The work party scheduled for November 21st has been canceled due to covid precautions, but we have a suggested replacement.

In these uncertain times the Firewise Committee is encouraging everyone to participate in a virtual work party by doing Firewise activities on their own property, from now through January. Then you can text your hours worked to Ken Schlief at 509-250-2908. You can also take a selfie of you and the work you did, and add it to the Ponderosa website. This will help us meet our requirements to be a Firewise Community, and make you and your neighbors safer. It will also make your forest healthier. Now is the best time to do thinning, limbing, and brush control without attracting insects to the trees. Rain and snow also make slash burning safer. Just be sure you have a burn permit and notify Rural 7 when you plan to burn. Join in! Be Firewise!

After further input from our members, the board changed the meeting date to the 2nd Monday of each month at 7pm.  Hopefully, more members will be able to attend.  The location will be posted on the bulletin boards and the website the week of the meeting as we find a permanent meeting place.  If you still cannot attend, please convey your concerns to a board member to be put on the agenda.  The annual meeting will still be held on Saturday.

The Board  will be meeting at The Grange, 228 E Darland, Goldendale at 9:00am the 2nd Tuesday of each month until further notice.  Please practice social distancing and wear a mask as required by State mandate.

"Fire In Paradise" is a 54 minute video that Carol Martin of the Firewise Committee got for our Firewise Education Day.  Since we can't have our education day, we found that the video is now available for free on PBS Frontline, at pbs.org/wgbh/frontline.  If you watch it, this will also help us meet our education goal for Firewise.  You can also put your time in the volunteer Firewise hours section on this Ponderosa website.  Now I thought, I've already seen the Paradise stuff.  But this video is very informative about many things including the need to make evacuation in a fire YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!  A great deal of effort and planning went into the Paradise evacuation plan, and it still was a disaster due to many factors including the speed of the fire, communication breakdowns, and choices by residents.  It is a very moving presentation.  I hope you will watch it.

 

I also looked up, and resigned up for Emergency Notifications from the Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management.  You can do this at klickitatcounty.org/249/emergency-management.  Click the red phone icon to register.  This will help you do part of the work to be informed.  Be safe.  Be Firewise.  Tis the season, and there are already major fires burning in the west.

MB

The burn ban for all areas in KC Rural 7 Fire and Rescue which includes Ponderosa Park goes into effect on midnight, May 14, 2020.  The ban prohibits all outdoor burning.

May 2nd, 2020 is The National Fire Protection Association’s annual WILDFIRE COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS DAY. Learn more at WildfirePrepDay.org.  While we are all doing STAY HOME STAY SAFE, here are some things we can do to be prepared and be FIREWISE.  Rake and remove pine needles and leaves from at least 5 feet around your home and outbuildings.  Cut grass and weeds in these areas.  Consider fire resistant plants for around the house, and non-combustible mulch products like crushed stone and gravel. Maintain vegetation.  Sweep pine needles and leaves from porches, and rake them from under decks, play structures, etc.  Do not store flammable materials under porches or decks.  Fully enclose the space under decks, or use 1/8” mesh to screen it in.       Inspect shingles or roof tiles, and repair those that are loose or missing, to prevent ember penetration.        Screen roof and attic vents to prevent ember entry.  Clear needles and leaves from roofs, and out of gutters.        Move wood piles, project wood, and stored propane and gas cans at least 30 feet from your home.  Ensure that your home has a clearly marked address.  Clear around address and street signs so they are clearly visible.      Locate the alternate routes out of your neighborhood and drive them with your family.  Have a predesignated meeting place for your family in case of emergency.  Create a family communication plan for emergencies.       Update your evacuation kit or go-bag.  Develop, discuss, and practice an emergency action plan with your family.  Include plans for pets and livestock.  Sign up for local emergency notifications.  Conduct an annual insurance policy check-up to adjust for local costs, codes, and new renovation.  Create or update a home inventory, and store it in a safe, separate location. 

Road Maintenance Project  #001

Mother Nature has opened a window for our Park and our roads.  Richard Shatraws, our Road Maintenance Contractor, has started Project  #001 of 2020’s Ponderosa Park Road Maintenance Program and retrieval work which has now officially been put in place. Work began today, 2/10/20, on Juniper south from Golden Pine, around to Red Cedar and down to Pine Forest.

Residents may have noticed that East Ponderosa from Pipeline to our Firehouse has had some repair work done.  This work led to the new Road Maintenance Program.  Keep in mind that this work was preliminary and will be built on as Richard becomes more familiar with our roads. He currently has in his employ a person with local knowledge and experience and will be working closely with him to see that our roads are maintained in the best way possible.

Thanks to all residents for your patience during the work while in progress.

SF

If you are NOT doing a community or individual cost share, you can still help yourself and your community.  You can submit volunteer hours on this website for hours you spend thinning, limbing, and removing brush.  Look under Data Entry Forms, and fill out a Firewise Volunteer Sheet.  Dan Lennon, our DNR Forester, says that when we find and apply for grants, showing that we are working at being Firewise will increase our chances of receiving grants, even though the hours already accumulated don't count toward the grant.  If we do get a grant, that money can be put to use for projects that make us all safer.