Heartwood recognized for Firewise USA certification
Posted 11/27/20
If you've ever driven up Heartwood Lane, you may have noticed a particular road sign that you might not be familiar with. This sign indicates that Heartwood is a community that diligently performs ongoing fire mitigation and forest management-related activities, which greatly reduce potential wildfire threats to our lives and property.
In fact, Heartwood was recently recognized by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as a 2020/2021 Firewise USA community. It's the fourth year that we've been certified by NFPA.
Each year, as part of the recertification effort, Heartwood is required to account for all of its resident volunteer hours and related expenses. In 2020, as part of our fire mitigation efforts, the community purchased a walk-behind brush hog, a new chain saw, and blades for our existing over-the-shoulder brush cutter. Mitigation work at Heartwood in 2020 included the clearing of Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), also known as scrub oak, around the cluster and the removal of excess pine needles and pine cones, considered high-risk ladder fuels. The community has sought and received past grants for fire mitigation work to clear low-hanging branches in our surrounding forests and remove additional scrub oak around the property.
It's an ongoing process, notes Robert 'Han' Bishop, Heartwood's lead Neighborhood Ambassador to La Plata County's Wildlife Adaptive Partnership (WAP).
“This recertification is a testimonial to the residents of Heartwood who recognize the importance of fire mitigation work and have chosen to support it both financially and with volunteer hours,” says Bishop. “Because of the ongoing issues with climate change and the fact that our local environment is often dry, it’s a tribute to the community that we are able to attain recertification every year to protect our beloved property and homes.”
Heartwood's fire mitigation efforts go beyond its membership in NFPA. Bishop and Heartwood's Adrian Tillery are both WAP Neighborhood Ambassadors, trained in fire mitigation and related forest management, and Bishop also works closely with the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District. Bishop says Heartwood's future work will include a mock evacuation and continuing education. The community is currently seeking an additional grant for future mitigation efforts, including the possible purchase of a utility trail vehicle to facilitate access and additional mitigation work.
NFPA, an international nonprofit organization, established in 1896 and based in Quincy, Mass., delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering our mission. NFPA membership totals more than 65,000 individuals around the world.
Posted 11/27/20
If you've ever driven up Heartwood Lane, you may have noticed a particular road sign that you might not be familiar with. This sign indicates that Heartwood is a community that diligently performs ongoing fire mitigation and forest management-related activities, which greatly reduce potential wildfire threats to our lives and property.
In fact, Heartwood was recently recognized by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as a 2020/2021 Firewise USA community. It's the fourth year that we've been certified by NFPA.
Each year, as part of the recertification effort, Heartwood is required to account for all of its resident volunteer hours and related expenses. In 2020, as part of our fire mitigation efforts, the community purchased a walk-behind brush hog, a new chain saw, and blades for our existing over-the-shoulder brush cutter. Mitigation work at Heartwood in 2020 included the clearing of Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), also known as scrub oak, around the cluster and the removal of excess pine needles and pine cones, considered high-risk ladder fuels. The community has sought and received past grants for fire mitigation work to clear low-hanging branches in our surrounding forests and remove additional scrub oak around the property.
It's an ongoing process, notes Robert 'Han' Bishop, Heartwood's lead Neighborhood Ambassador to La Plata County's Wildlife Adaptive Partnership (WAP).
“This recertification is a testimonial to the residents of Heartwood who recognize the importance of fire mitigation work and have chosen to support it both financially and with volunteer hours,” says Bishop. “Because of the ongoing issues with climate change and the fact that our local environment is often dry, it’s a tribute to the community that we are able to attain recertification every year to protect our beloved property and homes.”
Heartwood's fire mitigation efforts go beyond its membership in NFPA. Bishop and Heartwood's Adrian Tillery are both WAP Neighborhood Ambassadors, trained in fire mitigation and related forest management, and Bishop also works closely with the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District. Bishop says Heartwood's future work will include a mock evacuation and continuing education. The community is currently seeking an additional grant for future mitigation efforts, including the possible purchase of a utility trail vehicle to facilitate access and additional mitigation work.
NFPA, an international nonprofit organization, established in 1896 and based in Quincy, Mass., delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering our mission. NFPA membership totals more than 65,000 individuals around the world.
