Hi everybody,
As we look around our community in the last few days, we know how fortunate we have been! While we have been suffering from the smoke of the California, Oregon and Washington state wildfires, those residents have had the additional trauma of many people killed, homes and communities destroyed and thousands of acres of land devastated.
This is a situation that we, living within a Wildland/Urban interface area of Quail Ridge, know can occur here unless we are wise stewards of our residences and properties.
In years past, in part due to Kelowna losing over 200 homes in the mission due to the 2003 wildfires, our Quail Ridge Firesmart Committee was formed to assist in minimizing the danger that we face in this regard. Jointly with Okanagan Golf Club, an integral member of our committee, we have activated FireSmart cleanups of our homes and yards in past years. However, with Covid-19 restrictions starting in March, we did not carry out our planned Spring Household FireSmart cleanup this year.
This year, we are going to do a fall FireSmart cleanup with a twist…and one lucky participant will win 4 rounds of golf, with carts, courtesy of the Okanagan Golf Club!
The FireSmart activity will be the same as in previous years, with you, the homeowner, making your home and yard more fire safe. You will do so by removing dead plants, leaves and weeds within 10 meters of your home as well as removing leaves, pine needles and other debris from your roof and gutters then placing the material within your Green Bin.
If you do so before October 7th Green Bin pickup day, email qrraexec@gmail.com and let us know that you’ve done your FireSmart cleanup. We will place your name, along with other FireSmart participants, into a prize draw for 4 rounds of golf with carts courtesy of Okanagan Golf Club. One lucky winner will be chosen.
With lots of time left before the October 7th Green Bin cleanup and the draw, join us in working to ensure that your home and yard fall cleanup is completed. (Green Bin pickups do continue until December, so there is still lots of time for you to assist in making our area more fire safe, even if it is after October 7th!)
By the way, at least one fire insurance company will give a cost reduction on the homeowner’s premium if you have put on a new roof. One of our residents received a small cost reduction from BCAA Homeowners Insurance by replacing their cedar shake shingles with manufactured shingles. If you have received this type of benefit, let us know as we are making a list of companies that do in order that we can distribute to fellow residents.
Glen Maddess, Chair
VOLUNTEERS: CAN YOU HELP? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY FIRE SAFE? THE QUAIL RIDGE FIRESMART COMMITTEE MEETS THREE TO FOUR TIMES PER YEAR AND WOULD ENJOY YOUR THOUGHTS AND ASSISTANCE. IF YOU CAN HELP E-MAIL GLEN AT: gmaddess@attglobal.net or call 250-491-9482.