Enhancing Fire Safety in Our Community: The Fire Safety Committee's Mission

The Fire Safety Committee was created to address growing concerns among homeowners regarding fire prevention and safety. With fire safety as a top priority, the committee actively works to prepare the community for potential risks. Committee members such as Richard Drewery, who studied this topic for over two years, investigated the latest information about fire safety and prevention before joining the committee. These members are committed to engaging residents in meaningful fire safety initiatives.

As an advisory group, the committee provides fire safety recommendations for homeowners and the management team. Two key objectives include establishing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to secure grants and achieving "Firewise Community" certification, which may help residents obtain better insurance rates.

A 501(c)(3) organization is established for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, or literary purposes and engages in activities that benefit the public. This may include community outreach, education, fire safety initiatives, and disaster relief. The advantage of having this tax-exempt status is that these organizations can receive grants and operate for the public benefit. Common examples of 501(c)(3) organizations include fire safety programs and animal rescues. The Association functions as a 501(c)(4) Social Welfare Organization.

Firewise Community Certification is a national recognition program developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in collaboration with CalFire and other wildfire prevention organizations. The Firewise USA® program helps communities reduce wildfire risks through education, planning, and proactive fire mitigation efforts. To further engage residents, a Firewise subcommittee dedicated to expanding fire prevention efforts will be launched in the first quarter.

Key Benefits of Firewise Certification:

1.     Improved Community Safety – Encourages homeowners to take action to reduce wildfire risks.

2.     Potential Insurance Discounts – Some insurance companies offer reduced rates for Firewise-certified communities.

3.     Access to Grants & Resources – Opens doors to funding and assistance for fire prevention projects.

4.     Enhanced Property Value – Demonstrates a proactive approach to risk management.

5.     Stronger Community Engagement – Unites homeowners in a common effort to safeguard their properties.

The Association maintains the importance of clearing easements for fire safety, and I encourage you to read our many Valley News blogs on fire safety: Fire Abatement: Easement Maintenance. One of the biggest concerns for our community is weather-related fire risks, particularly those posed by the Santa Ana winds. Homeowners must maintain fire-resilient properties to mitigate these dangers.

The landscape department is focused on reducing fire fuel by clearing invasive plant species. Our region's Chaparral Biome contains native plants that are naturally more fire-resistant, while certain non-native species—palm trees, pines, and eucalyptus—are highly flammable and crowd out beneficial vegetation. The committee is focusing on the removal of these high-risk plants to reduce fire hazards. The Landscape and Open Space Manager, Nancy Zadrozny, tracks progress through detailed maps and monthly reports, ensuring properties meet fire safety standards such as tree clearance requirements. Through these ongoing efforts, the committee aims to build a safer, fire-resilient community for years to come.

The committee encourages homeowners to explore CalFire's "Ready, Set, Go" website, which offers fire safety guidelines. In addition, please download the similarly named mobile app.

Fire Safety Committee Primary Objectives:

•       To develop, implement, and maintain fire safety policies, procedures, and protocols.

•       To identify and assess fire hazards within the Association.

•       To educate stakeholders on fire safety measures and evacuation procedures.

•       To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of fire safety measures.

•       To recommend improvements and corrective actions to mitigate fire risks.

•       To ensure compliance with relevant local, state, and federal fire safety regulations and codes               

•       To explore the opportunity of becoming a California Firewise Community (Firewise).

Looking ahead, the Fire Safety Committee remains committed to improving our community's fire resilience, focusing on removing non-native vegetation, trimming trees, and staying within the budgeted plans. This long-term effort will make our community safer and more fire-resistant for years to come.

Photo by Josh Jones.