Current Projects

Every year, the partners of Ada Fire Adapted complete wildfire mitigation projects that reduce wildfire hazards that threaten citizens and their homes. Take a look at our highlighted projects for this past wildfire season! 

2020-2022 Fuel Reduction Projects

The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) awarded the City of Boise $240,000 to reduce hazardous fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in 2020. The monies will be spent from the award date through November of 2022. The project contains four major elements to include:

  • Hazardous Fuels Reduction at Stack Rock Reserve and Select Lower Foothills Reserves
  • Homeowner Wildfire Safety Evaluations
  • Neighborhood Chipping Program
  • Education and Outreach

These efforts will be undertaken to create a more fire resistant and resilient WUI); to reduce fire ignitions; improve public outreach; protect public and private property; protect and improve sagebrush steppe and forest habitat; and enhance forest health.

In 2020, baseline forest health at Stack Rock was assessed and fuels reduction treatments will begin in summer 2021. Stay tuned for additional information about these treatments as the project develops. The city also mowed 60 acres of open space reserves to reduce hazardous fuels in high-risk areas and started a new neighborhood chipping program.

Learn more about the neighborhood chipping program and other free fire mitigation assistance programs available to residents under the Homeowner tab at the top of the page.

 

Firewise Sites

Protecting your home from wildfire takes more than just reducing wildfire hazards on your property. You must cross individual property boundaries and extend wildfire mitigation efforts throughout entire communities. Firewise USA has a network of over 1,400 Firewise sites throughout the nation that take responsibility for their wildfire hazards by preparing and protecting homes and communities using Firewise practices. 

Ada County is currently home to eleven (11) nationally-recognized Firewise USA sites.

Congratulations to East Valley, Highland Nines and Cartwright Ranch for becoming our three (3) most recent Firewise USA sites!

Many foothills neighborhoods contain an abundance of flammable vegetation directly adjacent to structures. Decorative trees, grasses and shrubs, including notoriously flammable Juniper and Arborvitae, are dense within many neighborhoods, and are capable of carrying wildfire from home to home. As these neighborhoods gain and maintain Firewise USA site status, they will work to reduce and replace these dangerous fuels by utilizing unlimited City of Boise composting services, as well as utilizing Boise Fire Department neighborhood chipping services.  They will also engage in educating their neighbors regarding more fire-resistant, drought tolerant plants. These efforts will increase their ability to withstand wildfire when it strikes.

Check out Firewise USA to learn how your neighborhood could benefit from this site recognition program.

The steps are easy to take. Ada Fire Adapted seeks to encourage communities to become Firewise USA sites, and will support your application process every step of the way. Contact us at adafac@cityofboise.org if you would like to begin the process of making your community a Firewise USA site.