will need to submit receipts and copies of checks for the items purchased per their application and a VFA invoice by November 30 to receive their grant reimbursement payment. Payments will be 50% of the receipts submitted up to the amount of the actual grant award. Training The Fall Basic Wildland Fire Courses are scheduled for October at Catoctin Mountain Park near Thurmont. The class includes the NWCG training courses S-130 Wildland Firefighter; S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior; L-180 Human Factors on the Fireline and I-100 Introduction to ICS. Class size is limited to 45 students and registration is nearly full. A S-212 Wildfire Chain Saw course will also be hosted September 8, 9, 14, &15 at the Myersville Fire Department (Frederick County Company 8). The 4-day course is designed to provide firefighters a better understating of how to safely and effectively operate a chain saw including field exercises. A second course is currently being planned for the Eastern Region of the state in late October or November. The S-290 Intermediate Wildfire Behavior course in now available online by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. This course builds upon the basics in S- 190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, but with more detailed information about characteristics and interactions of the wildland fire environment (fuels, weather, and topography) that affect wildland fire behavior for safety purposes. The online version was developed in partnership with the National Weather Service. Look for training announcements online at:

6 Out of State Fire Assistance Request for out of state fire assistance began in early May as the south and southwest have experienced extreme drought conditions. Maryland dispatched seven wildland Engines, two of which were re-staffed for a second assignment. Assignments included three Type 4 Engine assignments in Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico and six Type 6 Engine assignments in Texas, Georgia, and Florida. In addition, Maryland also sent one 20-person Type 2 Initial Attack crew to the Wallow Fire in Arizona & New Mexico. Maryland has also assisted with twelve single resource (individual) assignments. Personnel have been assigned Division Supervisors, Task Force Leaders, Safety Officer, Tractor Plow Operators, and Dispatchers in Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Firewise Maryland A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) has been completed North East Volunteer Fire Company Station 4 / Elk Neck State Forest in Cecil County. Mitigations projects are ongoing on the State Forest property to improve fire roads and trails for better access and fire breaks. Respectively Submitted, /s/ M ontgom ery R. M itchell Monte R. Mitchell, State Fire Supervisor

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