FIREWISE COMMUNITIES/USA

sPONSORED BY nATIONAL wILDLAND/uRBAN iNTERTACE

 FIRE pROGRAM

 

 

TAOS PINES RANCH

 

(The following information is taken from the website for Firewise Communities/USA)

 

 

 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

 

“According to Webster’s dictionary, a community is “a body of people living in one place or district…and considered as a whole” or “a group of people living together and having interests, work, etc. in common”

 

“Homeowner association and similar entities are the most appropriate venue for the Firewise Communities/USA recognition program.  These smaller areas with the wildland/urban interface offer the best opportunities for active individual homeowner commitment and participation, which are vital to achieving and maintaining recognition status.

 

“Citizen involvement is the cornerstone of a successful Firewise Communities/USA program.  A smaller geographic unit can more easily create a plan that reflects the needs of its specific locale.  For this reason, it is important to keep the size of each participating community small.  Residents then have the best opportunity to play a role in shaping the community plan and participating in its implementation.”

 

“Firewise Communities/USA is a unique opportunity available to America’s fire-prone communities.  Its goal is to encourage and acknowledge action that minimizes home loss to wildfire.  It reaches you to prepare for a fire before it occurs.  The program adapts especially well to small communities, development and residential association of all types.  Fire Communities/USA is a simple three-legged template that is easily adopted to different locales.”

 

“Firewise Communities/USA is a project of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Wildland/Urban Interface Working Team and is the newest element of the Fire program.  It provides citizens with the knowledge necessary to maintain an acceptable level of fire readiness, while ensuring firefighters that they can use equipment more efficiently during a wildland fire emergency.  The program draws on a community’s spirit, its resolve, and its willingness to take responsibility for its ignition potential.”

 

For more information regarding the Firewise program, go to their website at www.firewise.org.  Also check the county website at www.colfaxfire.com.  

 

 

TAOS PINES APPLICATION TO FIREWISE COMMUNITIES

 

On August 10, 2005, the Taos Pines Ranch Property Owners Association made an application to become a member of the Firewise Communities/USA program.  Below is a copy of that application.

 

FIREWISE ASSESSMENT

FOR

TAOS PINES RANCH POA

 

The assessment was conducted by the Colfax County Wildland Urban Interface Specialist and the Colfax County Fire Marshal (CCWUIS and FM).  This assessment is a preliminary report and further updates will follow as information becomes available.  The community of Taos Pines Ranch is seeking Firewise status for their community.  The Taos Pines POA does understand that they will have to submit an annual report on the Firewise activities of the previous year.

 

The Community

 

The Taos Pines Ranch community is comprised of both seasonal and full time residents with approximately 48 home sites completed and 13 residents year round.  There are 99 properties total in the community.  The community is bordered by Federal Forest lands on the west and part of the north and private property or BIA lands on the remainder of the north, south and east.

 

Access/Egress

 

The access and egress is adequate with two routes available.  The roads are dirt and some road base with inadequate crowning of the roads and some of the roads have a percent of grade higher than 15%, which would make response with a water tanker, a piece of fire apparatus, difficult to extremely difficult.  Many of the roads have water channels caused by erosion and steep grades.  Equipment is available for maintenance and snow removal as requested.  The driveways to each home site is of adequate width, however, some of the trees and brush still needs to be removed for the recommended clearances.  The egress and access routes feed into N.M. State Road 64.

 

Construction

 

The building construction in the Taos Pines Ranch consists of materials appropriate to the interface zone.  Roofs are constructed of metal or tile with no known Class A roofing materials used.  The structures are of stucco and log construction.  The decks are treated wood or composite material.  Many of the decks need to be sealed or enclosed.

 

Defensible Space

 

Most homes inspected have adequate defensible space zones.  There are some homeowners that are just starting the process.  Currently sixty acres are in the process of being thinned of small diameter wood and ladder fuels.  Another sixty acres are approved for the second stage and more are expected at the time of this writing.  These areas of thinning encompass all three zones of defensible spacing for fire mitigation.

 

Water Storage

 

The water storage is not adequate for the fire potential, however, the fire department that responds to the POA is in the process of building a sub-station on the POA property.  Funding for a storage tank at the top of the POA property is being sought.  The land for both the sub-station and water storage facility has already been donated to the County.

 

Education

 

A Firewise day has already been held.  Two educational presentations on Firewise have been completed for the POA Board.  Literature and web site information has been passed to the residents.  Colfax County Wildland Urban Interface Specialist has offered to present teachings on the Firewise program as well as assist in the individual structural assessments with recommendation for improvement.

 

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

 

Colfax County has a community wildfire protection plan (CWPP) (attached), However, the County Wildland Urban Interface Specialist and Fire Marshall are working with the community to formulate a local CWPP that will be integrated into the county plan.

 

Summary

 

A large area of the community is in the process of being thinned for defensible space as well as forest health and fire safety.  The prescription for the thinning project has been reviewed by the Wildland Urban Interface Specialist and complies with the New Mexico State Forestry recommendations.  The road situation is a known problem and the community has asked for an engineering recommendation.  Monies for remedy are being sought for the corrections as necessary.  The home construction is being addressed for future construction with the recommendation that these future homes meet Firewise recommendations.  Education is an ongoing process to promote the homeowners’ compliance with Firewise defensible space thinning in all three zones.  The water situation is being ACTIVELY worked at the time of this writing with a high expectation that a solution is close.  All of the thinning projects are done in a collaborative format with the County, Cimarron Watershed Alliance, Western Wood Products, a thinning company, State Forestry, Flying Horse Ranch, Express Ranch and the LaJara project of the Federal Foresters.

 

 

 

Roger Terry                                                                              Larry Osborn

Wildland Urban Interface Specialist                                           Fire Marshall

Colfax County, New Mexico                                                    Colfax County, New Mexico

116 S. Third Street                                                                   116 S. Third Street

Raton, NM  87740                                                                   Raton, NM  87740

505-445-8931                                                                                                                                                  505-447-1639

 

 

 

Taos Pines Ranch has received the Firewise Communities/USA designation and a "Community Wildfire Protection Plan" (CWPP) has been prepared.  All property owners will receive a copy of the CWPP at the annual POA meeting to be held July 15, 2006 or have a copy mailed to them. 

 

Updates to all of the activities regarding our fire prevention projects will be posted on this website as quickly as possible.  Please check the website often to stay current with all of these events.