The quarterly Sherwood Firewise Communities meeting was held via Zoom on Jan. 13. Third District Supervisor John Haschak provided an update on the County Service Area #3 benefit zone, Thomas Clegg of Labyrinth Fire Hardening provided home hardening tips and each of Firewise's three working groups provided updates.

Haschak said the CSA3 has been a work in progress for three years. He said, "Hopefully the end is near." The pilot program, the first of its kind in the county, aims to create a benefit zone for routine maintenance of the Emergency Access Routes in Brooktrails. The Firco Emergency Access Route was heavily utilized during the Oak Fire and has already proven its value to the community.

If approved, the 1,547 property owners of developed parcels will pay approximately $25 per year per parcel. The funds will be used to maintain the emergency access routes into the future. Letters explaining the process will be sent out in February. Ballots will be mailed out for property owners to vote on the negative protest ballot. If approved, the fee should be reflected in 2022-2023 property tax.

SFC volunteer Keith Rutledge explained the group has secured funding from the Community Foundation to conduct 50 onsite inspections of homes from Clegg to identify areas to improve fire safety. Rutledge explained this is a good opportunity to build a database and identify the most typical kind of home hardening needed in the Brooktrails area. He stated, "There may be an opportunity for us to buy a whole container of things, like vents or other kinds or materials that many, many homes need and we could bring the cost down." So aside from benefiting the 50 homeowners who sign up for the inspection, SFC will also be able to identify areas for community bulk purchasing of home hardening materials.

Clegg recommended stainless steel gutter guards as the least expensive form of home hardening. He said homeowners should clean off roofs, including moss which is highly flammable. Newer vents installed on eaves and foundations have tight weave stainless steel mesh at the back that traps embers and closes off ember and flame access.

Home hardening goes up in cost from gutter guards and vents. Other measures include concrete sidings and trims, and metal roofing with metal trims. Clegg said, "Stucco is also very good." Limestone gravel underneath decks and around the home prevents things from growing.

Clegg said, "My idea is it gives our homes an extra half hour of battle time. If everything else is done right, where you don't have a lot of flammable material in the 30-foot and 100-foot setbacks, fire has a brain and it might just decide to move on from your place. That's my goal, is to have it move on."

To sign up for a free home hardening inspection by Clegg, email info@sherwoodfirewise.org. Clegg will provide recommendations and considerations of fire safety home hardening measures.

Cal Fire fuel reduction project map

SFC Volunteer Brian Ferri-Taylor reported that the California Conservation Corps recently offered 5,000 hours of work on the Cal Fire Roadside fuel reduction project. The CCC is bringing their own equipment and has begun working on fuel reduction in the area.

For more information, visit sherwoodfirewise.org. The volunteer run organization is always in need of more volunteers. The next quarterly meeting will be April 14.