Greenstone Country Fire Safe Council
Greenstone Country Fire Safe Council Email -------> gcfsc@greenstonecountry.org
Current Firewise Certificate -------> 2024FireWiseCertificate.pdf
DRAFT Vegetation Management Plan for Greenstone: VegetationManagementPlan
CalFire Burn Permit: Application Page
Our Mission: Mobilize Greenstone Country residents to protect their homes and our community from wildfires.
What is a Fire Safe Council?
Since May 2022, the GCFSC Board has established an infrastructure of regular monthly meetings, organized and meeting minutes taken. These meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month in the GS Barn. GCFSC prepared to become a Firewise USA Community and submitted the application in April of 2023 and was approved for recognition on May 26, 2023. The California Fair Plan and many Insurance companies provide discounts for Firewise Certification. Certificates are available in the Greenstone Manager's Office.
What is a Firewise USA Community?
The Firewise USA® program, led by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), offers a structured approach for communities to enhance their wildfire resilience in California. This initiative promotes collaborative efforts among residents, local fire departments, and other key stakeholders to bolster fire resistance of homes and surroundings. Integral to California’s wildfire preparedness strategy, the program is supported by CAL FIRE’s Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation Division, aiding communities in achieving Firewise designation.
Achieving Firewise USA® recognition is a collaborative and ongoing process. Each step is designed to empower residents and stakeholders to work together to enhance their local area’s wildfire resilience.
Current Board Members
- Jeanine Stiles, Chair and Assessor
- Jim Forshey – Treasurer
- Bob Haberer - Assessor
- Therese Kingsbury, Events Coordination
- Gabrielle Robinson, Secretary
- Rich Stewart, Data Collection and Assessor
- Amy Wilson, Events Coordination
At Large Members
- Mark Egbert
The GCFSC continues to educate the Greenstone Community about wildfire safety, vegetation management, home hardening, defensible space and the El Dorado County Chipping and the Hazardous Tree Removal Programs
Accomplishments since January 2023
- Completed a Risk Assessment Survey to all members of the community 56 percent response to the survey was completed in January 2023. This communication educates the community and provides data to Firewise needed to complete Firewise USA application.
- Kick off Town Hall Meeting (held on February 1, 2023) - education on home hardening, state and county laws regulations regarding wildfire preparation and defensible space.
- May 2023 Firewise Fair- Demonstration table format. Education information provided to homeowners on topics including defensible space, home hardening, evacuation procedures, evacuation of large animals, insurance laws, wildfire emergency radio communication, State laws and County ordinances and wildfire demonstration from CAL FIRE
- May 2024 Firewise Fiesta - Demonstration table format. Education information provided to homeowners on topics including defensible space, home hardening, evacuation procedures, evacuation of large animals, State laws and County ordinances and wildfire demonstration from CAL FIRE
- HOA monthly newsletter: Dedicated section for the Greenstone Country Fire Safe Council with updates and information from the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council, CAL FIRE and other County Agencies.
- HOA Monthly Meetings where GCFSC board members provide updates to the membership of the Community.
- Defensible space, home hardening and flammable vegetation information is provided in the Greenstone Office and handouts are provided at the monthly HOA meeting and/or via Newsletter. Important web-site links are also provided informing the membership of state laws and local defensible space and home hardening ordinances.
- GCFSC Chair attends monthly El Dorado County Fire Safe Council Meetings.
- Three members of the GCFSC have participated in a two-day education program on home hardening and defensible space. The training is provided by the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council and CalFire (April 2023). This allows trained GCFSC board members to provide community residence home hardening and defensible space review and consultation.
- Completed 22 home assessments for Greenstone residents on defensible space, fuel reduction and home hardening and distributed home hardening and defensible space literature.
- Distribute home hardening and defensible space literature at Community Events.
- Greenstone treated a major community fire break road (off Graystone Road) 5’ on each side with pre-emergent and cutting down significant vegetation.
- GS treated all 16 miles of roads within the community 5’ on each side with pre-emergent and defoliant. Roadside tree trimming 16’ in height and 3-5’ from the road edge is completed for half the community roads every other year. Sixteen miles of roads total. Every other year there is rotation of road clearing.
- Several Community Volunteer Days for trail maintenance and vegetation reduction. Dates for 2023: May 18, Reservoir trail, June 8, Reservoir and Pear Tree trails, July 6 Graystone trail, August 25, ICR Trail (Stagecoach Court). Dates for 2024: May 8, Pear Tree Trail; May 31, Reservoir Trail; October 11, Reservoir Trail.
- Invited local expert in evacuation planning for Greenstone members and have a specific presentation on route evacuation, go-bags and animal evacuation. TBA
- Community Emergency Radio Association Presentation/clinic. TBA
- County Supervisor Parlin to speak to the GS community - October 17, 2024