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Sherwood Firewire Communities held its quarterly meeting via Zoom July 14 with guest speakers District 3 Supervisor John Haschak and Mendocino County Fire Safe Council (MCFSC) County Coordinator Emily Tecchio.
Supervisor Haschak discussed the proposed county wide sales tax for fire services. If passed, the current sales tax would remain unchanged as there will be a reduction in mental health sales tax at the end of the year. Haschak explained, “We wanted to keep the tax at the same level; we didn’t want to increase it because these are tough times for everybody.”
The proposed one-quarter of a cent tax for fire services would generate an estimated $4 million per year with 90 percent going to fire districts and 10 percent for fire prevention, residency and readiness for ongoing countywide programs. The Board of Supervisors just passed the first reading of the proposal; if it passes the second reading it will be on the November ballot.
Tecchio went over the county-wide programs MCFSC is currently offering, including: chipping, defensible space assistance program available to low income seniors and people with physical disabilities and a home hardening program. She announced the Coastal Conservancy extended funding in the amount of $281,000 to create defensible space in Brooktrails. Tecchio said, “We are really happy to be able to continue that work.”
SFC volunteer Beckie Blackburn said the group was recently awarded a Walmart Giving Grant, allowing the group to provide free green reflective address signs to veterans, disabled residents and those income-eligible. Blackburn stated that according to firefighters, “often the most important thing for (firefighters) is to have these signs out, because they help find your home in case of a fire.” To receive a free reflective address sign, email donations@sherwoodfirewise.org or call (707) 459-1256.
SFC volunteer Tracey Douglas reported that SafetyNet, the group’s emergency notification system, has reached over 500 subscribers. She has been working on the group’s website, adding a link where residents can report hours they spend on home hardening activities, as those hours count for matching funds for Firewire USA grants and are thus beneficial to continue SFC’s important work to keep the community safer from fires.
Keith Rutledge of SFC provided an update on Emergency Access Routes. Cal Fire is currently conducting work on the Willits Creek Route. Rutledge said, “That will be completed this year.” SFC recently received an agreement from Cal Fire to conduct work connecting sections of Ridge Road that are gated, with vegetation clearing scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
The group still has no-cost home hardening inspections available. As always, the volunteer run organization is in need of volunteers for a variety of tasks from home inspections, the Facebook page to a GIS mapping project. Supervisor Haschak hailed the group as the “gold standard” of firesafe councils for all they have accomplished in the last several years.
SFC will have an informational booth at the Brooktrails Disc Golf Tournament Sept. 6-18. The next quarterly meeting will possibly be held in-person, outdoors on Oct. 13.
Follow SFC on Facebook for up-to-date information or visit sherwoodfriewise.org.
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