Dear Members of the Vineyard Community:
We invite you to attend an Educational Forum held on November 20, 2019 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center, 130 Center Street, Vineyard Haven, MA. We would like you to become part of the process to examine and discuss wildfire vulnerability, planning and measures we can take to mitigate the serious risk of wildfire on Martha's Vineyard.
During the last few months we have watched as numerous states have been ravished by fire. As a result, a group of very concerned citizens on the Vineyard have begun a discussion about how to move forward in order to raise awareness, educate and take action to address the real and potential issue of Fire Hazards.
The Dukes County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update of 2015 cites wildfire hazard and impacts from climate change as the two chief ares of greatest concern. Out down-Island towns were assigned Hazard Indexes between 8 and 10, on a scale of 10. Vulnerability to wildfire is determined by proximity of development to forested lands and fuel type. Much of Martha's Vineyard is potentially vulnerable and there is no wildfire management plan outside of the State Forest. There is a great concern among fire chiefs related to the amount of deadwood that has been accumulating on conservation lands, personal property and in the State Forest as a result of recent severe stroms and drought.
This forum will be a discussion of how one can personally prepare for a fire, fire prevention, forest and land management, creating defensible spaces, evacuation alerts and emergency services. It will feature Dr. Barbara Sattler, a Professor at USF and an Environmental Health expert in that national and international arenas. She has developed and teaches an immersion course about fires. The curriculum was gleaned from her meetings with community members, fire chiefs, fire victims, religious leaders and professionals involved in post-fire mental health services.
Your input is of great value. It would be beneficial to share your concerns and ideas about what support is needed from state and local government. The Island of Martha's Vineyard has unequaled value as an important asset to the state of Massachusetts and this must be considered as part of this conversation!
Yours Truly,
Fire Emergency Coalition - Jeri Dantzig, Nicola Blake, Carole Early, Christine Mayhew, Mardi Moran, Ann RosenKranz, Abe and Rachel Seiman, Mary Jane Williams
Please RSVP to Jeri Dantzig