Black Forest Fire Company

Black Forest Village, aCommunity

Firewise Communities/USA is a unique opportunity available to America’s fire-prone communites. Its goal is to encourage and acknowledge action that minimizes home loss to wildfire. It teaches you to prepare for a fire before it occurs. The program adapts especially well to communities the size of Black Forest Village. Firewise Communities/USA is a simple, three-legged endeavor. It works in the following way:

• Wildland fire staff from the Pennsylvania DCNR provides Black Forest Village with information about coexisting with wildfire, along with mitigation information to the Tiadaghton State Forest area.
• Utilizing the Black Forest Village Hazards Assessement performed by Dynamac Corporation, Black Forest Fire Company evaluated the risks and contacted all home owners on a cooperative basis, various agencies and organizations.
• The Black Forest Fire Company, the community, and agencies identified and are implementing local solutions.

Black Forest Village was honored by the Pennsylvania Firewise Advisory Committee by being included in the Pennsylvania Fire Community Program, and qualifying them for a Bronze Medal in 2004.

Black Forrest Village reached USA Firewise Community status in 2005.

Taking inventory of Your Property:
• Have wildfires occurred in your area? If so, under what conditions?
  
• Do you have seasons when wildfires are more likely to occur?
  
• Do you live in hilly or flat country?
  
• Are there areas around your home that are more susceptible to a wildfire?
  
• Do you border wildland?
  
• Have you used native vegetation in your landscaping?
  
• Is there a substantial amount of tall vegetation crowded in around your home?
  
• Do tree limbs extend over your home?
  
• Are the trees in good condition or are they dying?
  
• Do you have a woodpile in close proximity to your home?
  
• Do you have any fuel tanks nearby?
  
• Is a wood fence attached to your home?
  
• Have you established a survivable space for your home?
  
• Do you have fire-resistant reflective signs, of sufficient height with your 9-1-1 address numbers?
  
• Do you have a spark arrestor on your chimney?
  
• Have you boxed in your overhangs, facias, and soffits?
  
• Have you closed or screened in underneath your porch and stairway?
  
• Have you modified your driveway and gates to accommodate fire trucks?
  
• Have you modified your attic, sub-floor, and basement vents?
  
• Have you replaced single-pane glass windows, doors, or skylights with tempered/double pane glass?
  
• Do you have a Class A roof covering?
  

Visit www.firewise.org for more information!