2009 Year End Report
Community Preparedness Committee

The following items represent the activities of the CPC during 2009

• Area Leaders / Assistant Area Leaders were responsible for distribution of the Emergency Handbook either electronically or in hard copy to all full time/part time residents.
   
• The handbook was also in all Welcome Packages that Nancy Allred distributed.
   
• The Handbook and Area Leader Responsibilities were reviewed and updated throughout the year as appropriate.
   
• Smoke Watchers training was held on April 11, 2009 by Eddie Geiske.
   
• Area Leaders continued to update their area residency lists, forwarding changes to the chair who kept the master residency list current.  The web master, at this time, cannot load this list onto the SFTR website so electronic copies were distributed as needed or requested.
   
• As the fire season progressed, discussion forum postings were made to insure all property owners were aware of the need to be diligent.  Fire danger is checked daily and the entrance signs and SFTR home page were updated.

Reported Fire Incidents

• A Fire on Friday 3-6-2009 was reported.  Had the resident not been so aggressive in mitigation it could have been a major fire event.  The cause is thought to be spontaneous combustion.  Smoke was observed, 911 called, resident informed and 2 neighbors drove to the site to offer help/support.  We were not certain if smoke had been smelled but it was a reminder that when we smell smoke we need to begin investigating.  It may not always first be a visual.

  Area leaders were reminded that all committee members need to be available to go to the main gate and provide directions or escort emergency vehicles to the scene.  This is in our Leadership Responsibilities.

  The FPFD also needed CPC to monitor the smoking remains for flare ups throughout the night.  The area leader and neighbors assisted in this effort.  The scene commander gave instructions of when/how often/how long/what to do in a flare up/etc.  This was added to our Leadership Responsibilities.

• A report of the smell of smoke was made on August 8, 2009.  Because it was appropriately reported to a CPC member we were able to check out the situation w/FPFPD & update the hotline and then later the discussion forum.  Various people did check the hotline – which was good, however, there had been earlier reports directly to FPFPD dispatch without inclusion of any CPC person.  This bypass delays updates to the hotline or forum updated and places unnecessary stress on the dispatcher’s responsibilities.
   
• A fire from a lightning strike was reported on August 29, 2009.  Neighbors & FPFPD responded.  The area leader served as an escort available for FPFPD.  Betty (who is an assistant area leader) reported to the CPC chair allowing verification that FPFPD were responding and the hotline could be updated.  Also neighbors were notified and responded.

Ranch Mitigation Efforts

CPC became the liaison to the POA Board for a new committee interested in continuing the wildfire mitigation work on the ranch.  The committee, chaired by R. C. Ghormley submitted 2010 WUI grant application for $50,000.  The request was for defensible space and was written with the grantee as SFTR POA.

It also organized the POA Annual Meeting - afternoon event.  See Annual Meeting Agenda.

Greg Beaumont will be providing the education Forest Health display.

These items should allow for SFTR's renewal of "Fire Wise Community" status.