​Maine Forest Service to conduct “Wildfire Risk Assessments” on Harford’s Point
 
Maine’s Forest Rangers have a wildland fire prevention program to help communities reduce the risk of wildfire near their homes. Throughout Maine, an average of 500 wildfires are reported annually. Out of those fires, nearly ¾’s threaten, damage or destroy structures.
 
To begin the program, we would like to conduct 30 – 40 free wildfire risk assessments at randomly selected homes along selected areas of Harford’s Point. These wildfire risk assessments are voluntary and will be completed in a way that respects the privacy of the homeowner. On Monday, November 20th, several Forest Rangers will be working with Greenville Fire Department members on this project. They will only look at the exterior of the house and the surrounding vegetation.  Homeowners do not have to be home during the wildfire risk assessments. At each house, a form will be completed that looks at the width of access roads / exterior building materials and the type of vegetation / distance from the structures. Some photos will also be taken.
 
The assessment forms do not list the name or specific address of the homeowner. Only a global positioning satellite (GPS) point is recorded. That way, the location of all the individual assessments can be viewed on a GIS map to show that most of the community has been sampled. The information and some of the photos gathered from the wildfire risk assessments will be summarized in a report that will be given during a presentation to the residents, most likely during the summer of 2018. The report will also provide general recommendations for the community and not single out individual homes. By completing these wildfire risk assessments and the report, the community qualifies for our free “Defensible Space Chipping Program.”
 
For more information, or if you do not wish to participate in this voluntary program, please contact: Forest Ranger Specialist Kent Nelson at 287-4989 or [email protected]
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