On July 3, 2025, we received our FireWise certification. This means that our 3-year plan has been accepted. The plan describes actions to make our neighborhood safer from wildfires.
The above map also appears on our Maps page.
As part of our safety plan, we are asking all members to fill out this survey:
On June 17, 2025, we hosted a very informative presentation by Kate Furlong, the Community Resilience Lead for the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council, which helps neighborhoods to become certified as “FireWise“.
We are administering a neighborhood-wide survey, to understand our level of preparedness, and to get feedback.
The SB Fire Safe Council can get you a free, private, home hardening consultation!
Our FireWise contact persons are Board members Grant Aaron and Tanya Paye.
Below are semi-organized, incomplete notes taken by Mike Fay at the meeting.
FireWise got the chipping done in our neighborhood in May.
Outdoor fire hazards:
- Umbrellas
- Fences touching the house
- Ivy can be a ladder fuel
- wood chips by the house
On a red flag day, move items away from the house
On evacuation, pin the gates open
Mandatory:
- Chimneys within 200 feet of a High Fire Hazard Area (that’s us) require a spark arrestor made of non-combustible material with openings no larger than 1/4 inch.
- No tree limb within 10 ft of a chimney
Factoids:
- Flame height is 3 times plant height
- FireWise has public Zoom meetings on the 4th Tuesday of every month
- AAA offers itemized discounts for mitigations
- An oak tree can act as a “catcher’s mitt” and block embers.
- Olive trees are OK.