Firewise Volunteers Conducting Survey for Community Fire Risk Assessment Plan
Firewise volunteers will survey SDCE homes this month to assess fire risks and help develop a 5-year community fire prevention plan.
During May, volunteers from the SDCE Firewise Sub-committee will drive through the SDCE area as part of developing a Fire Risk Assessment plan.
The Community Fire Risk Assessment Plan is one of many steps the Firewise Team is undertaking to make our community a certified Firewise Site, which will provide benefits, such as a possible reduction in fire insurance premiums for individual homeowners.
The Fire Risk Assessment involves documenting the fire preparedness of homes within the area. Volunteers will be driving through SDCE and making notes on the conditions of several items, including roofing, types of siding, and how close vegetation is to a house. The survey mostly involves driving by homes and noting what can be seen from the street. Volunteers will not be entering properties for surveys. However, in some instances, the volunteers may knock on doors to ask a question.
The survey information will be used to develop a 5-year plan for how the committee will work with and educate homeowners on fire prevention measures and partner with local agencies to provide them with resources.
The volunteers, organized into four cars with two-person teams, will be driving slowly through the community throughout the month. To address safety concerns, the committee is sharing information about their activities on social media and has partnered with the local Sheriff’s Office. The volunteers will inform Sheriff dispatch about the days and locations of their survey work. If the Sheriff receives a call regarding the committee's presence, they will be able to verify that it pertains to the Firewise survey activities.
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