6J

They are of mixed land cover with a large portion of the county forested. These counties are more demographically stressed with a lower population density than others in the west.

Example of a Typical County — Del Norte County, California: Large fires occurred here in 2002 and 2008 on the Six Rivers National Forest. The eastern part is coast redwood that rarely burns.

National Priorities

Vegetation and Fuels High
Homes, Communities and Values at Risk High
Human-Caused Ignitions Low
Effective and Efficient Response:
There is high risk of large wildfires, more potential for resource benefits.

Policy Options and Opportunities

Vegetation and Fuels
These counties may have contiguous areas that could benefit from the use of landscape-scale prescribed fire. Strategic fuel breaks may be warranted. There may be limited areas within these counties where wildfire could be considered for restoring landscapes, but planners could be aware of the conflicts with communities. Mechanical treatments are an option, but with limited forest products industries nearby, this approach may not be cost effective.

Homes, Communities and Values at Risk
Communities can plan and take coordinated action, in combination with individual actions by property owners. This can include the creation of buffers and strategic fuel breaks. These counties could adjust building and construction codes in non-municipal areas.

Human-Caused Ignitions
Human caused ignitions are not as great here as in other parts of the country, but may deserve attention if a local situation dictates.

Effective and Efficient Wildfire Response
Prepare for large, long duration wildfires.

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