The Municipality is hereby establishing a Municipal local Wildfire
Safety Council within the Township of Washington, County of Burlington
and State of New Jersey.
The purpose of a Municipal Wildfire Safety Council (WSC), within
the Office of Emergency Management and LEPC is to coordinate wildfire
prevention efforts. To coordinate these efforts the FSC may seek grant
funding, propose and conduct outreach efforts, develop education opportunities
to inform residents and forest property owners what they can do personally
to reduce their wildfire risks. They may act as the point of contact
for the New Jersey Forestry Services, Forest Fire Service, and their
many outreach and educational efforts, including but not limited to,
Firewise Communities, Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP),
and Ready Set Go, for the purpose of reducing the risk of wildfire
for all residents. The FSC may seek technical assistance from state
and federal agencies and arrange and conduct training for residents
and emergency responders. A Wildfire Safety Council's purpose
is to increase the wildfire prevention capacity in the municipality
they serve.
The FSC shall conduct all formal meetings pursuant to the Open
Public Meetings Act (OPRA) and record minutes to reflect the business conducted during
the meetings. The FSC shall meet biannually or more frequently as
needed to address the specific needs of the Municipality. The FSC
shall submit an annual report to the Mayor and to the State Forest
Fire Warden at the New Jersey Forestry Services, Forest Fire Service,
to provide an accounting of the official duties performed and tasks
completed by the Council during the preceding year. The report shall
be submitted by February 1 of each calendar year.
The FSC may seek, accept and spend grant or donated funds for
projects submitted to address the wildfire needs of the Municipality.
The FSC may manage any Municipal funds as appropriated, subject to
the approval of the governing body.