Together, we can make a difference! McCall and its surrounding areas face the ongoing risk of wildfires. However, there is no need to face this challenge alone. Numerous agencies and tools are readily available to facilitate community collaboration and effectively mitigate the potential tragedy of fires. This page is a comprehensive resource, outlining the various available resources and addressing frequently asked questions. By familiarizing ourselves with these valuable tools and leveraging collective efforts, we can work hand in hand to protect our community from the devastating impact of wildfires.
Planning
The City of McCall has strategically designed an outreach and educational program with multiple components. This multifaceted approach aims to effectively engage the public in fire mitigation practices, ensuring a widespread understanding of the importance of wildfire prevention and fostering a proactive community response. Through targeted communication campaigns, community workshops, educational materials, and interactive initiatives, the outreach plan seeks to empower residents with the knowledge and tools necessary to actively safeguard their homes and neighborhoods against the threat of wildfires. The City of McCall is committed to creating a resilient community that collaboratively works towards a safer and more fire-aware future.
USFS
The framework of fire adapted communities (FAC) has evolved over the last two decades and continues to evolve today. The Quadrennial Fire Review first referred to ‘fire adapted human communities’ in 2005. In 2009, the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy was born out of the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement (FLAME) Act. The three goals of the Cohesive Strategy are to enable fire adapted communities, resilient landscapes, and safe and effective wildfire response. The USDA Forest Service, Department of the Interior and other agencies continue to promote and support FAC to this day through various programs, including the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network. You can learn more about the FAC framework here.
Read the Wildfire Crisis Strategy Presentation to McCall City Council here>
NFPA
Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. Brush, grass, and forest fires don’t have to be disasters. NFPA’s Firewise Communities Program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners in taking individual responsibility for preparing their homes for the risk of wildfire. Firewise is a key component of Fire Adapted Communities – a collaborative approach that connects all those who play a role in wildfire education, planning, and action with comprehensive resources to help reduce risk. To save lives and property from wildfire, NFPA's Firewise Communities program teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses. We all have a role to play in protecting ourselves and each other from the risk of wildfire. 
McCall Fire
The McCall Fire Protection District serves 100 square miles of northern Valley County including the City of McCall. McCall is home to roughly 3,600 year-round residents, but due to the popularity of the area, its year-round outdoor recreation and proximity to Boise, the population has been known to soar to 30,000+ during our popular Winter Carnival and often quadruples during other peak tourist seasons and holidays. McCall Fire is a combination department consisting of both career and paid-on-call members. We staff our station to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our staffing consists of three shifts rotating 48 hours on shift and 96 hours off shift. Each shift consists of 4 person crews including a Captain, Driver Operation, Firefighter/Paramedic and Firefighter/EMT with a minimum manning of 3 crew members to account for sick or injured personnel. All crew members are crossed trained to respond to all emergencies whether it be fire, medical or technical rescue emergencies. Located at 201 Deinhard Lane McCall, ID 83638 Phone: (208) 634-7070 For Emergency Call 911. Visit McCall Fire's Fire Safety Page here>
SITPA
For over a century the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association's firefighters have been protecting private, state, and federal lands in west-central Idaho from wildfires. SITPA is believed to be the oldest, continuously operating, cooperative fire management organization in the United States. Established informally in 1904 when private, state, and federal forest land owners joined together to provide wildfire protection for their lands, SITPA's members and employees remain committed to providing a strong, efficient and cost effective fire protection organization. To report a wildland fire call 208-634-2757 (Payette Interagency Dispatch Center - McCall, ID) or dial 911.
Valley County Fire Working Group
The Valley County Fire Working Group is a collaborative advisory group comprised of representatives from multiple public land management agencies, structural fire districts, wildland fire management agencies and state parks located in Valley County. This a collaborative organization chartered by the Valley County Board of County Commissioners. VCFirewise@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/VCFWG/ Read the Valley County Wildfire Protection Plan here> Read the Valley County All Hazards Plan>
The national Firewise USA® recognition program provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level.
What is the Home Ignition Zone?
The concept of the home ignition zone was developed by retired USDA Forest Service fire scientist Jack Cohen in the late 1990s, following some breakthrough experimental research into how homes ignite due to the effects of radiant heat. The HIZ is divided into three zones.
Immediate zone
The home and the area 0-5’ from the furthest attached exterior point of the home; defined as a non-combustible area. Science tells us this is the most important zone to take immediate action on as it is the most vulnerable to embers. START WITH THE HOUSE ITSELF then move into the landscaping section of the Immediate Zone.
- Clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris and pine needles that could catch embers.
- Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration.
- Reduce embers that could pass through vents in the eaves by installing 1/8 inch metal mesh screening.
- Clean debris from exterior attic vents and install 1/8 inch metal mesh screening to reduce embers.
- Repair or replace damaged or loose window screens and any broken windows Screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.
- Move any flammable material away from wall exteriors – mulch, flammable plants, leaves and needles, firewood piles – anything that can burn. Remove anything stored underneath decks or porches.
Intermediate zone
5-30’ from the furthest exterior point of the home. Landscaping/hardscaping- employing careful landscaping or creating breaks that can help influence and decrease fire behavior
- Clear vegetation from under large stationary propane tanks.
- Create fuel breaks with driveways, walkways/paths, patios, and decks.
- Keep lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches.
- Remove ladder fuels (vegetation under trees) so a surface fire cannot reach the crowns. Prune trees up to six to ten feet from the ground; for shorter trees do not exceed 1/3 of the overall tree height.
- Space trees to have a minimum of eighteen feet between crowns with the distance increasing with the percentage of slope.
- Tree placement should be planned to ensure the mature canopy is no closer than ten feet to the edge of the structure.
- Trees and shrubs in this zone should be limited to small clusters of a few each to break up the continuity of the vegetation across the landscape.
Extended zone
30-100 feet, out to 200 feet. Landscaping – the goal here is not to eliminate fire but to interrupt fire’s path and keep flames smaller and on the ground.
- Dispose of heavy accumulations of ground litter/debris.
- Remove dead plant and tree material.
- Remove small conifers growing between mature trees.
- Remove vegetation adjacent to storage sheds or other outbuildings within this area.
- Trees 30 to 60 feet from the home should have at least 12 feet between canopy tops.
- Trees 60 to 100 feet from the home should have at least 6 feet between the canopy tops.
View the National Fire Protection Association Fact Sheet.
Interested in Courses:
Homeowner Course: Landscaping
The Firewise Landscaping course is designed for people living in wildland areas who make decisions about landscaping their homes. The course considers the issues of appropriate landscape designs, specific planting and pruning alternatives, and appropriate planting materials for interface/intermix fire environments. It has three parts: an Overview, Design/Installation and Maintenance. It also includes a virtual Firewise landscaping model you can use to visualize design alternatives. The course takes approximately three hours to complete.
Homeowners/Civic Leaders/Firefighters Course: Community Assessment
Conducting a Community Assessment in the Wildland/Urban Interface: Beginning the Firewise Process is a course for fire and forestry professionals and others who want to help residents of areas at risk from wildfire to make their homes safer. Taking this course provides you with a thorough understanding of how homes ignite during wildfires, how simple actions can greatly reduce home ignitions, and how community behavior change can create Firewise homes and communities. This course is broken into eight lessons; each takes 30 and 45 minutes to complete.
http://firewise.org/online-courses-and-education/online-courses.aspx
Online courses
Don't forget: Fire Won't Wait, Plan Your Escape! It is always the right time to get prepared and have a plan to get the family to safety.
