Firewise WV
The Firewise Community Assessment with AtlasGDS provides a unique, hands-on opportunity for students to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess the wildfire risk of their community and to educate their community on steps that can be taken to reduce that risk. The new, simplified curriculum uses aerial photography on the Internet to complete a Wildfire Risk Assessment of homes in West Virginia. The curriculum has 11 lessons that can be completed in as little as 5 class periods using your schools PC lab. The curriculum is correlated to national and West Virginia Academic Standards in Geography and Science.
Wildfire Curriculum available to view:
Wildfire Curriculum Presentations to view:
Hedgesville H.S. Firewise Projects
West Virginia Firewise Projects
West Virginia Firewise in the Classroom is modeled after Minnesota’s Firewise in the Classroom curriculum. To find out more information on the West Virginia Firewise in the Classroom Project or how it could be modified for your school needs contact: gis4schools@gmail.com
WV Firewise in the Classroom Project
GIS 4 Schools provides technical support to the West Virginia Firewise in the Classroom Project. Working cooperatively with the Eagle Promise Charitable Fund (EPCF) and the West Virginia Division of Forestry (WVDOF), GIS4Schools developed an interactive GIS application that allows students at any school in West Virginia conduct a Geographic analysis of the risk of wildfire in their community. With the assistance of GIS 4 Schools, students at Hedgesville High School have completed over 2000 Level 1 Risk Assessments in five communities in West Virginia. In addition, students have taken four field trips to The Woods Resort to assess homes in Section 1, 2, 3 and Walden Woods. In all over 600 Level 2 Wildfire Hazard Assessments have been completed.
Firewise West Virginia Projects:
- Hedgesville H.S. Firewise Projects
- Eagle Promise Charitable Fund Firewise
Level 1 Community Wildfire Risk Assessments:
Draft Woods Resort Firewise Website
GIS 4 Schools is assisting EPCF and the West Virginia Division of Forestry Firewise West Virginia Program develop a new Firewise West Virginia Website. The site will focus on The Woods Resort and will include videos and resources to help home owners make their homes Firewise. Students at the Hedgesville H.S. web design class will design and publish the final version. In the interim, GIS 4 Schools has provided Firewise resources on CD so homeowners in The Woods Resort in West Virginia can learn how they can make their homes Firewise.
Webpage examples: Homeowners PDF, Community PDF, Education PDF, Projects PDF, Curriculum PDF, The Woods PDF, Section 1 PDF
Firewise in the Classroom Project