March 6, 2016 — HILLTOP LAKES, Texas — The Hilltop Lakes community earned the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise Communities/USA distinction.
The recognition came after a cooperative effort with the Hilltop Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, Hilltop Lakes Property Owners Association and Texas A&M Forest Service. Hilltop Lakes is one of 12 new Texas Firewise communities added in 2015. There are currently 77 active Firewise communities in Texas and 1,232 recognized communities across the nation.
To be considered Firewise, a community must obtain a wildfire risk assessment from a state forestry agency, form a Firewise committee or board, create a Firewise plan, conduct a Firewise community event and invest a minimum of $2 per capita in a local Firewise actions.
“The Hilltop Lakes VFD is proud to be a part of the Firewise communities. The Firewise program has provided our department with the resources to reach out to our community and help them understand the dangers associated with wildland fire,” Steve Halliburton, Hilltop Lakes VFD chief said.
Like many communities in Texas, the 2011 wildfire season demonstrated the need to educate the Hilltop Lakes community on the hazards homeowners face when they do not maintain their property.
Hilltop Lakes is the first community in Leon County to receive the Firewise recognition, setting a precedence for communities to work together and take ownership of protecting their homes and property from the threat of wildfire.
“Texas A&M Forest Service as well as the Firewise program has added credibility to our discussions about potential fire hazards our homeowners face and we are seeing them take a more active role in fire mitigation activities,” Halliburton said. “We look forward to working with Texas A&M Forest Service and the NFPA as we continually spread the word about wildfire risks to our community and emergency service district.”
A Firewise recognition ceremony was held May 3 at the Hilltop Lakes VFD. Residents and representatives from Hilltop Lakes POA, Hilltop Lakes VFD and Texas A&M Forest Service attended. The community received a plaque, signs from NFPA and a framed Texas Firewise poster from Texas A&M Forest Service.
“It’s not a question of if, but when the next major wildfire will occur. Wildfires can happen anywhere and at any time,” said Nick Harrison, Firewise coordinator at Texas A&M Forest Service. “Firewise communities and practices are a process that empower neighbors to work together in reducing their wildfire risks.”
For more information on how your community can receive the Firewise designation, visit http://www.firewise.org or contact your local wildland urban interface specialist at tfsweb.tamu.edu.
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Editor’s Note: Photographed from left to right: Steve Halliburton, Fire Chief-Hilltop Lakes VFD; Samuel McCalip, Texas A&M Forest Service; Traci Ussery; and Scott Bishorse.
Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
Samuel McCalip; Wildland Urban Interface Specialist; smccalip@tfs.tamu.edu, 254-218-2224
Nick Harrison; State Firewise Liaison; nharrison@tfs.tamu.edu, 817-894-4761