What is a Firewise Community, and why is it important to foothills residents?

Even though we're in the middle of winter, it's never too early to get involved with your local Firewise Community. A Firewise Community is a neighborhood that is taking appropriate measures to become more resistant to wildfire structural damage. By increasing awareness about the best mitigation practices and working together on neighborhood projects, Firewise Communities decrease the risk of wildfire destruction in their area. Benefits of being in a Firewise Community include: ● Homeowners insurance discounts (yes, even CA FAIR Plan). ● Detailed, practical info about how to protect your home from fire. ● Access to funding for neighborhood wildfire mitigation activities. ● Helpful information about how to prepare your home and yourself for a potential evacuation. There are two main parts to protecting your property from wildfire: Defensible space and home hardening. Research around home destruction vs. home survival in wildfires point to embers and small flames as the main ways the majority of homes ignite in wildfires. Embers are burning pieces of airborne wood and/or vegetation that can be carried more than a mile through the wind and cause spot fires and ignite homes, debris and other objects. Experiments, models and post-fire studies have shown homes ignite due to the condition of the home and everything around it, up to 200 feet from the foundation. Defensible space is the buffer zone between your home and the surrounding area. Home hardening is the process of making your house less vulnerable to wildfires by using non-combustible materials and taking other precautions. You can learn all about defensible space and home hardening by contacting your Firewise Resident leader. For more information: Call Dory Cox, Resident Leader, Cold Springs Firewise Community, 530-401-1750. Contact Jacqui Manning, Placer County Office of Emergency Services, at 530-886-3473 or fireready@placer.ca.gov. She can help you find out if you are currently in a Firewise Community, and who to contact for more information. Find the Fire Safe Alliance group in your area, which provides the foundation for being a Firewise Community. Visit the National Fire Protection Association site at nfpa.org for more info about Firewise USA.