TAHOE MEADOWS FIRE PLAN

Mission Statement
         

Tahoe Meadows is a homeowners association and an Historic District  which not only preserves the ambiance of an earlier time, but also provides a peaceful and serene environment away from the pressures of the twentyfirst century. It is the responsibility of all members of Tahoe Meadows to preserve that environment which includes the maintenance of a fire safe environment. The TM fire plan, which was approved by the membership at the March 13, 2005 winter meeting, addresses the protection of people and property both before a fire as well as during a fire. All members need to be aware of the contents of the TM fire plan and respond to their own situation accordingly. The Board of Directors will be responding to Association wide issues.

          
    

Goal

  


It is the primary goal of the fire plan to provide an environment that, should a fire start or come into TM, that the fire will be restricted to the ground where it can be fought and contained by the City fire department. The other primary goal of the plan is to ensure the personal safety of all TM members and guests should a fire become of catastrophic proportions.

The Fire of the 1920's

In the early 1920's, TM experienced a catastrophic fire that consumed almost one third of TM. One of our members recalls in her early memories of th family removing all the burned and dead trees from their property. Another recalls in the 1950's the dense lodge pole seedlings and young growth which regenerated in the burned area and the necessity of thinning them. The tall skinny trees seen in this area today are a result of that dense growth. It is the goal of the fire plan to avoid a similar event.

Association Responsibilities

(To be directed by the Board of Directors)

Action Items:
         Enforce all member responsibility requirements.
         Continue education as to fire dangers within TM, especially as it relates to the 4th of
         July and the use of equipment in a wildfire area.
         Design and install fire hydrants and appropriate turnarounds and turnouts for fire
         suppression purposes.
         Trim and thin all willows on Association property, especially at the south end of
         Pine, Meadow and Beach.
         Keep all willows trimmed back from the roads.
         Keep all lodgepole trees and all willows out of the meadow.
         Mark and educate the membership regarding evacuation routes.
         Provide "Fire Roads - No Parking on the Roads" signs.
         Provide a fire warning system for the entire Association area.

Policy Items:
         Evaluate how to speed evacuation through locked gates.
         Require Class B or better roofing material.
         Evaluate and consider requiring synthetic deck materials.

Future Items to better facilitate fire equipment:
         Eliminate crazy curve in Azure Road
         Consider connecting Beach and Meadow Roads at the North end.
         Consider connecting Azure and Pine Roads at the North end.
         Consider acquiring property to correct the Cedar/Lodge Road corner.
 


Member Responsibilities

Complete the Residential Inspection Form and be familiar with the explanations on the first page. The following should be considered in connection with Residential Inspection Form as it relates to your property. Explanations on "Checklist Explanations" link below.

Eliminate all ladder fuels:
         Remove all dead and downed trees.
         Trim all live trees up off the ground (The City Fire Dept. now recommends 8 feet)
         Trim and thin all young trees and seedlings
         Trim all willows up off the ground - into a V-shape.
         Keep all weeds and dead grasses trimmed to 6 inches or less.

Create defensible space:
         Remove all overhanging branches within 10 feet of chimneys.
         Remove all dry or other flammable vegetation from within 30 feet of house.
         Remove or move to a safe distance from your house all firewood, scrap lumber, slash piles or other debris.
         Clean all roof areas and gutters of leaves and pine needles.

Other:
         Know your evacuation routes.
         Be certain that your street number is clearly visible from the street both day and night.
         If your property is adjacent to the Linear Park, request the City to provide fire safe landscaping 5 feet inside your property line.
         If you have a propane tank, 1) remove all dry and flammable vegetation within 10 feet; 2) consider removing the tank and converting to
         natural  gas.

Fireplan checklist & checklist explanations
Evacuation map
INDEX