What is Firewise?
The MHC Park mission is to:
1. Protect the safety of our families
2. Preserve the value of our homes
3. Help the entire community to do this
For more information:
• Firewise USA: https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa
• Forest Lakes Firewise Site website: https://www.forestlakesfsa.org/
• Felton Firewise Facebook group: (Events): https://www.facebook.com/groups/224097602609136/
Am I already in a Firewise site?
Mt Hermon has multiple Firewise sites rather than a single site:
- Mount Hermon Northwest (Wendy Lord; email
- Mount Hermon West
- Mount Hermon Pine-Ridge
To determine whether you are in or close to an existing Firewise Recognized community, enter your address in the search box of the Firewise map viewer:
https://sccgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=2f4184e0622f48009be27031318be8e0
To continue being qualified as a Firewise community, residents must enter their hours and dollars spent on Wildfire preparedness in November of every year.
Keep track of your hours and money. Site leaders will create a form for you to complete this form before October 21, 2026. (TBD)
How do I get a discount from my insurance company for being part of a
Firewise site?
Contact your insurance company to see if they give a discount for being part of a Firewise community. Some insurance companies may give additional fire prevention discounts.
If you are on the CA Fair Plan, you must submit the following to get the
discount:
• Current Firewise Certificate
The NFPA approved Perimeter Map Use our online map to zoom in to your
address and print that section:
• The California Fair Plan Insurance Discount document (required for CA
Fair Plan only)
• Screenshot of the Firewise communities map showing your address (may
or may not be required for CA Fair Plan). Your agent/broker may be able
to do this.
https://nfpa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=c4a788340df748f18d98d8363145bb67
How do I become part of a Firewise site?
If you are not already part of a Mt Hermon Firewise site, you can either:
1) Join an existing site. Contact the closest firewise site and ask if you can join.
2) Start your own site. See:
Links
Forest Lakes Fire and Safety Resources. For videos and fire warning
apps, see: https://www.forestlakesfsa.org/resources
https://www.firesafesantacruz.org/firewise-usa-recognition-program
https://www.firesafesantacruz.org/becoming-a-firewise-usa-community
a) Several SLV Firewise leaders can mentor and answer questions:
Lynn Sestak: [email protected] or
[email protected] (Firewise Coordinator and HIZ Assessor)
Craig Winters: [email protected] (Felton Lakes Firewise Site leader
Wendy Lord: [email protected] (Site leader, Mt Hermon Northwest)
b) If you have sufficient interest from community members, Lynn Sestak can
schedule a “Lets Go Firewise” zoom presentation to start a site.
The FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County offers free Home Ignition Zone
(HIZ) assessments (starting in 2026). Submit a request on this form: https://www.firesafesantacruz.org/hiz
• Firewise Communities/USA Recognition Program (Marin County). This site includes information on how to make your property more fire resilient.