The La Barranca II Homeowners Association of Oak Creek Village received the Firewise certification and accompanying sign at its entrance at the intersection of Jacks Canyon Road and La Barranca Drive on Wednesday morning, July 26. I was.
“Firewise USA is a voluntary program that provides a framework to help neighborhoods organize, find direction, and take action to make their homes and communities more fire resistant,” said the National Fire Protection Association. stated on the website. La Barranca II is his fourth community in the Verde Valley to receive such certification, following Cottages at Coffee Pot Homeowners Association, Jerome Town, and Verde Lakes.
According to the website RiskFactor.com, all of the approximately 14,000 properties in VOC and Sedona “are at risk of being affected by wildfires in the next 30 years.” The site considers VOCs to be a major risk factor for wildfires, and Sedona to be a serious risk factor. He added that the importance of protective measures taken by VOC homeowners is likely to increase with climate change.
“[The] Village of Oak Creek is expected to be seen [a] Over the next 30 years, the number of days above 97°F will increase by 171.4%,” the website says. “In Sedona, you can expect:” [a] Over the next 30 years, the number of days over 98°F will increase by 157.1%. ”
Matt Rast, assistant prevention officer for the Arizona Department of Forest and Fire Management, said VOCs are an increased fire hazard because of their terrain and fuel.
“Looking at the terrain, this is a valley.” [at La Barranca II], and fire funnels through this kind of terrain,” said Last. “The fuel is there, the terrain is there. [fire] It spreads reliably under the right conditions. There can be no doubt. ”
The La Barranca fire, started by a fence welder on La Barranca Drive on June 1, 2006, burned 836 acres in Oak Creek Village, destroying one home and four secondary buildings until extinguished on June 6, 2006. destroyed the
Last suggested that residents remove all dead vegetation from the area around their homes to prevent the spread of a potential wildfire. “That’s the defensible space, the home ignition zone,” Last said.
To those interested in getting Firewise certified, Rust said: “The first step is to have members of the community contact my agency or the local fire department who would like to become part of the Firewise community. I will go out and do my first community assessment.”
Last conducted an assessment in January and determined that the biggest risk to La Barranca II was the relative amount of vegetation in the area. Overall, he concluded, the development is of moderate wildfire risk level.
“We have the opportunity to get an appraisal to see how homeowners rate their homes. [their] This can give you ideas on how to make your home more defensible. I am qualified to do that,” said Lisa Holly, La Barranca II Treasurer and Firewise Commission Chair. She took a Firewise training class at the Verde Valley Fire [District]. I am a volunteer and work for my community, but I also enjoy volunteering and helping others for other communities. it just contacts me. ”
To discuss evaluating your property for fire risk, please contact Holly at lisaholly01@gmail.com.
Future fire risk mitigation for La Barranca II includes clearing undergrowth in three common areas within the community and preparing information mailers for seasonal residents, Holly said.
“We’re trying to make the whole community defensible,” Holly said. “We will be partnering with the Sedona Fire District to host a Firewise event this fall. , I would like to be able to check the evacuation route. [also] We are working to get grants to help clean up our neighborhoods. ”
With the start of fire season, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department has issued a request to all Yavapai County residents to: Everbridge emergency call system.
“You will receive the next notification here” [fire] Please evacuate,” said Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Christine Green. “It’s very important that people sign up for it.”
