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In early 2004, nine federal, state, county, local, and private agencies entered in the 285 Conifer-Bailey Fuels Management Initiative, a collaborative hazardous fuels management initiative. This initiative is to address wildland fire hazards and treatment priorities across jurisdictional boundaries. Most of these communities have either been impacted or immediately threatened by numerous major wild-fires, which include Buffalo Creek-1996, High Meadow- 2000, Snaking-2002, Black Mountain-2002, Schoonover-2002, and Hayman-2002.
Six distinct treatment planning areas encompassing 38,975 acres of federal, state and private lands within an overall 60,420 acre general assessment area have been identified. Public input will be used to help identify the specific acreages to be treated, with an estimated seven to ten thousand acres expected to receive treatment. The Environmental Assessment is slated to be completed in Spring 2005, at which point the initiative's partners will take important next steps in planning and implementing their multilateral fuels treatment activities, working closely with impacted citizens and communities.
The Platte Canyon Fire Protection District, an Initiative partner, developed a district-wide hazard assessment in 2002 via the State Fire Assistance grant program. Information collected includes fuels mapping, fire behavior predictions, community hazard ratings and mitigation recommendations.
Through the 285 Fuels Initiative, all of the assessment's data will be shared with the partners and be incorporated directly into the Harris Park Community Wildfire Protection Plan (HPCWPP).
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