Dollar Point Community Earns National Recognition for Wildfire Preparedness

May 8th, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

Erin Holland - Public Information Officer

North Tahoe Fire – holland@ntfire.net

530-308-1158

Dollar Point Community Earns National Recognition for Wildfire Preparedness

Tahoe City, Calif. May 18, 2020 – The hard work and dedication of homeowners in the Dollar Point Community was recognized by receiving the National Fire Protection Association’s designation as a Firewise USA® community.

The Dollar Point Wildfire Volunteer Committee coordinated with North Tahoe Fire and the Placer County Fire Safe Alliance to complete a rigorous set of criteria required to participate in the national program. Stakeholders completed a community wildfire hazard assessment and developed an action plan to guide their efforts to reduce the risk of wildfire in their community. The committee met face to face with District staff to receive education on defensible space compliance and fire prevention information, so that they could take that information and further educate their community members.

The committee chose FireWise USA because they realized they were amiss in fire protection for 530 properties. What the fire program gave them was a starting point to educate the homeowners on defensible space; learning that some landscaping like manzanita are flammable, how vulnerable homes are with dry pine needles on the roof, and the importance of homeowners to follow through on maintaining defensible space.

“The accomplishment of our efforts and the reward of receiving this designation are the result of a strong volunteer committee where everyone is active, gives input and follows through with strong leadership,” said Donna Hartley, community leader. “Each project betters the community. For example, we have a community spirit event where we will be painting our fire hydrants, because through this process we learned that our vulnerabilities go beyond landscaping.”

“Neighbors communicate and collectively spread the message of prevention and preparedness, which engages additional collaboration and encourages on-the-ground-work to take place,” said Eric Horntvedt, North Tahoe Fire’s Forest Fuels Coordinator. “The time invested into our communities is multiplied exponentially, and we commend the Dollar Point Wildfire Volunteer Committee for their ongoing efforts, along with the Dollar Point Association Board for their unanimous support to proactively prepare for wildfire at the community level, while emphasizing the necessity of emergency preparedness.”

Firewise USA® is a nationwide program that provides formal recognition to communities implementing actions to protect people and properties from the risk of fire in the wildland/urban interface. Participants reduce their wildfire risks by actively participating in the program and completing requirements each year. Communities interested in participating in the Firewise USA® program can learn more at www.firewise.org/usa.

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