Firewise

TGO FIREWISE INFORMATION

RESIDENTS REDUCING WILDFIRE RISKS Visit tgocsa.org to view Firewise video and brochure or TGO Firewise on Facebook

Remember, you must have written permission to remove any living shrubs or trees beyond your property line. Contact CSA if you have questions about removal and consult the Architectural Review Board before making landscape changes.

WHAT FIREWISE DOES FOR TGO - PART 2 by Ed Brown

On April 8, 2022, an Evacuation Drill was announced! It was planned to alert the Firewise Committee, CSA Maintenance Personnel, and the outside agencies of Brevard County Fire Rescue, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Forestry Service, and Brevard County Fire Rescue. Our Park Manager, Billy Specht, orchestrated this pre-arranged drill. A team of Firewise volunteers, equipped with TGO radios were dispatched to possible roadway “choke points” to clarify evacuation routes for residents. Response times were logged in. Potential “evacuating residents” were given simulated direction. The drill was concluded and a de-briefing followed at the TGO Maintenance Facility. Minor communication difficulties were addressed, participants were thanked and the Brevard County Fire Chief complimented TGO as “… the only prepared community, in Brevard, currently aware of and practiced for evacuation! THANK YOU!”

You could say that TGO got a grade of “A” on our drill. You could also say, “How would it have gone if we tried to move a vehicle with residents, their pets, a bug-out-bag or bags, stored water, food, a first aid kit, comfort items, including soap, toilet paper, towels and on and on!” It can get very complicated! Perhaps the complications and the difficulties of evacuating are why residents avoid thinking or reading about getting out of danger.

Don’t be discouraged. We, in TGO, have only five situations that could require evacuation as a strategy for survival. We’ll discuss them in the next issue of The Happenings.

Firewise also offers an opportunity for residents with a fire department background or fire/rescue interest to join like-minded fire buffs as members of our TGO Firewise Committee. This community involvement will help you to understand wildland fires in the Urban/Wildland Interface (UWI) and related survival subjects. If you are interested in Firewise Committee involvement, contact our Committee Chair Fire and Wilderness Medicine Instructor, Tim Graham: 561-262-8833.

WANTED - Four Firewise Committee Members

If you would like to serve on the Firewise Committee, please go to the CSA Office to pick up and complete an application. Return your completed application to the CSA Office.

Firewise Committee - Contact Information

Tim Graham Chairman 561-262-8833 Donald Payne 407-222-0583 Ed Brown 321-383-8253 Mike Lavery 585-472-1538 Ron Peoples 407-509-0486 Betty Salter 321-223-8073 Ed Olefirowicz 919-360-3174 Karri Olefirowicz 919-265-4315