5A

These counties are typically the low demographic advantaged and low demographically stressed areas of the upper Midwest. Agriculture is prominently surrounding urban areas. There is a lower amount of area burned, with a low ignition density and small amounts of Wildland Urban Interface. These counties lie within the rural “corn belt” of the United States, coastal Louisiana and the rice fields around Houston, Texas. There is a small federal presence with little history of prescribed fire. Communities typically maintain the local response capacity to put out fires quickly. If fires occur, they typically happen in areas outside of the WUI. The counties are heavily roaded.

Example of a Typical County — Peoria County, Illinois: The river town of Peoria is surrounded by corn and soybean fields that were once tall-grass prairie.

National Priorities

Vegetation and Fuels Very Low
Homes, Communities and Values at Risk Very Low
Human-Caused Ignitions Moderate
Effective and Efficient Response:
There is low risk of large wildfires.

Policy Options and Opportunities

Vegetation and Fuels
Local discretion should be used to determine the importance of fuel treatment, which treatment is applicable and what is affordable based on the use of local resources.

Homes, Communities and Values at Risk
Individual homeowners can be proactive on home defensive actions.

Human-Caused Ignitions
Reduce human-caused incendiary ignitions by focusing on enforcement programs.

Effective and Efficient Wildfire Response
Response organizations continue to protect structures, treat fuels and target ignitions as local conditions apply.

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