How to Protect Each Other
We can protect each other and our special slice of paradise by becoming a Firewise USA Community.
When our neighborhood becomes a Firewise community we can:
Get Pragmatic Information
About how to minimize fire risk on your property and minimizing the costs/hassles of rebuilding and maintaining our beautiful neighborhood.
Be Safer Together Through:
Coordinated emergency evacuation plans
Regular community risk assessments
Shared resources for vegetation management
Community-wide defensible space standards
Better communication with local fire departments
Regular education and training opportunities
Designated local representatives who serve as vital communication links between residents, the Fire Department, and the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council. These representatives provide critical information during emergencies, such as identifying residents who may need evacuation assistance, and coordinating pre-emergency planning – potentially saving lives.
Protect Property Values:
Enhanced curb appeal through maintained landscapes
Documented commitment to fire safety
Potential positive impact on home resale values
Gain Practical Support:
Access to fire prevention expertise through connection with experts – local firefighters, state forestry professionals, and national researchers – regarding resources to accomplish fire-safe actions.
Regular property assessment guidance
Organized cleanup days
Shared best practices among neighbors
Build our Neighborhood Community
Connects neighbors, forming a tighter community. Close-knit communities tend to be more resilient to disasters as information and resource sharing amongst neighbors result in faster decision making, which is important during an evacuation, and reduce the time it takes to recover after a disaster.
Offer Peace of Mind:
Taking proactive steps to reduce fire risk and having a clear emergency plan helps residents feel more confident and in control. This preparedness leads to better decision-making during emergencies and reduces anxiety about potential fire threats.
Enhance Grant Opportunities:
Firewise communities have a competitive advantage in securing grant funding for wildfire risk reduction, as a nationally recognized program with standardized requirements. The Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council (SBCFSC) and other granting agencies prioritize funding for Firewise communities since they prefer supporting organized community-wide efforts rather than individual properties.
Gain Recognition and Documentation:
Official Firewise USA designation
Annual certification showing commitment to fire safety
Documentation that can help with insurance applications
Recognition from local fire authorities
Save Money
Some insurance companies offer premium discounts (typically 5-15%)- Four known insurance companies that provide discounts to homeowners who live in a Firewise recognized community: USAA, Mercury, CA Fair Plan, and Rivington Partners.
Some insurers prioritize Firewise communities for policy retention
Community members may realize shared costs for large-scale fuel reduction projects
Communities may realize potential tax deductions for fire prevention work and group rates for tree removal or landscape services
Gain Potential for Publicity:
Firewise communities can secure metal signs, a plaque and other materials that can be presented publicly to honor their status as a Firewise USA recognition site. These recognition ceremonies are great ways to shine the spotlight on community efforts. News media find this to be a great story to cover, and the national program features community stories regularly on the website and its publications.
Households that join our community get these benefits for a willingness to report that your household has spent at least 1 hour per year (or $33.49 equivalent) on Firewise activities, such as yard work, landscaping costs, evacuation
training, home hardening, or coordination with the fire department or an arborist.
You can see a
list of possible activities here.