Chase County Emergency Management is asking residents to provide input as the county develops a Community Wildfire Protection Plan aimed at better understanding wildfire risks and identifying ways to protect communities, infrastructure, agriculture, businesses and natural resources.
The plan, known as a CWPP, is being developed in collaboration with the Kansas Forest Service and local partners.
The effort is supported through the U.S. Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, which assists communities with wildfire preparedness, planning and mitigation.
County officials note that wildfire risk in Kansas continues to increase because of factors including drought, high winds, grassland fuels, changing land use and development in wildfire-prone areas.
Information gathered through the survey will help identify priorities for wildfire mitigation and fuel reduction, emergency response and evacuation planning, public education and preparedness efforts, future grant opportunities and community wildfire protection projects.
The survey takes approximately five to eight minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous unless participants choose to enter an optional prize drawing after completing the survey. Participants may enter a random drawing for one of several $50 gift cards.
Chase County residents may complete the survey online at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/HNP7D 53.
County officials said the public’s input will help make Chase County more prepared and resilient in the face of wildfire risk.