Phippsburg Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Phippsburg has been designated “HIGH RISK” for WILDFIRE – a risk that continues to increase each year.

The Town has just been awarded a $126,000 two-year grant to fund the creation of a “Phippsburg Community Wildfire Protection Plan” for the protection of the entire peninsula.

The plan will be written by a consulting firm, but will depend upon engagement with the wider community.

The town is creating a working committee of volunteers who will engage with the wider community in a variety of ways, including but not limited to things such as:

·        Accessing community knowledge and expertise

·        Enlisting volunteer Survey Teams and Work Groups who can provide critical information such as:

o   Identifying areas of higher risk

o   Availability of access for emergency equipment

o   “Choke points” to evacuation routes

o   Local resources (such as fresh water bodies) that can be used to fight a wildfire

·        Organizing a Kick-Off event for the community on Memorial Day Weekend.

·        Engaging every home and business to raise awareness and provide education about reducing fire risk

·        Engaging vacationers, visitors, and part time residents about wildfire prevention measures.

·        Enlisting residents to sign up for Sagadahoc County’s RAVE emergency notification system.

·        Enlisting six “neighborhoods” over the next two years as “FIREWISE COMMUNITIES” that will receive extra assistance from the Maine Forest Service to implement their own wildfire protection measures.

 

For more information and to volunteer, please contact:

·        Evan Goodkowsky, Town Administrator (phipps@phippsburg.com)

·        George Thomas, Firewise Leader (get@civicvisions.net)

·        Peter Blachly, Harbor Master (harbormaster@phippsburg.com)

*Please download this informative brochure from the Maine Forest Service with a number of things you can do around your own home to reduce the risk of losing it in a wildfire like the one on Sheep Island in 2016*