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Meade County FireWise Program

Our mission

The Meade County FireWise mission is to support the development of strong, self-reliant communities by 1) assisting veterans who have returned home to successfully re-enter the civilian workforce and 2) by reducing the risk of wildland fire in the Northern Black Hills through public education and hazardous fuels reduction for private landowners at a cost share.

History

Originally, Meade County FireWise was established in 2002 as a joint effort between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Meade County. Together, goals for the program were established in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for the purpose of reducing the risk of wildland fire in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) of southwestern South Dakota. At the onset, private contractors were hired to complete fuels reduction work. In late 2012, Meade County’s “Veteran in the Woods” initiative was introduced. At this time a veteran job program was established, and a switch was made to hiring an all-veteran crew to complete work.

Goals & objectives: 

• Offer veterans short-term employment (up to 4 months) which leads to full-time career opportunities.

• Train veterans in various skill-sets based on career path.

• Seek community support and involvement for Firewise program.

• Solicit private donations to support program efforts.

• Graduate veterans to full-time employment and repeat the effort with unemployed veterans.

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