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In 2005, Carl Sandburg Home National
Historic Site used National Fire Plan funds to implement a
woodland fuel break project. The project occurred along the
park’s southern boundary which borders a subdivision
of over five hundred homes. The park boundary lies within
forty feet of some park neighbor’s backdoors. A century
of fire exclusion as well as dense ericaceous (Of,
or relating to, the heath family of plants, which are mostly
shrubby and often evergreen plants that thrive on open, barren
soil that is usually acidic and poorly drained – i.e.
azalea and rhododendron) understory
and hilly terrain make this wildland-urban interface area
a priority as identified in the park’s fire management
plan. The fuel break project will help lend protection to
the subdivision as well as the park.
In anticipation of adjacent property owners’
concern for safety and privacy, the park developed a strategy
for clear and positive communications and embarked upon a
thoughtful mission to enhance community awareness.
The park held a fire management plan scoping
meeting for the public in June 2004. An invitation was extended
to the community by way of news media and a special mailing
to residences bordering the park. The meeting was well attended
by residents, local fire officials and fire management personnel
from the NC Division of Forest Resources. Prior to initiating
fuels reduction activities, the park hand-delivered letters
to the home of each boundary neighbor inviting them to meet
with the park superintendent for an information sharing session.
A second notice was later delivered containing more details
on work dates and a description of the work to be performed.
Delivery in this manner promoted good rapport between residents
and park staff responsible for coordinating the project.
In April 2005, the boundary was brightly
re-marked to allow property line discrepancies to be addressed
prior to beginning brush clearing activities. As the work
proceeded, designated staff remained on the worksite to ensure
safety and meet with neighbors as a contract fire crew worked
along the park boundary behind their homes. Property owners
were welcomed to approach the fuel break area to observe and
ask questions. Concerns were addressed in a timely fashion
and the park superintendent remained available to respond
to more difficult issues.
Contact: Connie Hudson Backlund,
Park Superintendent
Phone: (828) 693-4178
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