Ponderosa Park is a Firewise Community with a Firewise Committee that consist of 6 members.The committee is responsible for educating the community on programs available to assist homeowners in their efforts to reduce the risk of wildfire on their properties and in the park. The Firewise Committee also works with the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on projects like The Shaded Fuel Break, and Individual Cost Share and Community Cost Share Programs, and holds educational events like the upcoming Firewise Planting Event. Any fire risk reduction work done by residents and reported on the volunteer hours form, helps to maintain the Firewise status of Ponderosa Park. The committee also applies for and manages grants from Washington State, tracks community Firewise volunteer hours for annual reporting, organizes Firewise work parties and schedules seasonal chipping services based on the number requests by the residents.

 

Time, expense and fuel volume reporting of work completed on homes and property for wildfire risk reduction qualify for Firewise Volunteer Hours and can be submitted at anytime on the Volunteer Hours form. October 30th is the cutoff for Ponderosa Park's Firewise annual reporting. Residents are encouraged to submit year to date hours by that date to assist with maintaining our Firewise Community Status. Thinning, pruning, slash disposal, and improvements to make your space more defensible are examples of activities and expenses that can be reported. Click here to see examples of qualifying work and expenses. DNR's Wildfire Ready Assessments' and Initial Cost Share Forestry Assessments' explained in the programs below are also reported on this form.

 

 

 

 

The Firewise committee strongly encourages all lot owners within the park to have their property assessed for defensible space. The purpose of this Wildfire Ready Home Visit is to identify any wildfire hazards to your structure, property and community and provide resources to assist you with your mitigation efforts to make your home more resistant to fire. This assessment will be done by a professional from the DNR, Charlie Landsman, Community Resilience Coordinator of the Wildland Fire Management Division or other trained staff. To schedule a site assessment, call 360-972-4249, or email charles.landsman@dnr.wa.gov. These assessments will only be done at the request of the property owner and by the DNR.

 

There is a financial assistance program for improving forest health and reducing fire risks on your property. Treatments such as non-commercial thinning, pruning, slash removal and reforestation are examples of approved activities. Landowners can participate in the program by submitting a completed application, having an initial site assessment by the DNR regional forester, and treatment prescription must be submitted before an approval letter will be sent to the Applicant. The total cost of forest work for approved applicants are reimbursed for 50% of their total cost, not to exceed the maximum rate in the application packet. Once work is completed, reviewed by the forester, landowners submit a Self Cost Statement for reimbursement. Payments are made by check or direct deposit. You will also receive a form for reportable income for the amount, for your federal income tax. Click here to find out more information on Financial Assistance for Wildfire Resilience and Forest Health. To participate in this program, request a site assessment with Dustin Mutch, DNR Forester, call 509-859-6437 or email dustin.mutch@dnr.wa.gov. Click here for the application. You may apply at any time of year to participate in this program.  Approvals are subject to availability of funds. It pays to participate in this program to help secure your property in the event of a wildfire.

 

Shaded Fuel Break Program 

 

Ponderosa Park is a participant in the Shaded Fuel Break program administered and funded by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Firewise committee. The Shaded Fuel Break runs along properties around the outer perimeter, along properties next to roads that are evacuation routes, and elsewhere at DNR discretion. The Shaded Fuel Break is the thinning of tree density and removal of ladder fuels. A one hundred foot wide perimeter is established along the border properties up to two hundred foot in some cases. Inside the perimeter trees under 8” diameter are thinned, ground level vegetation that can become ladder fuel is removed and larger trees are limbed to prevent ladder fuels.

 

 

 

 

Firewise Committee Members - M'Lane Baker, Adar Israel, Tobiah Israel, Ken Schleif, Lupita Wesseler, Alyson Williams