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What is BONFire
and what is its purpose?
BONFire is
a proactive program of the Bonner County Office of Emergency Management and part
of the National Fire Plan, based on proactively managing for wild fire before it
endangers a structure. It is funded through grants from our state and federal
governments. Using this National Fire Plan funding, its purpose is to:
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Increase awareness of the risk of
wildfire in the wildland urban interface areas of Bonner County.
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Help homeowners learn how to
protect their homes/businesses by creating defensible space or fuel breaks.
These include two activities:
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Where
appropriate, provide at no cost a one-time service to reduce dangerous fuels from
approximately 100' around structures and
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Educate
homeowners on the things they can do — in addition to fuel reduction—to protect
their homes from wildfires now and in the future.
How do I know if
my property qualifies?
This is a fire protection program for
homes and businesses adjacent to forested areas. Thus, you must have a structure
that is either a home or a business in order to qualify. We do not do
beautification projects, removal of a few dead tree limbs, or falling of
dangerous, over–hanging trees. Also, we do not mow grass and weeds.
What do I have to
do to participate in the program?
Call the BONFire office at
208-265-8867 X
7 and ask for a Request to Participate form,
which is also on the
left side of this webpage. After this has been completed and returned to the BONFire office,
an appointment will be set to visit your home and develop a fuel reduction work
plan. During the visit we will evaluate your property and make recommendations
on what can be done to create a defensible space around your home. Most likely
this will include both things you can do yourself—such as removal of flammable
mulch and placing screens around low decks—and a plan developed specifically for
your site to reduce dangerous fuels within approximately 100 feet of your home,
which the BONFire program funds.
Who does the work
and how do I know they are qualified?
All plans are reviewed and approved by
the BONFire project manager, Larry Isenberg. Larry has over 38 years experience
in forestry and fire management in North Idaho and is well known for his
attention to detail and care for the land he manages. All BONFire contractors
carry the required insurance. Once the plan has been approved by both Larry and
the homeowner—and a fair market price to do the work has been established— the
homeowner has three options for completing the work, as outlined below:
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We contract with one of the BONFire contractors to do the work
(Bonner County pay them);
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The homeowner hires their own contractor to do the work (Bonner
County
reimburses the homeowner for the approved amount);
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The homeowner does the work and is paid the approved amount
by Bonner County.
Payment will be made after an on-site
evaluation has been conducted and BONFire assures the work has been completed as
outlined in the plan.
With Support
From:
Idaho Department of Lands/Bureau
of Land Management/
USDA-US Forest Service/
State of Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security
A grant from the Idaho Department
of Lands in cooperation
with the USDA Forest Service has been provided.
Larry Isenberg, Project Manager,
208-772-6704
larryissi@dishmail.net
10019 Bobcat Trail, Box 3, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Website:
www.plrcd.org/NOFIRE/ (click on Bonner County)
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