We’re kicking off our CWPP season this Tuesday, April 18th at 6:30pm.  Rod and Marcia will host (thanks!).  Their address is 16520 Mt Herman Lane, the yellow house on the corner.  Our new Fire Marshall Jamey Bumgarner will discuss the Ready-Set-Go program, which emphasizes fire preparedness and seeks to improve dialogue between fire departments and residents.  Let’s have a good showing to meet Jamey and familiarize him with the strides we have made in making our community safer. We will also discuss last year’s accomplishments, upcoming priorities, and a possible slash chipping day later this spring. Hope to see you there!

We will join hundreds of other neighborhoods around the county in celebrating Community Wildfire Preparation Day on Saturday May 7 from 9:00 to 3:00.  Beginning at Denise and Rob’s home on the far west end of Doolittle Road, we will work our way around the neighborhood.  Please bring gloves, water, loppers, chainsaws, etc.  We will clear additional brush if resources allow. Thanks to CUSP and Mark-It Forestry for sponsoring this event.  Please join us for all or any part of the day.  Thanks!!

We will have a neighborhood slash chipping day on Saturday May 7.  CUSP will donate a chipper in honor of National Community Wildfire Preparedness Day.  Please take this opportunity to cut and pile more slash; cut ends out to make it easier to load.  More info to come on time, where we will start, etc.  As many volunteers as possible will be helpful – thanks!

All – after a short hiatus, it is time to get back together on our Community Wildfire Planning effort.  Let’s have a short meeting to regroup before resuming our Tuesday meetings.  Once the CWPP has been completed and signed, we can meet perhaps a couple times a year to continue to plan and work towards the goal of protecting our neighborhood.  The synergy throughout this process has been awesome….let’s keep it going!

We have a tentative meeting date of Wed Sept 9 at 6:30 at Steve Hein’s cabin. Topics will include setting dates for a structural ignition hazard assessment and a site visit for Tri-Lakes Fire Department on our hose-monkey project; discussions on an article for the local press; final assignments to complete the CWPP; compilation of volunteer hours; etc.  We need to have the CWPP signed by December, to take advantage of any available tax breaks for 2015.

If you are not available this Wednesday and would like to participate, please let Diane or Steve R know an alternative date that would work better.  Thanks.

Thanks to Mark P, Brad, Liane, Steve H, Quinton, Ken, Mark and Sam S for a very productive day cutting brush along Mt Herman Lane, and chipping slash piles across the entire neighborhood. Also to Heather and Sharann for dropping off homemade refreshments.  Home Depot generously donated the chipper – thanks to Mark P for picking up and dropping this off.  Great teamwork and fun – what better way to spend a hot summer day!  Some photos below – more in media gallery.

We are planning another chipper day for July 25,  with a chipper generously donated by Home Depot. This is a great opportunity to clear brush and work with neighbors to further reduce excess fuels in our area.  Work will start around 8:00.  Please stage wood to be chipped with cut ends out, anywhere that is accessible by a truck and chipper. Material up to ~4″ diameter can be chipped. See you next Saturday!