FIRESMART KOOTENAI COUNTY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FireSmart Kootenai County is a proactive program of the Kootenai County Local Emergency Planning
Committee (LEPC). FireSmart is funded in part by the Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management, the Idaho
Bureau of Disaster Services, Bureau of Land Management, and Idaho Department of Lands, using National Fire Plan
funding.
Committee (LEPC). FireSmart is funded in part by the Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management, the Idaho
Bureau of Disaster Services, Bureau of Land Management, and Idaho Department of Lands, using National Fire Plan
funding.
Its purpose is to:
1. Increase awareness of the risk of wildfire in the wildland urban interface areas of Kootenai County.
2. Help homeowners learn how to protect their homes/businesses by creating a survivable space.
1. Increase awareness of the risk of wildfire in the wildland urban interface areas of Kootenai County.
2. Help homeowners learn how to protect their homes/businesses by creating a survivable space.
This includes two activities:
• Where appropriate, provide a one-time service to reduce dangerous fuels from around homes, and
• Educate homeowners on the things they can do in addition to fuel reduction to protect their homes from wildfires
now and in the future
• Where appropriate, provide a one-time service to reduce dangerous fuels from around homes, and
• Educate homeowners on the things they can do in addition to fuel reduction to protect their homes from wildfires
now and in the future
How do I know if my property qualifies?
Property within the forested wildland urban interface may qualify.
Property within the forested wildland urban interface may qualify.
What do I need to do to participate in the program?
Call the FireSmart office (772-6704) and leave your name, address and
phone number on the recorder. You will be sent a packet of information including a Request To
Participate form. After the form has been completed and returned to the FireSmart office, you will be
contacted to set up an appointment to visit your home and develop a fuel reduction work plan. During
the visit we will evaluate your property and make recommendations on what can be done to create a
survivable space around your home. Most likely this will include both things you can do yourself—
such as cleaning pine needles from rain gutters and placing screens around low decks—and a plan
developed specifically for your site to reduce dangerous fuels within approximately 100 feet of your
home, which the FireSmart program funds.
Call the FireSmart office (772-6704) and leave your name, address and
phone number on the recorder. You will be sent a packet of information including a Request To
Participate form. After the form has been completed and returned to the FireSmart office, you will be
contacted to set up an appointment to visit your home and develop a fuel reduction work plan. During
the visit we will evaluate your property and make recommendations on what can be done to create a
survivable space around your home. Most likely this will include both things you can do yourself—
such as cleaning pine needles from rain gutters and placing screens around low decks—and a plan
developed specifically for your site to reduce dangerous fuels within approximately 100 feet of your
home, which the FireSmart program funds.
Who does the work and how do I know they are qualified?
All plans are reviewed and approved by the FireSmart project manager, Larry Isenberg. Mr.Isenberg
has over 33 years experience in forestry and fire management in North Idaho and is well-known for
his attention to detail and care for the land he manages. All FireSmart contractors carry the required
insurance. Once the plan has been approved by both Larry and the homeowner—and a fair market
price to do the work has been established— the homeowner has three options for completing the
work, as outlined below:
All plans are reviewed and approved by the FireSmart project manager, Larry Isenberg. Mr.Isenberg
has over 33 years experience in forestry and fire management in North Idaho and is well-known for
his attention to detail and care for the land he manages. All FireSmart contractors carry the required
insurance. Once the plan has been approved by both Larry and the homeowner—and a fair market
price to do the work has been established— the homeowner has three options for completing the
work, as outlined below:
1. FireSmart contracts with one of the FireSmart contractors to do the work (FireSmart pays them);
2. The homeowner hires their own contractor to do the work (FireSmart reimburses the homeowner for the
approved amount);
3. The homeowner does the work and is paid the approved amount.
2. The homeowner hires their own contractor to do the work (FireSmart reimburses the homeowner for the
approved amount);
3. The homeowner does the work and is paid the approved amount.
Payment will be made after an on-site evaluation has been conducted and FireSmart assures the work has
been completed as outlined in the plan.
been completed as outlined in the plan.
Kootenai County Fire Prevention Co-op
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