Firewise

Education and Outreach Goals

1. Open space work party for residents to gather and do a wild-space maintenance activity like collecting dead vegetation, planting native flowering seeds etc.

2. Set up website with information for residents to access materials, contractor lists, etc.

3. Recognition: Award Fire Safe champion award to honor leaders at the  annual HOA meeting.

4. Biannual Meeting of Firewise committee to review progress and identify tasks and owners for year 2.

Home Hardening Goals

1. Seasonal reminders to and tips to all residents. (4 per year). Reminders to include roadside spaces.

2. Gutter Cleanup: Identify a contractor for gutter cleanup. Negotiate a fixed rate and encourage residents to get their gutters cleaned.

3. Install metal mesh screens(1/8”) on all vents. Negotiate a low rate with a contractor and  residents to get vents installed if not present.

4. Defensible Space/Fuel Reduction Goals

5. Mow and clear common areas per Firewise guidelines

6. Link homeowners to open space work. Send notification to the homeowners when the common space area adjacent to their house will be maintained and information on how they can hire the same crew to do maintenance for their lot. 

7. Send recommendations to homeowners to for what to focus on and how to prepare to use the SCC Firesafe free chipping services.  Encourage sign ups for the free chipping services from the SCC FireSafe Council. For projects that are too big (tree trimming etc. ) develop a list of reliable fuel reduction companies. 

8. Contact local authorities having roadside easements to maintain the roadside areas.

Evacuation Planning and Wildfire Preparedness

1. Identify a vendor for mailbox signs  that are visible in the night and share it with residents.

2. Promote sign-ups for local emergency alert systems

3. Identify access points to common area from each street in to CommonArea. Work with members to identify who does what (homeowner vs HOA ) for maintaining the access. 

4. Educate members about what to do during evacuations.  Encourage use of a checklist.  Provide training and coaching on gas line shut offs and unlocking gates to provide access etc..

Education and Outreach Goals

1. Send delegates to attend San Clara County  Firesafe  council meetings and meetings of the Saratoga CERT.

2. Recognition: Award Fire Safe champion award to honor neighborhood best practices  at the annual HOA meeting.

3. Open space work party for residents to gather and do a wild-space maintenance activity like collecting dead vegetation, planting native flowering seeds etc.

4. Electing new Firewise committee and transition responsibilities.

5. Biannual Meeting of Firewise committee to review progress and identify tasks and owners for year 3.

6. Educate members about the changes in CA law and implementation in Saratoga for regulations about defensible space zones.

Home Hardening Goals

1. Seasonal reminders to and tips to all residents(4 per year). Reminders to include roadside spaces.

2. Gutter Cleanup: Identify a contractor(s) for gutter cleanup. Negotiate discounted group rates and encourage residents to get their gutters cleaned.

3. Encourage homeowners to do a self assessment of their house and yard and to set their own goals for areas to work on.  Identify resources they can use, including consultants they could contact for suggestions on what to prioritize if they are uncertain about where to start. 

4. Poll the homeowners on if past contractor recommendations were helpful, which areas they want help on and if they need contractor recommendations.

Defensible Space/Fuel Reduction Goals

1. Mow and clear common areas per Firewise guidelines

2. Work  with the City of Saratoga to develop a plan for routine maintenance of the shoulders along Pierce Road.

3. Link homeowners to open space work. Send notification to the homeowners when the common space area adjacent to their house will be maintained and information on how they can hire the same crew to do maintenance for their lot which is not landscaped

4. Encourage sign-ups for the free chipping programs offered by the FIreSafe Council

5. Host a work party to walk through the Common Area in the spring and discuss priorities for work to contract that spring/ summer season.  

6.  Identify areas for improved habitat management (seeding, etc) that can be done with homeowner work parties.

Evacuation Planning and Wildfire Preparedness

1. Design an evacuation plan consisting of evacuation zones, evacuation routes, alternate routes , communication plans, pet and livestock evacuation strategies.

2. Establish block captains for coordination of evacuation and other communication

3. Create and distribute evacuation checklists and go-bag guides.  Encourage neighbor buddy systems to help  vulnerable residents who might need help during an evacuation. 

Education and Outreach Goals

Recognition: Award Fire Safe champion award to honor best practices  at the annual HOA meeting.

Open space work party for residents to gather and do a wild-space maintenance activity like collecting dead vegetation, planting native flowering seeds etc.

Solicit ideas from members on where to focus shared resources. 

Biannual Meeting of Firewise committee to report on results and identify tasks /owners required for the next year. 

Reach out to adjacent communities. Have a joint discussion with Tollgate  and Pierce Rd communities and communicate our Firewise activities and learn about their programs.

Home Hardening Goals

Seasonal reminders to and tips to all residents(4 per year). Reminders to include roadside spaces.

Gutter Cleanup: Identify a contractor for gutter cleanup. Negotiate a discounted rate and encourage residents to get their gutters cleaned.

Provide a self-assessment tool that each resident can use to evaluate the hardening of their house.

Conduct a new community needs assessment for re-certification.

Defensible Space/Fuel Reduction Goals

Mow and clear common areas per Firewise guidelines.

Link homeowners to open space work. Send notification to the homeowners when the common space area adjacent to their house will be maintained and information on how they can hire the same crew to do maintenance for their lot which is not landscaped

Host Fire Chipper day to help residents dispose of green waste

Contact local authorities having roadside easements to maintain the roadside areas

Evacuation Planning and Wildfire Preparedness

Create signage for fighters  at the access points to the common area,

Identify elder and disabled people in the community needing help in the case of evacuation. Create an evacuation plan.

Practice family evacuation plan elements (find to go bags, practice gas shutoff, etc.) with the rendezvous place being the location and time  of the HOA annual meeting.

Investigate  the feasibility  of conducting a  community wide evacuation drills with the support of from the City of Saratoga and  the local fire departments