Forest Gate received its Firewise Community designation in 2014, and the neighborhood is constantly striving to improve its wildfire-preparedness.
The Forest Gate Firewise Committee consists of Ron Torgerson (Chairman), Mike Saign (Assistant Chairman), Scott Braeger, Mark Schreder, Mal Johnson, Jin Kim, Paul Bergeron, and John Graham (HOA Board Liaison).
At the end of last year we received notice from the Firewise communities/USA program office that Forest Gate had qualified for 2017 recognition for its participation in the national Firewise program. In order to receive recognition each year communities must demonstrate a continuing effort in mitigating properties within their boundaries. Recently we received the renewal certificate (shown below) for 2017, which also included a statement that Forest Gate is a participating community in good standing for the 2018 calendar year. Congratulations to all the home owners that have mitigated their property over the past year to make Forest Gate a safer place to live.
Your Firewise Committee Thanks You Again
- Recognition of Forest Gate Home Owners’ Mitigation Efforts
- Fire Department Driveway Markers
- Forest Gate Fire Mitigation Guidelines
Recognition of Forest Gate Home Owners’ Mitigation Efforts
Your Firewise committee is in its 4th year and we are very pleased with the progress that has been made by home owners in mitigating their property. To date of the 48 homes built in the Forest Gate community the committee has identified 24 that have done significant fire mitigation to their property. These home owners have spent many hours and considerable money in making their properties and their neighbors safer from wildfires. For their efforts the committee would like again thank these home owners for making Forest Gate safer from wildfires. The mitigation process not only makes your home safer from wildfires, it also looks better and adds to its value. Those of you who have not started the process, any representative from the Firewise committee would be glad to meet with you and work out a mitigation plan for this year. Contact anyone on the committee for a meeting.
As a side note there are a few lots in Forest Gate that do not require any or very little mitigation. So far we have identified 3 lots (lots 1, 2 & 18) with very few trees. Other than cutting the grass and trimming dead branches, which they continue to do, we recognize their mitigation efforts. Adding these to our count brings us to 27 homes. We have passed the half way point, keep up the good work.
The Firewise committee has identified seven additional homes from last year that have done significant fire mitigation bringing our total to 27 homes. Below are the first homes recognized for 2017. They are Mack and Yong Sharp at 11108 Shaugnessy Rd., Bob and Julie Crandall at 11148 Shaugnessy Rd., Ed and Jessica Pedersen at 11348 Shaugnessy Rd., Bob and Cheri Cornwell at 9323 Shipman Ln., Ron and Mary Hagler at 11587 Shaugnessy Rd., Ron and Laura Torgerson at 9084 Shipman Ln., and Mal and Kay Johnson at 9004 Shipman Ln.
Mack and Yong Sharp
Bob and Julie Crandall
Ed and Jessica Pedersen
Bob and Cheri Cornwell
Ron and Mary Hagler
Ron and Laura Torgerson
Mal and Kay Johnson
Past Recognition
Jerry and Ramsina Wood
Mark and Kristine Strauch
Dave and Connie McKenzie
Don & Joan Messmer
Mark & Anne Schreder
Jim & Michelle Gardner
Dale & Tamberly Lashley
Sparky & Soni Parker
Mike & Diane Saign
Seth & Colleen Chiddix
Jim Metcalf
Kevin & Anne-Marie Scro
Jeremy & Carrie Isaac
Bill & Mary Bartels
Craig & Debbie Meeks
Rice & Jan Brown
Jim & Sharon DeCaria
Scott & Colleen Braeger
Fire Department Driveway Markers
There are now 22 homes in our neighborhood that have the reflective address marker installed by the fire department. (See photo below.)
As a reminder, to help identify your address during an emergency, the Black Forest Fire Dept. is offering driveway address markers that are reflective. The numbers are 4 inches tall and are installed on both sides of the post. They are designed to take an impact of over 60 mph and bounce back. The cost is $25 installed.
The Fire Wise Committee has talked to the Black Forest Fire Chief, Brian Jack, and he said, “Next to mitigating your property, a driveway marker with reflective numbers is the most important thing a homeowner can do to assist the fire department.”
If you would like to order one for your home, call Fire Station One at 495-4300, or stop by and sign up. Payment can be made at the station with exact change or check.
This isn’t a requirement, but it is an additional safety feature for your home.
Forest Gate Fire Mitigation Guidelines
Click here to download a PDF of the Forest Gate Firewise Mitigation Guidelines. Depending on your browser settings, it may automatically open, or it may save in the folder where your downloads are kept.