SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Camp, Dixie, Caldor, Tamarack: all names that struck fear in the hearts of those who lived near those wildfires in the heavily forested areas of California.

As the world watched in horror, fire crews traveled great distances to assist; and many locals were displaced when the Caldor Fire scarred South Lake Tahoe and devastated residents in El Dorado County.

Saturday is Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, a day for communities and neighbors to band together to help protect each other from the dangers of wildfire.

Montgomery Estates, Golden Bear, and Al Tahoe are a few names of the local hero communities banding together to fight potential fire with preparedness. Over the last three years, nine communities at Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas have become recognized as “Firewise” communities.

According to the website, Firewise USA, the wildfire recognition program, provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community. This program also works to reduce wildfire risks at the local level. Any community that meets a set of voluntary criteria on an annual basis and retains an ‘In Good Standing Status’ is able to identify itself as being a Firewise community.

Not only do these neighbors work as one to create defensible space, they also utilize wildfire preparedness resources from the National Fire Prevention Association to educate locals and visitors alike.

With the beginning of fire season underway, areas traditionally prone to wildfire are proactively taking measures to keep local communities safe.

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day encourages unity in communities across the United States and Canada to prepare against wildfire.

“The goal is for defensible space on every parcel and community awareness of our collective wildfire risks, plus preparation and practice of emergency procedures,” said Montgomery Estates Firewise Community Leader Jesse Garner.

When asked about the level of difficulty of the process of becoming a Firewise community, Garner said, “[there is] none, [there are] four simple steps … You can never be fully prepared but you can do a lot. Firewise communities are already doing the defensible space work.”

With the four steps Garner mentioned, a community can become a recognized Firewise community. The four steps are:

— Define boundaries of the community’s area.

— Define the fire risks that exist within your community’s area.

— Define short-term, mid-term and long-term goals for your community.

— Create and execute an outreach plan to educate new members of your community.

Preparing for potential fires comes with a reward in insurance discounts by way of wildfire mitigation credits. Wildfire mitigation actions are proactive measures that are taken on a parcel to decrease the chance of wildfire.

According to Garner, by becoming a recognized Firewise community, individuals who reside there could save over $100 per month in homeowners insurance discounts. To maintain proper recognition, Firewise communities report back annually to the NFPA. The requirement for each community is one hour of defensible space per parcel per year.

Dianne Rees, leader of the Al Tahoe Firewise community has fresh in her mind the process that the community completed in March 2021, will gladly provide her assistance to any communities in need of guidance through the process.

According to the Al Tahoe community publication, there are simple things you can do in an afternoon or over the weekend that research shows will help your home survive a wildfire.

— Rake and remove pine needles and dry leaves up to a 30-foot distance around the home.

— Sweep porches and decks. Rake under decks, porches, sheds, and play structures.

— Move wood piles at least 30 feet away from structures.

— Dispose collected debris in appropriate trash receptacles or take them to disposal sites.

Rees’ community bulletin urges the local community to bear in mind “you are only as safe as your next door neighbors, so encourage your community members to join forces and ‘put safety first’ on Saturday, May 7.”

For details on becoming a Firewise community visit the North Tahoe Fire Protection District’s website: https://www.ntfire.net/firewise-usa.

For more information on the Al Tahoe Firewise community, contact Dianne Rees directly at altahoefirewise@gmail.com

Contact South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue at 530-542-6160 regarding grant funding for green waste dumpsters for your community defensible space efforts.