Hands-on, urban-wildland fire expert will direct the
International Code Council's new Wildland Fire Program

The International Code Council chose a hands-on, urban-wildland fire expert to direct its new Wildland Fire Program. Dan W. Bailey is former program manager for the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service's (USFS) Wildland Urban Interface/Firewise Programs.

"When people build homes in wildland areas, there is a risk from wildfires," said International Code Council CEO James Lee Witt. "We can't stop people from building in wildland areas, so we need to give them the tools to minimize the dangers. By teaching people about fire-resistant building materials and property maintenance we can help them to make their homes less at risk. We are excited to have Dan Bailey head this important program to reduce the loss of life and property from wildfires."

The International Code Council published the International Urban-Wildland Interface Code in 2003 to help property owners reduce the hazard of wildfires. With a focus on public education and community outreach, Bailey will work with local, state and federal agencies, associations, the fire and building industry who tackle the urban-wildland interface fire issue.

Bailey spent 30 years practicing wildland fire management for USFS, including the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire and Firewise programs. He was a founder of the Firewise Communities Workshop series. Bailey led the fighting of more than 200 U.S. wildfires during 1987-2000 in Idaho, Montana, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Colorado and Texas. A veteran Incident Commander (Type I), he managed the 250,000 acre, 1992 California Big Bear Fire and the 1990 Dude Fire in Arizona, which took six lives, destroyed 63 homes and burned 24,174 acres.

The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by the International Code Council.

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