Silverado Fire Safe ANNOUNCEMENT
The Goats are Coming Back! Some good news from Napa Firewise/Silverado Fire Safe
Dear Residents of the Silverado Communities:
In 2022 the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (Napa Firewise) completed an extensive wildfire fuel reduction project (Fuel Break) on the private properties contiguous to the Silverado Community. This work commenced in December 2021 and was substantially completed by the end of March 2022. Napa Firewise cleared this 100-300’ Fuel Break starting at Atlas peak, behind Westgate, around the Crest and Highlands, upper Westgate, Pinnacle Peak, Maui, Burning Tree, and St. Andrews. Clearing was also completed around the City of Napa water treatment plant and in and around Milliken Creek. The community perimeter Fuel Break was created by reducing the density of flammable vegetation, including clearing tree branches, vertically and horizontally, using manual labor and hand tools, chain saws, weed whackers and pole saws. The resulting Fuel Break covered more than 16,000 linear feet (over 3 miles); over 77 acres; and was paid for with funds Napa Firewise raised from Napa County. A map of that original Fuel Break is attached.
Napa Firewise is pleased to announce that we will start a project next week to maintain and expand the Fuel Break, using mostly sheep and goats. The main Grazing Plan covers an estimated 95 acres and is expected to take 30-60 days (see Grazing Plan attached). Another 8.5 acres of fuel reduction maintenance in Milliken Creek will be grazed This grazing will be supplemented by manual labor with hand tools. The Silverado Fire Safe Council has raised a significant amount of these funds from residents, which have been supplemented by existing Silverado Fire Safe Council monies and funds from a Napa Firewise Cal Fire grant. The sheep and goats will be kept in pens, surrounded by electric fence netting, watched over by herders and dogs. If there are any issues with the sheep and goats please contact Cori Carlson, owner of Napa Pasture Protein at 707-287-5717 (call or text) or at [email protected]. Cori and her family have been grazing in the greater Napa Valley for 7 years. They recently completed a similar fuel break around the Berryessa Highlands residential community with Napa Firewise, which can be viewed online at the Napa Firewise You Tube Channel, Facebook, or Instagram.
Napa Firewise project coordinator, Steve Burgess, will be onsite to facilitate project implementation. He can be reached at 415-246-4294 or at [email protected]. Phil Husby, Silverado resident and member of the Silverado Fire Safe Council can also be reached at [email protected].
A Silverado Fire Safe Council Happy Hour will be held October 7, 4-6 pm at the members clubhouse. We will discuss the fuel break. Speakers will include CalFire Chief Marcucci to discuss the fire season; Julia Svetlana Juarez, CA State Insurance Commissioner's office to talk insurance, and Sheriff Ortiz to talk about evacuation plans. Appetizers will be served and there will be a no-host bar. Use this link to register: https://www.silveradomembers.com/club/scripts/calendar/public_register.asp?CID=4993178&GRP=0&NS=EB4
Sincerely,
Gretchen E. Hayes
Napa Firewise
In 2022 the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (Napa Firewise) completed an extensive wildfire fuel reduction project (Fuel Break) on the private properties contiguous to the Silverado Community. This work commenced in December 2021 and was substantially completed by the end of March 2022. Napa Firewise cleared this 100-300’ Fuel Break starting at Atlas peak, behind Westgate, around the Crest and Highlands, upper Westgate, Pinnacle Peak, Maui, Burning Tree, and St. Andrews. Clearing was also completed around the City of Napa water treatment plant and in and around Milliken Creek. The community perimeter Fuel Break was created by reducing the density of flammable vegetation, including clearing tree branches, vertically and horizontally, using manual labor and hand tools, chain saws, weed whackers and pole saws. The resulting Fuel Break covered more than 16,000 linear feet (over 3 miles); over 77 acres; and was paid for with funds Napa Firewise raised from Napa County. A map of that original Fuel Break is attached.
Napa Firewise is pleased to announce that we will start a project next week to maintain and expand the Fuel Break, using mostly sheep and goats. The main Grazing Plan covers an estimated 95 acres and is expected to take 30-60 days (see Grazing Plan attached). Another 8.5 acres of fuel reduction maintenance in Milliken Creek will be grazed This grazing will be supplemented by manual labor with hand tools. The Silverado Fire Safe Council has raised a significant amount of these funds from residents, which have been supplemented by existing Silverado Fire Safe Council monies and funds from a Napa Firewise Cal Fire grant. The sheep and goats will be kept in pens, surrounded by electric fence netting, watched over by herders and dogs. If there are any issues with the sheep and goats please contact Cori Carlson, owner of Napa Pasture Protein at 707-287-5717 (call or text) or at [email protected]. Cori and her family have been grazing in the greater Napa Valley for 7 years. They recently completed a similar fuel break around the Berryessa Highlands residential community with Napa Firewise, which can be viewed online at the Napa Firewise You Tube Channel, Facebook, or Instagram.
Napa Firewise project coordinator, Steve Burgess, will be onsite to facilitate project implementation. He can be reached at 415-246-4294 or at [email protected]. Phil Husby, Silverado resident and member of the Silverado Fire Safe Council can also be reached at [email protected].
A Silverado Fire Safe Council Happy Hour will be held October 7, 4-6 pm at the members clubhouse. We will discuss the fuel break. Speakers will include CalFire Chief Marcucci to discuss the fire season; Julia Svetlana Juarez, CA State Insurance Commissioner's office to talk insurance, and Sheriff Ortiz to talk about evacuation plans. Appetizers will be served and there will be a no-host bar. Use this link to register: https://www.silveradomembers.com/club/scripts/calendar/public_register.asp?CID=4993178&GRP=0&NS=EB4
Sincerely,
Gretchen E. Hayes
Napa Firewise
Watch videos of goat grazing and other Napa Firewise fuel mitigation projects, and follow us on social media for updates on the Silverado Perimeter Fuel Break:
Facebook
Instagram
You Tube
www.napafirewise.org
You Tube
www.napafirewise.org
Silverado Fire Safe Council Meeting
October 7, 2023
Silver Trail/Milliken Creek Fuel Reduction Project
After consulting with CalFire and firefighting professionals, the Silverado Fire Safe Council (FSC) undertook its first “Council-funded” fuels reduction project behind homes on Silver Trail alongside Milliken Creek. If a wildfire were to spread to Milliken Creek behind the homes on Silver Trail and Kaanapali, it is possible that it could spread to the homes, precipitating home-to-home ignition, especially if defensible space and home hardening efforts have not been completed by each homeowner. By clearing this area, the Council hopes to reduce this possibility.
The Council received approval from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to perform work in the creek and solicited three bids from different vendors for the project. The project extended the project previously funded by Senator Bill Dodd’s holiday party benefitting firewise. The Dodd-funded project started at the Silverado Resort mansion along Milliken Creek behind the B&C condos but ended at the homes along Silver Trail.
The final estimate for the project was $21K from JMC Valley Construction, the same vendor who completed the larger fuel break around the entire Silverado community. Thanks to generous donations from Silverado residents throughout the community the Council was able to fund the project. A number of residents from Silver Trail and Kaanapali stepped up and made tax-deductible contributions specifically to the project. It is amazing what we can accomplish when everyone comes together around a common goal, especially around community safety!
The Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (NCFF) is the fiscal sponsor of the Silverado FSC and ran the project. Thanks to the Fuels Mitigation Program Director Mike Wilson and Field Monitors Emily Guidas and Kevin Kyle, the project was finished in June 2023. Local Silver Trail residents Kathy Oates, Alison Christianson, and Diana Zapolski worked hard to obtain signed landowner agreements to allow work on their property and encourage donations. Kaanapali residents Garry Gordon and Con Hewitt also helped raise funds.
The work completed included vegetation management along the creek from the end of the B&C condo project to Atlas Peak. The vendor removed invasive ivy, poison oak, and blackberry vines. They also pruned multiple Coast live oaks and Valley oaks along the creek border. Dead limbs were removed and ladder fuels cleared.
The result is remarkable. Here are some before and after pictures:
Before: After:
The Council received approval from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to perform work in the creek and solicited three bids from different vendors for the project. The project extended the project previously funded by Senator Bill Dodd’s holiday party benefitting firewise. The Dodd-funded project started at the Silverado Resort mansion along Milliken Creek behind the B&C condos but ended at the homes along Silver Trail.
The final estimate for the project was $21K from JMC Valley Construction, the same vendor who completed the larger fuel break around the entire Silverado community. Thanks to generous donations from Silverado residents throughout the community the Council was able to fund the project. A number of residents from Silver Trail and Kaanapali stepped up and made tax-deductible contributions specifically to the project. It is amazing what we can accomplish when everyone comes together around a common goal, especially around community safety!
The Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (NCFF) is the fiscal sponsor of the Silverado FSC and ran the project. Thanks to the Fuels Mitigation Program Director Mike Wilson and Field Monitors Emily Guidas and Kevin Kyle, the project was finished in June 2023. Local Silver Trail residents Kathy Oates, Alison Christianson, and Diana Zapolski worked hard to obtain signed landowner agreements to allow work on their property and encourage donations. Kaanapali residents Garry Gordon and Con Hewitt also helped raise funds.
The work completed included vegetation management along the creek from the end of the B&C condo project to Atlas Peak. The vendor removed invasive ivy, poison oak, and blackberry vines. They also pruned multiple Coast live oaks and Valley oaks along the creek border. Dead limbs were removed and ladder fuels cleared.
The result is remarkable. Here are some before and after pictures:
Before: After:
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Here is a map of the project; fuels were removed around Milliken Creek:
The Silverado Fire Safe Council is working toward making the Silverado community safer from wildfire. Since 2017, the Council has promoted safety in the Silverado community through collaboration with all interested and affected home/landowners to reduce the risk of wildfire damage. The Council accomplishes this through fire fuel reduction and community action around defensible space and home hardening best practices.
We have several more projects planned in the community for which we need tax-deductible donations. For more information, please contact the Silverado FSC Steering Committee members:
Linda Cantey ([email protected]), Alison Christianson ([email protected]), Susan Deringer ([email protected]), Kathryn Henry ([email protected]), or Diana Zapolski ([email protected])
We have several more projects planned in the community for which we need tax-deductible donations. For more information, please contact the Silverado FSC Steering Committee members:
Linda Cantey ([email protected]), Alison Christianson ([email protected]), Susan Deringer ([email protected]), Kathryn Henry ([email protected]), or Diana Zapolski ([email protected])
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https://napafirewise.org/campaigns/silverado-fsc/
Or send your check, payable to “NCFF” with “Silverado Fire Safe Council” in the memo line, to:
NCFF
PO Box 440B
St. Helena CA 94574
The Napa Communities Firewise Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, tax id #26-0147748. Donations are tax-deductible.
Or send your check, payable to “NCFF” with “Silverado Fire Safe Council” in the memo line, to:
NCFF
PO Box 440B
St. Helena CA 94574
The Napa Communities Firewise Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, tax id #26-0147748. Donations are tax-deductible.
FIREWISE- Asbestos and Natural Disasters
Very likely few of us have ever thought much about asbestos in our homes but many houses and condos built in the 70's or earlier likely have at least some asbestos inside their walls.
Asbestos fibers become dangerous when they're dislodged and go airborne, where they can find their way into people's lungs and produce diseases such as mesothelioma. The link below takes you to a comprehensive summary of asbestos in natural disasters, and you can scroll down to part 3 in the article for solid information on Asbestos and Wildfires. It's worth reading.
https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/natural-disasters/
Asbestos fibers become dangerous when they're dislodged and go airborne, where they can find their way into people's lungs and produce diseases such as mesothelioma. The link below takes you to a comprehensive summary of asbestos in natural disasters, and you can scroll down to part 3 in the article for solid information on Asbestos and Wildfires. It's worth reading.
https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/natural-disasters/
May is Wildfire Preparedness Month!
Mark Your Calendars For These Can't-Miss Events
Napa Post-Fire Forest Management Workshop
UC Cooperative Extension is hosting an online class to explore managing your forest after the LNU and Glass Fires.
Meetings are online weekly- Thursdays, 6:00pm – 7:30pm now through June 1 with in-person Napa field trips on Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3.
Master Gardener – Drought & Fire Resilient Gardening
Learn about resilient landscaping for both drought and fire protection on May 4, 6:00pm-7:00pm in-person at the Napa County Library.
Napa Valley Grapegrowers – Climate Science Seminar
Learn how climate change is impacting business and how business sustainability depends both on mitigating climate impacts and on adaptation to ongoing climate change. May 5, at 8:30am-4:00pm at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
Napa RCD - Linda Falls Field Day - Connecting to Resilient Forests
Join Napa RCD and Land Trust of Napa County for a hike at the Linda Falls Preserve in Angwin to explore Forest Health on May 6 at 9:00am
Napa Firewise Defensible Space Preparation- at St. Helena Library
May is the perfect time to prepare for Wildfire! Join Napa Firewise at the St. Helena Library on May 9 at 4:30pm to learn tips to make your home and neighborhood safer from wildfire. NCFF Leads Meeting
Our virtual meeting featuring the leads of the local Fire Safe Councils will take place via Zoom on May 10 at 5:00pm. The topic: Work underway for our "Howell Mountain Corridor: Forest Ecotone and Fire Resiliency Restoration" project.
Reach out for more information.
Fuel Treatments Wildland Urban Interface
An opportunity to learn about vegetation management for fire fuel reduction and enhancing ecological health in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). May 18 at 10:30am-2:00pm
Home Winemakers Classic
Mt Veeder Fire Safe Council hosts this beloved event-now celebrating its 40th year and supporting wildfire safety outreach. July 16, 4:00pm-6:30pm at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa Forest Health Field Workshop
Join Napa Firewise on May 21 from 2:00pm-5:00pm at 405 Los Posadas Rd for a walking field trip to explore the work underway in the PUC Forest, as Napa Firewise puts a California Climate Investments/CAL FIRE grant to work for healthy, fire resilient forests. Registration opens soon – Email [email protected] for more details and to sign up.
Napa Post-Fire Forest Management Workshop
UC Cooperative Extension is hosting an online class to explore managing your forest after the LNU and Glass Fires.
Meetings are online weekly- Thursdays, 6:00pm – 7:30pm now through June 1 with in-person Napa field trips on Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3.
Master Gardener – Drought & Fire Resilient Gardening
Learn about resilient landscaping for both drought and fire protection on May 4, 6:00pm-7:00pm in-person at the Napa County Library.
Napa Valley Grapegrowers – Climate Science Seminar
Learn how climate change is impacting business and how business sustainability depends both on mitigating climate impacts and on adaptation to ongoing climate change. May 5, at 8:30am-4:00pm at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
Napa RCD - Linda Falls Field Day - Connecting to Resilient Forests
Join Napa RCD and Land Trust of Napa County for a hike at the Linda Falls Preserve in Angwin to explore Forest Health on May 6 at 9:00am
Napa Firewise Defensible Space Preparation- at St. Helena Library
May is the perfect time to prepare for Wildfire! Join Napa Firewise at the St. Helena Library on May 9 at 4:30pm to learn tips to make your home and neighborhood safer from wildfire. NCFF Leads Meeting
Our virtual meeting featuring the leads of the local Fire Safe Councils will take place via Zoom on May 10 at 5:00pm. The topic: Work underway for our "Howell Mountain Corridor: Forest Ecotone and Fire Resiliency Restoration" project.
Reach out for more information.
Fuel Treatments Wildland Urban Interface
An opportunity to learn about vegetation management for fire fuel reduction and enhancing ecological health in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). May 18 at 10:30am-2:00pm
Home Winemakers Classic
Mt Veeder Fire Safe Council hosts this beloved event-now celebrating its 40th year and supporting wildfire safety outreach. July 16, 4:00pm-6:30pm at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa Forest Health Field Workshop
Join Napa Firewise on May 21 from 2:00pm-5:00pm at 405 Los Posadas Rd for a walking field trip to explore the work underway in the PUC Forest, as Napa Firewise puts a California Climate Investments/CAL FIRE grant to work for healthy, fire resilient forests. Registration opens soon – Email [email protected] for more details and to sign up.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE PROJECT
To all Silverado property owners:
In SPOA's continuing quest to help make our neighborhoods as safe from wildfire as possible, we wanted to bring to your attention two very worthwhile programs available to everyone in a high-risk fire zone, i.e. most of Silverado.
First, as detailed in the attached video, on request CalFire professionals will come to your home and assess your home's fire preparedness, along with recommendations for improving your home's defenses. THERE IS NO COST TO THE OWNER FOR THIS SERVICE.
Second, since implementing fire hardening recommendations can cost money (e.g. for brush clearance, tree trimming/removal, and the like), the attachment announces a FIREWISE program to directly reimburse owners for 50% of their documented fire hardening costs, up to a maximum of $3500. The attachment details the program requirements and answers many or most of the questions you may have.
I encourage each and every one of you to look into taking advantage of these worthwhile programs before another fire season is upon us. You owe this to yourself and, importantly, to your neighbors. This past winter's heavy rains have produced lush plant growth throughout our surroundings, much like in the winter of 2016-17 which fueled the devastating Atlas and other fires later that year. Don't get caught short again.
NCFF Defensible Space Information
Defensible Space Project - Napa Communities Firewise Foundation
Cost Share FAQ Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (Napa Firewise), through grants from CalFire and the California Fire Safe Council, is providing financial assistance to residents of Napa County to prepare the property around their homes to better withstand wildfires.
To all Silverado property owners:
In SPOA's continuing quest to help make our neighborhoods as safe from wildfire as possible, we wanted to bring to your attention two very worthwhile programs available to everyone in a high-risk fire zone, i.e. most of Silverado.
First, as detailed in the attached video, on request CalFire professionals will come to your home and assess your home's fire preparedness, along with recommendations for improving your home's defenses. THERE IS NO COST TO THE OWNER FOR THIS SERVICE.
Second, since implementing fire hardening recommendations can cost money (e.g. for brush clearance, tree trimming/removal, and the like), the attachment announces a FIREWISE program to directly reimburse owners for 50% of their documented fire hardening costs, up to a maximum of $3500. The attachment details the program requirements and answers many or most of the questions you may have.
I encourage each and every one of you to look into taking advantage of these worthwhile programs before another fire season is upon us. You owe this to yourself and, importantly, to your neighbors. This past winter's heavy rains have produced lush plant growth throughout our surroundings, much like in the winter of 2016-17 which fueled the devastating Atlas and other fires later that year. Don't get caught short again.
NCFF Defensible Space Information
Defensible Space Project - Napa Communities Firewise Foundation
Cost Share FAQ Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (Napa Firewise), through grants from CalFire and the California Fire Safe Council, is providing financial assistance to residents of Napa County to prepare the property around their homes to better withstand wildfires.
Engine Day at Silverado Crest
Date: February 22, 2023
I contacted Eric Hernandez of the Napa County Fire Department for an inspection of our homes at the beginning of this year. He said Mondays and Tuesdays are good days for the firefighters. Based on travel schedules and weather, we decided that Monday, February 20th would be a good time for an Engine to visit and it was!
In 2017s, the fire destroyed 14 homes out of 29 homes. Six were rebuilt, and two are under construction. In total, 21 homes were candidates. With homeowner approval, the firefighters can enter a property and offer suggestions for making the property more fire safe. Vicki Hamilton, our representative to SPOA, and I made the calls.
At 9 am, Eric and an engine truck from #25 station with three firefighters arrived. We split into two groups, and Vicki and I went with each group to homes with homeowners present or to those who had given us permission to walk the perimeter of their property. A report will be provided to each home giving them advice and will include a certificate of a fire-safe home. This certificate may help you negotiate with your insurance company.
The inspection took about two hours, and afterwards, we met at our home for coffee with the fireman and our neighbors. They gave us a chance to ask about anything related to preventing fire. There were no significant problem areas, but the fire department stressed how important it is to have house numbers that are easily seen from the street such as the black and white stenciled curbside numbers.
It was an excellent way to meet the firefighters and get to know our neighbors who all have the same goal to make our neighborhood safe and help one another in case of an emergency!
We encourage everyone to take this excellent opportunity to network and work together on the prevention of fire.
Thank you,
Mayumi Sakazaki
Here is Erick’s contact:
[email protected]
Date: February 22, 2023
I contacted Eric Hernandez of the Napa County Fire Department for an inspection of our homes at the beginning of this year. He said Mondays and Tuesdays are good days for the firefighters. Based on travel schedules and weather, we decided that Monday, February 20th would be a good time for an Engine to visit and it was!
In 2017s, the fire destroyed 14 homes out of 29 homes. Six were rebuilt, and two are under construction. In total, 21 homes were candidates. With homeowner approval, the firefighters can enter a property and offer suggestions for making the property more fire safe. Vicki Hamilton, our representative to SPOA, and I made the calls.
At 9 am, Eric and an engine truck from #25 station with three firefighters arrived. We split into two groups, and Vicki and I went with each group to homes with homeowners present or to those who had given us permission to walk the perimeter of their property. A report will be provided to each home giving them advice and will include a certificate of a fire-safe home. This certificate may help you negotiate with your insurance company.
The inspection took about two hours, and afterwards, we met at our home for coffee with the fireman and our neighbors. They gave us a chance to ask about anything related to preventing fire. There were no significant problem areas, but the fire department stressed how important it is to have house numbers that are easily seen from the street such as the black and white stenciled curbside numbers.
It was an excellent way to meet the firefighters and get to know our neighbors who all have the same goal to make our neighborhood safe and help one another in case of an emergency!
We encourage everyone to take this excellent opportunity to network and work together on the prevention of fire.
Thank you,
Mayumi Sakazaki
Here is Erick’s contact:
[email protected]