Grants & Funding

Zina McGuire, Fire Marshal for Catron County, New Mexico, demonstrating the SimTable purchased with Title III funds. Catron County Fire staff demonstrated SimTable’s capabilities to U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman’s Field Representative, Dara Parker, in November 2010.

SimTable is the first choice for implementing your Title III objectives. It is the cornerstone of effective Firewise Communities program and indispensable for developing a community wildfire protection plan. Counties across the country are utilizing Title III funds to create outstanding public outreach and education programs around the SimTable.

Title III funds are authorized for 6 primary uses under Firewise Communities Program—Simtable is the cornerstone of these charters.

1. Search, rescue, and emergency services
2. Community service work camps
3. Easement purchases
4. Forest related educational opportunities
5. Fire prevention and county planning
6. Community forestry

1) Search, Rescue and Emergency Services

SimTable integrates advanced satellite imagery, simply by pointing the laser onto the sand topography map rescuers can view flyover images of road conditions and determine accessibility, flora density and slope for example. SimTable’s powerful GIS display tools allow users to include any photograph or GIS layer such as recent flyover pictures, GPS location of searchers, and prioritization of areas to be searched on the table. SimTable is the centerpiece for an effective and efficient search and rescue operation.

2) Community Service Work Camps

SimTable is an exceptional tool for communicating plans and coordinating work camps. The most difficult exercise is getting teams engaged and interested. PowerPoint slides tend to turn teams into observers sitting back and passively watching someone lecture. Standing around a sandtable with dynamic maps and images of work areas on actual terrain and topography is a powerful way to create common understanding and goals. This process is key for developing community forestry strategies and communicating and implementing plans.

3) Forest Related Educational Opportunities

Utilize SimTable to educate the public on the value of proper forest management and the prevention of forest fires.

4) Fire Prevention and County Planning

The Apache Canyon Firewise presentation was done completely on a SimTable. Citizens gathered around looking at their own homes, and residents immediately visualized how different scenarios could arise and how dangerous various situations could be. “I’ve never seen a group so engaged at a FireWise presentation,” said Dave Sperling, Santa Fe County Deputy Fire Chief.

SimTables are currently in use throughout the country for FIREWISE and outreach efforts. We provide title III grant writing assistance free of charge and obligation.

(for more detailed information visit the US Forest Service website at http://www.fs.fed.us/srs/Title-III-FAQs.shtml)