|
Santa
Clara County FireSafe Council
|
Home Meetings About Us Fire Safe Info Links Donations Contact Us |
|
|
|
|
SCFSC President Pat Congdon Thanks Pacific Gas
and Electric Company for Continued Support
Wildfire 2005 Provides Great Opportunity for Community
Education
Massive “live” fire drill trains firefighters to fight wildland fires
Meet Jim Ordons - SCFSC’s New Second Vice President
CLVFA volunteer uniquely qualified
Montego Homeowners Create Defensible Space
By Joan Pereyra, Montego Homeowners Association
San Jose East /Evergreen Rotarians Learn
How to Make Their Homes “Fire Safe”
Write for the Santa Clara
County FireSafe Council Newsletter
Share your ideas and experiences with our readers
SCFSC President Pat Congdon
Thanks Pacific Gas
|
|
|
|
|
In addition to providing organizational support for SCFSC, Pacific Gas and Electric Company has also been a financial supporter. The company recently increased that support by making a $2,500 grant to provide funding for our Community Outreach and Education program.
“This assistance has been received at a critical time,” said SCFSC President Pat Congdon. “With decreased federal funding for fire safe councils – not only ours, but others up and down the state – it’s important for us to increase our local base of support. We appreciate their help.” Grant funds will help with coordination and printing costs.
The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council needs financial assistance now to continue delivering our message of wildland fire safety!
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council. Donations of any size are appreciated and will assist the Council to help keep Santa Clara County Fire Safe!
Click on the button just below to make a Credit Card or PayPal donation to
the SCFSC.
The PayPal secure server will be used for this transaction. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can make a Credit Card donation and set up your own PayPal account at the same time.
If you prefer to write a check, please send your tax-deductible donation to:
Santa Clara County FireSafe Council
c/o Jan Cokely - Council Coordinator
884 Buchser Way
San Jose, CA 95125
If you have any questions on making donations to SCFSC for a specific purpose, please don’t hesitate to e-mail info@SCCFireSafe.org or call Jan Cokely, at (408) 975-9591.
Thank you!
|
Massive “live” fire drill trains firefighters to fight wildland fires Firefighters train at Wildfire 2005 (Click on thumbnail for larger photo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Each year, firefighters from agencies throughout Santa Clara County
participate in a massive “live” fire drill in which they train in various
aspects of wildland fire fighting. This year’s drill was held on June 21st and
22nd at Joseph D. Grant County Park in the East San Jose foothills. Due to the
coverage by Bay Area news station NBC11, the public also had an excellent
opportunity to learn about wildland fires and how to prevent them.
Fire officials are predicting the upcoming fire season will be very busy because of the extraordinary growth of brush and other fuels caused by the extended rainy season. NBC11 recognized this and sent anchor T. J. Holmes and meteorologist John Farley to Grant Park to broadcast a live, 30-minute program called 'Fire Safety 2005.'
Film crews caught lots of live action including a demonstration of a controlled burn and safe use of a “fire shelter.” Holmes and Farley also conducted on-air interviews, including several with SJFD Public Information Officer, Captain Allison Cabral. The Wildfire 2005 designated Fire Behavior Specialist (and SCFSC President) Pat Congdon also had some on-camera time.
SCFSC was on hand before and during the event to assist Captain Cabral in assembling the “Fire Safe” plants and building materials used during the broadcast. Click here to learn more about the show.
|
CLVFA volunteer uniquely qualified Meet Jim Ordons (Click
on thumbnail |
|
|
|
|
Jim Ordons’ expertise as a Certified Engineering Geologist, his passion for the “great outdoors” and his perspective as both a resident of the Wildland Urban Interface and volunteer with the Casa Loma Volunteer Fire Association uniquely qualify him to become the new SCFSC Second Vice President. In June, Jim was elected to the position held by Allan Thompson who has transitioned into the Treasurer’s position. Former Treasurer, Dave Athey, will remain on the SCFSC Board of Directors.
Jim’s personal and professional histories are interesting. A native of
Ambridge, PA – a steel mill town named after the American Bridge Corporation –
Jim graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Between 1996 and 2001 he
rambled around; from Idaho, where he worked as a forest surveyor, to Alaska
where he enjoyed some great fishing and then down-under to Australia where he
took an extended holiday. At the end of this journey, Jim settled in the Casa
Loma area of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was at that point that he answered the
call to serve as a volunteer with the Casa Loma Volunteer Fire Association. Of
this decision Jim states, “Local tradition dictates that all able bodied men and
women in the community participate to provide first response services for
medical emergencies and fire protection needs.”
In his role as a CLVFA member, Jim has been active in protecting the Wildland Urban Interface. Since 2003, he has worked cooperatively with the CDF to maintain a ridge top fire break in an effort to reduce unwanted sedimentation runoff to the local reservoirs per Santa Clara Valley Water District criteria. He recalls, “I acted as a liaison between the owners, the contractor in charge of chipping, and CDF field crews. Upon completion, we met with CDF management personnel to review the project in an attempt to develop more effective procedures that may be implemented in future projects.”
Jim says that he feels it is imperative that SCFSC continue its education programs for the public regarding fire danger and the associated preventive measures. His own experience with the 25-acre Loma Fire in 2002 convinced him of the merits of the SCFSC Community Outreach and Education program; especially as it relates to creating Defensible Space. He related that the Defensible Space maintained by a nearby property owner was instrumental in preventing the spread of this blaze. “These elements saved my residence and prevented this fire from becoming a large conflagration such as the September 2002 Croy Fire.”
SCFSC welcomes its newest officer!
Click here to read more about the Casa Loma Volunteer Fire Association.
|
By Joan Pereyra
Montego Defensible Space |
|
|
|
|
|
And After (Click
on thumbnail |
The devastating fires in San Diego and on Morgan Hill’s Croy Road in recent years alarmed residents in the Montego neighborhood of Almaden Valley in San Jose. A classic wildland-urban interface, the common property surrounding the neighborhood provides a sense of quiet and distance from the fast pace of Santa Clara Valley and a refuge to a variety of wildlife. Unfortunately, this idyllic open space had become overgrown with dense stands of coyote bush, toyon, poison oak, and assorted trees.
With advice from CDF Battalion Chief Dave Athey and San Jose Fire Department Wildland Officer Juan Diaz, problems were identified, goals set, and a plan made. Over the past four years the Montego Homeowners Association has pursued an aggressive program to rid the common property of dead and dying trees, ladder fuels, and accumulated combustible material.
Using teams of neighborhood volunteers, crews of maintenance people, and herds of goats, the area has slowly become more “Fire Safe” with its 35-foot minimum fire break surrounding the neighborhood.
This year, MHA was able to make a huge step foreword in this ongoing project from a $10,000 grant awarded through the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council by the Federal Bureau of Land Management.
This extra infusion of money made it possible to target three particularly troublesome areas. MHA contracted with the San Jose Conservation Corps and Charter School to cut and clear approximately eight hillside acres of mature, dense growth and debris.
There are still two areas that require intensive treatment by hand crews, but we are getting close to our goal of a fire safe and defensible neighborhood; one that can be maintained annually by a herd of goats. As a result, open space maintenance is now a significant item on the Montego annual budget.
|
Alum Rock Park Ranger Doug Colbeck, (Click on thumbnail for larger photo) |
|
|
|
SCFSC took its “Fire Safe” message to the East Foothills on July 19th when Santa Clara County FireSafe Council officer and director Allan Thompson, San Jose Fire Department Battalion Chief Jose Luna, and Ranger Doug Colbeck of Alum Rock Park made a presentation to the San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary Club. Over 20 Rotary Club members learned about defensible space, had their questions answered, and received printed materials including “Living With Fire in Santa Clara County.”
SCFSC is focusing its efforts this year on reaching out to smaller groups of residents who live in one of the eleven targeted “Communities at Risk” as identified by the California Fire Alliance and the CDF.
Click here to read more.
Like to write? Want to put your nifty digital camera to a really good use? Can you help us write stories and take photos for our newsletter? We want to publish more articles written by our readers. Stories should be related to our mission and of general interest to readers throughout the County, particularly those in Wildland Urban Interface areas. The mission of the Santa Clara FireSafe Council is to preserve California's natural and man-made resources by mobilizing the people of Santa Clara County to make their homes, neighborhoods and communities "Fire Safe."
Send your stories, photos and comments to Jan Cokely, E-mail.
Funding provided by a National Fire Plan grant from the Bureau of Land Management through the California Fire Safe Council.
The views and conclusions contained in this newsletter are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the California Fire Safe Council or the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement by the California Fire Safe Council, the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council or the U.S. Government.
