The Firewise Curriculum in Minnesota Schools. William J. Glesener

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1 The Firewise Curriculum in Minnesota Schools William J. Glesener 1

2 Items for discussion: Background Goals Philosophy Assessment Process Future Developments (Desires) 2

3 Background The MNDNR adopts the national Firewise Communities program. Stillwater Area High School (District #834) Human Geography students became involved in In cooperation with 3 fire districts, Stillwater students conduct Firewise Community Assessments in six communities. Afton, Grant, May Township, Lakeland, Stillwater Township and West Lakeland Township. U.S. Forest Service allocates funding to support the replication of this successful activity in additional communities. The Minnesota DNR Firewise Program and Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education (MAGE) create Firewise Communities: Reducing the Risk of Wildfire curriculum. In 2004, began training teachers to implement this curriculum. To date over 45 teachers have participated. Background The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has adopted the national Firewise Communities program, which is designed to help communities reduce the wildfire risk of homes on the edge of urban areas. Stillwater Area High School (District #834) Human Geography students became involved in the Firewise program in 2001, utilizing instructional materials created by Dave Schuller of the Minnesota DNR and EPIC GIS software produced by the Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC). Working in cooperation with three fire districts, Stillwater students have conducted Firewise Community Assessments encompassing six communities: Afton, Grant, May Township, Lakeland, Stillwater Township and West Lakeland Township. In support of the National Fire Plan, the U.S. Forest Service allocated funding to support the replication of this successful activity in additional communities. To facilitate this effort, the Minnesota DNR Firewise Program and Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education (MAGE) created the Firewise Communities: Reducing the Risk of Wildfire curriculum, and in 2004, began training teachers to implement this curriculum. 3

Afton, Grant, May Township, Lakeland, Stillwater Township and West Lakeland Township. U.S. Forest Service allocates funding to support the replication of this successful activity in additional communities.

4 Background "Firewise Communities: Reducing the Risk of Wildfire" curriculum will be a recipient of the 2006 National Council for Geographic Education/George F. Cram Award Given to four K-12 teachers from the U.S. and Canada To recognize exemplary classroom lessons that reflect: Current trends in geographic education Provide an innovative approach to teaching geography. Background The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has adopted the national Firewise Communities program, which is designed to help communities reduce the wildfire risk of homes on the edge of urban areas. Stillwater Area High School (District #834) Human Geography students became involved in the Firewise program in 2001, utilizing instructional materials created by Dave Schuller of the Minnesota DNR and EPIC GIS software produced by the Minnesota Land Management Information Center (LMIC). Working in cooperation with three fire districts, Stillwater students have conducted Firewise Community Assessments encompassing six communities: Afton, Grant, May Township, Lakeland, Stillwater Township and West Lakeland Township. In support of the National Fire Plan, the U.S. Forest Service allocated funding to support the replication of this successful activity in additional communities. To facilitate this effort, the Minnesota DNR Firewise Program and Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education (MAGE) created the Firewise Communities: Reducing the Risk of Wildfire curriculum, and in 2004, began training teachers to implement this curriculum. 4

and Canada To recognize exemplary classroom lessons that reflect: Current trends in geographic education Provide an innovative approach to teaching geography.

5 Goals Young people, as community members and future homeowners, play a critical role in helping communities to reduce the wildfire risk of homes by conducting Firewise Community Assessments. Goals Young people, as community members and future homeowners, play a critical role in helping communities to reduce the wildfire risk of homes by conducting Firewise Community Assessments. Firewise Communities: Reducing the Risk of Wildfire was created for formal and informal educators who would like to conduct a Firewise Community Assessment with 8th to 12th grade youth. It consists of core lessons which lead students through the basic steps of the assessment process and optional lessons for further exploration related to data analysis, concept mapping, population demographics and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). 5

It consists of core lessons which lead students through the basic steps of the assessment process and optional lessons for further exploration related to data analysis, concept mapping, population

6 Philosophy Firewise Communities: Reducing the Risk of Wildfire Students gain knowledge, apply skills, are exposed to careers, and provide valuable data to their community and state. Geography For Life: The National Geography Standards, 1994: Ask geographic questions Acquire geographic resources Explore geographic data Analyze geographic information Act upon geographic knowledge Philosophy Firewise Communities: Reducing the Risk of Wildfire is a standards-based, authentic learning experience integrating spatial analysis, technology and community service. Students gain content knowledge, apply new skills, are exposed to potential career paths, and provide valuable data to their community and state. The curriculum is based on the steps of geographic inquiry as published in Geography For Life: The National Geography Standards, 1994: Ask geographic questions Acquire geographic resources Explore geographic data Analyze geographic information Act upon geographic knowledge 6

Philosophy Firewise Communities: Reducing the Risk of Wildfire is a standards-based, authentic learning experience integrating spatial analysis, technology and community service.

7 Assessment Process Hardware/Software Requirements Windows Compatible PC Geographic Information Systems Software Current Curriculum Atlas GDS ArcView 3.x Hardware/Software Requirements Windows Compatible PC. 7

Systems Software Current Curriculum Atlas GDS

8 Assessment Process (Cont.) Other software that is capable: ArcGIS 9.x Landview JavaMaps--jmaps.dnr.state.mn.us/Firewise GoogleEarth Printer/Plotter Mobile Technology Lab is available from the Minnesota DNR Firewise Program. It includes: laptop computers with pre-loaded software Printer Projector Garmin GPS 72 receivers 8

us/Firewise GoogleEarth Printer/Plotter Mobile Technology Lab is available from

9 Assessment Process (Cont.) Methodology Identify Structure on Aerial Photo Width of the structure generally conforms to the distance it needs to be from the trees surrounding. 9

10 Assessment Process (Cont.) Determine Proper Rating 1 - No Risk: In a development with no or few trees around it. 2 - Low Risk: In a development with trees, but home is at least 30 feet from tree canopy edge. (30 feet is about the width of a house.) 3 - Moderate Risk: Home is within 30 feet of the tree canopy edge. 4 - High Risk: The outline of the home is obscured on at least one side by the tree canopy. 5 - Extreme Risk: The outline of the home is obscured on the south or west side or on more than one side by the tree canopy. Determine Proper Rating Table to determine rating value: 1 No Risk: In a development with no or few trees around 2 Low Risk: In a development with trees, but home is attree canopy edge. (30 feet is about the width of a house.) 3 Moderate Risk: Home is within 30 feet of the tree canopy 4 High Risk: The outline of the home is obscured on attree canopy. 5 Extreme Risk: The outline of the home is obscured onside or on more than one side by the tree canopy. 10

) 3 - Moderate Risk: Home is within 30 feet of the tree canopy edge. 4 - High Risk: The outline of the home is obscured on at least one side by the tree canopy.

11 Assessment Process (Cont.) Tag location with rating value Repeat method until designated area is complete Section Township Other Administrative Area 11

12 Assessment Process (Cont.) Create a Density Surface Model of the data. Atlas GDS ArcGIS Hawth's Tools Spatial Analyst Note: Identify the hot spots for planning purposes or follow-up visits by local fire personnel to do a triage assessment. 12

13 Assessment Process (Cont.) Report Findings Fire Department Local Government Homeowners 13

14 Future Developments Incorporate Open Source capabilities Java Maps (Oracle Spatial) Google Earth Limiting Factors Updated Imagery Programming for Server-side Processing of Data Proprietary classification of E911 data. Future Developments Enable students, communities, volunteer fire departments to perform a Level 1 Assessment entirely on the Internet without any additional software needed. 14

15 Questions??? 15

Minnesota Firewise In The Classroom: Youth Working with Communities to Adapt to Wildfire

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Northern Research Station Research Note NRS-139 Minnesota Firewise In The Classroom: Youth Working with Communities to Adapt to Wildfire Pamela J.