Grand Rapids board adopts five-year Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The Grand Rapids Town Board voted May 13 to adopt a five-year Community Wildfire Protection Plan intended to reduce wildland-fire risk through outreach and low-cost preparedness actions.

Amy, a Division of Forestry representative in the Wisconsin Rapids office, told the board the town sits in an area with elevated wildland-fire risk and that the draft plan focuses on education and coordination. "The town is in a place that's very high risk to wildland fire," Amy said, and the plan highlights measures such as continuing the fire-department address-sign project, distributing free DNR driveway-access and fire-resistant-construction brochures, promoting a free burning permit requirement in spring and using the town website and social media for outreach.

The plan also calls for an annual fall review with local partners to track accomplishments and consider applying for project funds. Amy said towns with an approved community wildfire protection plan are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 per year for eligible projects, and that establishing or maintaining a brush/transfer site is an example of an eligible use.

Board members asked about likely costs for actions such as storm-debris transfer sites. Amy said some past debris-drop programs have cost roughly $10,000, and that while the plan itself focuses on education items that may need little or no town funding, some projects could require modest postage or other expenses; grant funds could be sought for larger efforts.

A board member moved to adopt the plan and, after a second, the board voted to approve resolution 2026-09 adopting the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

The board noted next steps include continuing outreach through fire-department channels, placing educational materials on the town website and considering grant applications for specific projects during the plan's five-year window.