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Firewise

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Steve Wright

Steve Wright

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 1

by Ed Brown

FIREWISE is a program of the National Fire Prevention Association (N. F. P. A.) that helps communities like TGO to avoid the horrific, un-planned-for destruction of a wildfire. The agencies that support the planning for mitigating and fire fighting in TGO include: Brevard County Fire Rescue St. John’s Water Management District Florida Forestry Service Brevard County Sheriff’s Office The Firewise Volunteers who come out every Thursday at 9 am are a significant component of the TGO Firewise Program. Their clean-up target is the fence-line of our Golf Cart Nature Trail, meeting at the Raccoon Road trail entrance. Firewise Volunteers are advised to wear long pants, long sleeved shirt, work or garden gloves, sturdy shoes. Bring water/drink for hydration and insect repellant. A hat might be advised. Tools of choice could include: a rake, tarp, loppers, camp saw. Our clean-up goal is removal of dead vegetation, downed palm fronds, tree branches, ladder fuels, like vines (may carry fire up to the roof or tree canopy). You may also be able to remove invasive, exotic and flammable plants, including Cogon Grass and Air Potato Vine, Brazillian Pepper and Chinese Tallow Trees. Pile all vegetative waste along the trail for CSA pick-up. Your Firewise Cleanup is over when you feel it is over: Probably 12 noon or before if necessary. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! Another service of Firewise is planning and implementation of an Evacuation of TGO! This could be called for by a Hurricane, a Wildfire or a Hazmat Spill on I-95 or SR 50. With those hazards constantly in mind, CSA and Firewise had their annual Evacuation Drill on Friday, April 8 at the Maintenance Building. This drill included Firewise personnel, TGO Maintenance crews, Brevard County PD and FD Administrators. Homeowners were not required to participate but will be briefed and advised in our next Firewise Article. Remember, in a “Mandatory Evacuation,” only cars and pick-up trucks will be evacuated on roads and trails in TGO - No Motorhomes. . . . STAY TUNED!

The T.G. Carlson Nature Center building houses the Nature Center museum, library, meeting room and a kitchen. The building also has a climate controlled enclosed porch where you can relax, read a book or have a bug-free picnic lunch. The building is open to TGO residents, renters and their guests seven days a week from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. This building went from an old camp site to a new modern concrete building. See how it transformed and learn more about the history of the Nature Museum at: www.tgonaturecenter.org

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