Columbia College climate stewardship class students help clean up Firewise Community
Six students from Columbia College instructor Lisa Murphy’s climate stewardship class came to the Sonora Knolls/dragoon Gulch Firewise Community on April 27 to learn more about Firewise and creating defensible space.
Resident Leader Julie Johnson gave the talk and tour. After touring the neighborhood, the students completed a community service project by creating defensible space on both sides of Springhill Drive, which is an important evacuation route for Sonora Knolls in the event of a major fire.
“The residents of Sonora Knolls/ Dragoon Gulch are extremely grateful to teacher Lisa Murphy and her students for donating their time and energy to this project. Our neighborhood evacuation route is much safer now,” Johnson said. “And many thanks to the City of Sonora Public Works Department for their assistance in removing the brush. Thanks also goes to the Patel family for providing Subway sandwiches, cold water and drinks.”
Firewise USA is a program under the auspices of the National Fire Protection Association that provides a framework and recognition for neighbors to collaborate on projects that reduce the threat of fire, and to prepare for evacuation events.
Sonora Knolls/dragoon Gulch became a nationally recognized Firewise USA Community in April 2021. The community now has 200 homes within its boundary, including the Sonora Community Estates. They were the first Firewise Community within the Sonora city limits. There are 16 active Firewise Communities in Tuolumne County.
Anyone interested in becoming a Firewise Community (only eight residences are needed to begin) can contact Karen Caldwell, Firewise coordinator, Tuolumne Fire Safe Council at tcfirewise@gmail. com. Advantages are reduced risk of fire damage to your home, community building, and a possible discount on your fire insurance.