Firewise USA – Our Community Coming together for Wildfire Safety & Preparedness
Our best defense against wildfire is each other. Through Firewise education and collective action, we transform hazard zones into havens of safety—because a prepared community is an unbreakable community.
What is Firewise USA?
Firewise USA is a national program that helps homeowners adapt to living safely in an area susceptible to wildfires. By sharing resources, best practices, and hands-on guidance. Firewise encourages neighbors to collaborate on home hardening—home and landscape improvements that reduce the risk of wildfire.
Why Firewise matters to our community
Interest in Firewise has been growing in our community. Richard Drewery is spearheading the campaign to get our community Firewise certified. This certification serves many purposes.
- Enhanced Safety: Make our community a safer place to live. Fire is a threat, and following Firewise guidelines makes our community a safer place for us all.
- Growing Participation: To date, 70 residents have signed up to be part of Firewise, and this number is increasing daily.
- Potential Insurance Savings: Firewise certification can lead to reduced homeowner insurance premiums, along with SDCEA insurance premiums (thus keeping our HOA costs at bay), making safety improvements an investment that pays off.
Path to Certification: Our campaign, led by Team Leader for Firewise Richard Drewery, started in March of this year and is well underway. Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far—and what’s next
- Risk Assessment: Firewise Sub-Committee Team Leaders Jeanne Beauchamp and Lisa Blackburn, with help from other volunteers, drove through our SDCE neighborhoods as part of the Risk Assessment.
- Three-Year Action Plan: The team is drafting a plan to guide hazard reduction projects and community outreach over the next three years.
- Goal Setting: The plans include specific and measurable goals for homeowners, home hardening, defensible space, and more.
- Educational Workshops: The Firewise Sub-Committee will host sessions to share and educate our community on Emergency procedures, evacuation preparedness, and other relevant topics.
Firewise Educational Workshop is scheduled for this fall.
When: Saturday, Sept. 20, from 8 am to 1 pm
Where: San Vicente Room
Speakers:
- Cal Fire: Captain Thomas Shoots
- Ramona Sheriff’s Department: Lieutenant Alex Navarro and Sergeant Joseph Saelens
- County of SD Emergency Preparedness: Edwing Ulloa
- Ramona West End Fire Safe Council: Kristi Mansolf
- Specialist in homeowners’ fire insurance: Valerie Eddy.
How to sign up for this event: ramonawestendfiresafecouncil.org – click on the “events” tab. There is a very short form (name, address, email) to complete, and you are in!
The Firewise Sub-Committee will continue to have these Educational Workshops for our community every Spring and Fall until they are no longer needed.
Make our beautiful community a little bit safer for us all. Please join the efforts to become Firewise. Sign up now for the Fall Educational Workshop.
