Fire/Rescue News - Little progress on Hammonton wildfire mitigation program

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A year later, town officials say that not only is there no plan in place, but that they have no idea how to go about even getting one. State Forest Fire Service officials say work on the plan is under way, it will just take time.

"Naturally we want to make sure to protect the health and welfare of the community. That kind of plan is something that is developed by the police chief and recommended to us for approval," said Mayor John DiDonato, adding the Town Council has yet to be provided any wildfire mitigation plans to review.

Police Chief Frank Ingemi, who is also the town's emergency management coordinator, said he immediately contacted the state Forest Fire Service to find out how to develop a mitigation plan, but says he is still waiting for that information.

"I would be willing to do anything to prevent a life-threatening situation. But as of right now, I haven't received any guidance to tell me what's involved in the getting a plan in place," Ingemi said. "If there is traffic that needs to be handled (during wildfires), I can handle the traffic. But as far as fire prevention, I have not received any information from the forest fire service on that."

Plante said he has had multiple conversations with Ingemi on the subject, but said any planning for a mitigation project would be under the supervision of officials from Division C of the Forest Fire Service, which covers Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, Camden, Gloucester and Camden counties.

Frank Pallante, an assistant fire warden for that division, said officials there are still in the preliminary stages of gathering information so they can develop a plan with the town for the portion of the Wharton State Forest near Hammonton.

"We really just got into the planning of it now," said Pallante, adding he was recently out mapping the area for fire breaks. "But it doesn't happen overnight. It takes time."

Pallante said the fire mitigation plan would be similar to the partnership the Forest Fire Service and the state Department of Environmental Protection entered into with Barnegat and Stafford townships following a May 2007 wildfire that damaged more than 17,000 acre of pinelands and destroyed several homes.

"It'll be the same thing, just in a different location," Pallante said of the educational outreach-type program that helps towns address issues such as evacuation procedures, emergency notification methods and how to make buildings "fire wise."

The Ocean County project was announced less than 10 months after that fire.

Meanwhile, Plante said the Forest Fire Service experienced one of slowest wildfire seasons in the typically fire-prone pinelands this year.

"There wasn't a record amount of rainfall this year, but it has been one of our quietest years because it's been very damp," said Plante, adding the lack of fires helped the service save on fuel and equipment maintenance costs. "In these types of budget times … that helps."

Plante said the service is still short-staffed due to the state's budgetary constraints. Forest Fire Service officials told The Press of Atlantic City last year that the service was operating about 20 percent below its recommended staffing levels.

"That problem hasn't gone away for us, but the weather enabled us to get out from behind the rock a little bit," he said. "Hopefully things will start getting better for the state before it gets worse for its residents."

Contact Robert Spahr:

609-272-7283

RSpahr@pressofac.com