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CONTACT MD DNR Forest Service David Robbins 1260 Maryland Ave. Suite 103 Hagerstown, MD 21740 (301) 791-4010 (301) 791-0173 fax Send Us 
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| Residents attempt to be 'Firewise' |
You are here: GPRC Firewise Communities/USA > In the News > Residents attempt to be 'Firewise'
Residents attempt to be 'Firewise'
by Angela Pfeiffer
Gazette Staff Writer
Oct. 21, 2004
Some residents in the area of Gambrill Park Road spent Saturday trimming trees, clearing dead wood and vegetation from around their homes, and taking other steps to make their homes safer from wildfires, as part of the community's first Firewise Day.
The hours and money spent performing such safety tasks will be converted by formula into an investment total as part of the community's application to join Firewise Communities/USA, a recognition program promoting protection against wildfires and providing people with the information needed for this protection.
While Firewise recognition simply means the community will receive a plaque, board members say the more important result is that the community will become more protected against wildfires.
Board members papered the area with fliers promoting Firewise Day in a bid to encourage neighbors to get outdoors, roll up their sleeves and start fortifying their homes against fire.
The heavily forested community is in the area of Gambrill State Park and the City of Frederick Watershed. It includes Gambrill Park Road from the park office to Tower Road, as well as portions of Coxey Brown Road, Hawbottom Road, Hamburg Road, Highland School Road, Delauter Road and Rum Springs Road.
Larry Hood, a Firewise board member, said a top priority of Firewise is to make sure that people can safely evacuate their homes during a fire.
Many of the driveways in the area are narrow, with tree limbs hanging low and preventing access by fire trucks, Hood said.
Firewise recommends widening lanes to at least 12 feet and providing 15 feet of overhead clearance, as well as keeping driveways bump-free and providing an area for trucks to turn around.
"It would be sinister to see a fire truck sitting 100 feet away [from a house] because they can't get to the house and have to watch it burn down," he said.
Hood said participation in the neighborhood has been slow so far, but board members are hoping to convince the public of the importance of protecting their lives, their homes and their properties from woodland fires.
Residents of the area may visit www.gambrillparkwildfire.com to see how the state rated their homes during a recent assessment of wildfire safety in the area.
Residents may then visit www.firewise.org/usa for ideas on making their properties safer. Suggestions include clearing roofs and gutters of flammable debris, enclosing openings under decks with wire screen and moving woodpiles away from buildings.
Steve Chambers, a member of the area's new Firewise board, said even a simple thing such as installing a spark arrester on a chimney can make a difference.
"Even people that think they've done it all, there's still other things they can do to make their property safer," he said.
Hood said since he purchased his 5 acres three years ago, he has been constantly trimming trees in his yard and walking in the woods to remove dead lumber or at least cut fallen trees so they are less likely to ignite.
Hood uses a fire pit to dispose of all the dead fuel he's removed, but doesn't recommend this measure unless people are prepared to take numerous safety precautions, such as obtaining a permit, having a fire hose on hand, establishing a perimeter and maintaining a constant watch.
Residents are asked to send their volunteer hours and expenditures by Oct. 30 to Steve Chambers at 11121 Gambrill Park Road, Frederick, MD 21702, or steve@atomicweb.com.
Firewise board members also remain available to provide ideas and help.
"If people want help, we are here to help them," Hood said. "Hopefully, we can make all the houses up here safe."
