FireWise Communities
If you could participate in a group that took a couple hours of your time per year, making your neighborhood safer and potentially saving you money on your homeowners policy, would you do it? Such a program is being spearheaded by the Santa Barbara Fire Safe Council, and there are already Firewise neighborhoods across the US. Locally, Firewise USA communities are operating within Mission Canyon and in the Eucalyptus Hill area.
If you and a couple of your neighbors are interested in being organizers, a representative from SBFireSafeCouncil.org will assist in identifying your “community” boundaries and making a risk assessment. Together you’ll develop a plan for your first three years’ activities. A community must consist of at least eight homes, but many more can be included.
Each year an educational meeting is scheduled, in conjunction with Firewise and/or Santa Barbara City Fire, on topics such as fire behavior, identifying vegetation to be removed, fire extinguisher use, etc. Annually, your community members estimate the quantity of vegetation they have removed from their properties, the hours they’ve spent on fire prevention work in their yards, and the dollar cost. The organizer compiles these numbers, sends the yearly application in, and that’s it for the year. The risk assessment only needs to be updated every five years.
Each neighbor may discuss the possibility of a premium reduction with their insurance agent. Currently, California Fair Plan, Mercury, State Farm, USAA, and several other companies give discounts to Firewise Community members. For a full list visit insurance.ca.gov, then click on the photo which has the caption, “Being safer from wildfires can help your insurance.”
Talks are in progress to bring seven more companies into this program during 2023, but saving money is only one of many Firewise benefits. You’ll decrease neighborhood ignition hazards, learn how to harden your own home, and feel more connected to your neighbors. Firewise USA likes to say that prevention is a lot easier than intervention!
Worth Noting
To obtain Firewise recognition:
1. Form a committee that represents at least eight homes in your neighborhood.
2. Conduct a neighborhood risk assessment with Santa Barbara City Fire or Fire Safe Council staff.
3. Create a three-year action plan.
4. Submit an application online (the Santa Barbara Fire Safe Council can help).
Annually, organize an educational event, and collect residents’ information to be submitted on the yearly application.
Click on this link for more info: https://sbfiresafecouncil.org/firewise-recognition-process/
For more information or to start your application, visit sbfiresafecouncil.org or email community@SBFireSafeCouncil.org.