I would like to commend the members who have been proactive and have started cleaning up their properties to help with the FireWise Initiative we are trying in Alto. This will really help our fire safety and water supply and the aesthetics of the entire subdivision.
As I have driven around in Alto, I have noticed many people have started cutting overgrown grass a d weeds, and clearing dead and overgrown areas of their property. I would like to thank everyone who has been doing this! We have a long way to go, but this is a big step in the right direction.
There are still many properties, though, that have grass and weeds that look like no one has ever cut them, and in some cases are 3 to 4 feet tall. This puts your property and your neighbor's property at risk in the event of a wildfire.
There will be a meeting with Mary Lavin, a representative from the Forest Service, at the next ALPOA meeting on December 7. She will go over everything related to what the Forest Service suggests to protect your property, as well as some of the different government cost sharing programs that are available. I would suggest, if you can, to make a point to go to that meeting!
livingwithfire.info is a great website to view and see what the Forest Service suggests you can do to make your home firesafe and reduce the chances of a wildfire damaging to your home.
Our subdivision in Alto already has some areas and properties that have been cleared, but years ago. This is something that all of us will need to continually do in the future periodically to maintain our properties and keep them firesafe.
If all of us participate as individual property owners, it will help to protect our investments, help the water supply, and improve the look of our entire subdivision.
Thank you for your consideration in doing this; it will only help us all!
Scott Miller Alto Board Member