I
PURPOSE.
1-1.
This plan prescribes procedures of a community Firewise
Protection Program for the Lake Camelot Property Owners Association (LCPOA).
The LCPOA is located in the Town of Rome, Wisconsin.
Firewise is a nationally recognized program to assist property
owners in reducing damage to personal property from a wildfire.
Reducing damage requires educating property owners in
identifying and reducing
risks
and hazards that may ignite, fuel, or sustain a wildfire.
1-2.
Members of the LCPOA are individually responsible for
maintaining their property in a fire-safe (Firewise) manner.
There are no mandated requirements for maintaining personal
property. However, the
LCPOA Firewise Program encourages everyone who works on a Firewise
objective or project, even on private property, to record his or her
work time with the LCPOA Firewise Program.
Recording this work time allows the program to obtain
recognition, and possible grants, from the National Firewise
Committee. Time sheets
for recording work time for personal property projects can be obtained
from the LCPOA lodge. The
LCFC will provide information to any property owner who desires to
take Firewise actions. The
LCFC will, where possible, assist property owners in coordinating any
assistance required to make their property less susceptible to
wildfire.
1-3.
The common green areas and beach clubs of Lake Camelot are
jointly owned by many property owners, as specified in the legal
description of each owner’s property deed.
Therefore, all of these property owners are responsible for
reducing wildfire risks and hazards in these areas.
The LCPOA covenants state that the green common areas will not
be disturbed and will remain in a natural state, with exceptions
allowed by the LCPOA Board of Directors.
The LCPOA Board of Directors has determined to maintain the
common areas according to the LCPOA Firewise program objectives
determined by the LCFC. Any
project to clean common LCPOA areas will be accomplished by using
volunteer labor coordinated through the LCFC.
Anyone who desires to assist in cleaning –any part of a
common area must follow the Firewise procedures outlined in this
document.
II.
GENERAL FIREWISE CLEANUP RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR
INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS. The
following guidelines are recommended for individual Lake Camelot
property owners. They
will help protect property in the event of a wildfire.
The guidelines are neither inclusive nor mandatory. Property owners should supplement them with other Firewise
recommendations found on the Internet and published DNR information.
2-1.
Eliminate fire fuels within 30 feet of any structure on the
property. This includes
clearing any dead wood or timber that could ignite or provide fuel for
fire. Eliminating dead
standing timber should be considered.
2-2.
Maintain trees and bushes in a fire safe manner.
Where possible use bushes that maintain high moisture content.
Trim tree limbs to a level of 6 to 10 feet above ground to
prevent them acting as ladder fuel for fire.
2-3.
Ensure tree canopies do not overhang any structure.
2-4.
Keep roof gutters and downspouts free of leaves and other fire
fuels.
2-5.
Enclose patios and decks to prevent fire fuel from being
ignited by flying sparks, in the event of fire.
2-6.
Build and maintain a non-flammable barrier of 3 feet or more
from any structure to prevent ignition of the structure. Use rocks, stone, or other non-flammable material as much as
possible.
2-7.
Maintain a green lawn area at least 20 feet around any
structure where possible. During
summer months, ensure the lawn area is watered to maintain its
moisture for deterrence against ignition by fire.
Keep the grass mowed short.
2-8.
Keep the area around your house raked free of fallen leaves and
needles.
2-9.
Dispose of cuttings and debris properly, preferably by taking
it to the Rome Recycle Center. Burn
only as a last resort.
2-10.
Make sure your driveway has sufficient width and height room
for a fire truck.
2-11.
Maintain woodpiles at least 10 feet from the house.
III.
GENERAL FIREWISE CLEANUP PROCEDURES FOR LAKE CAMELOT COMMON
AREAS. The
following procedures are mandatory for anyone who desires to clean any
part of a Lake Camelot common area.
3-1.
The cleaning of any part of a Lake Camelot common area is
not allowed without written authorization from the LCFC.
Any cleanup project will cover a
minimum of 2500 square feet, as indicated on the project request form.
3-2.
Each cleanup project will be completed within the time frame
stated on the project request, as agreed to by the LCFC during its
review and approval process.
3-3.
A proposed cleanup project within a Lake Camelot common area
must be requested using the LCFC Request for Common Area Cleanup form.
The request should be returned to the Lake Camelot lodge at
least 14 days in advance of the proposed cleanup date.
The lodge will forward it to the LCFC.
3-4.
The LCFC will review each request and take the following
actions:
a.
One of the committee members will perform an on-site visit with
the person in charge of the cleanup project and take the following
actions:
(1)
Ensure what is requested or envisioned is what is allowed
according to rules established by the LCPOA and the LCFC.
(2)
Determine the necessity for coordinating with a certified
forester for the possible cutting and removal of dead, standing
timber. No standing
timber will be removed unless specifically approved by the LCFC.
(3)
Determine if the project leader has established a viable course
of action for disposing of rubbish and debris generated by the cleanup
project.
(4)
Determine if the use of equipment (e.g. trucks and chippers)
from the Town of Rome is required.
Generally, the Town of Rome will support only the removal of
rubbish and debris.
(5)
Submit a report to the full LCFC for approval or disapproval.
Approval of any cleanup project requires a minimum of three
LCFC member votes.
b.
The LCFC will notify the cleanup project leader of the date and
time the request will be reviewed by the full LCFC.
The project leader may attend the committee review to provide
pertinent information for approving the project.
3-5.
Disapproved cleanup projects will prevent any cleanup action
from being performed at the proposed site, by any person.
A disapproval action can be reconsidered if a member of the
LCFC brings it to the full LCFC a second time.
If a request is disapproved a second time, the entire process
must be restarted.
3-6.
The LCFC will take the following actions for approved cleanup
projects:
a.
Require the project leader to obtain a Release Of Liability
statement from each volunteer working on the cleanup project, prior to
any work being done on the project. The project leader will provide completed forms to the LCFC.
No person can work on a cleanup project without completing the
Release Of Liability statement.
b.
Provide the cleanup project leader volunteer time forms.
These forms will be completed by the project leader and
returned to the LCFC within 3 days of any work accomplished.
c.
Coordinate and arrange required enabling material or resources
to assist the project. This
includes coordinating required equipment support from the Town of Rome
(paragraph 3-7 below).
d.
Provide information to the project leader concerning methods
for discarding rubbish and debris resulting from the project cleanup.
e.
Ensure the project leader understands he or she is to be
present when any work on the project is being accomplished.
The project leader will ensure the
LCFC guidelines regarding the ‘dead and down removal only’ (para
3-4a(2) above) are followed by the work group.
f.
Issue a permit to the project leader, with directions to post
it in clear view from the nearest roadway, while the project is
progressing. No cleanup
activity is allowed in a LCPOA common area without a visible permit.
3-7.
If equipment to support the cleanup project is required from
the Town of Rome, the LCFC member will coordinate with the Town
representative and project leader to determine if and how equipment
can be logistically provided, and supported at the project site.
If the Town cannot support the equipment request, the LCFC
member will determine possible alternatives in conjunction with the
project leader.
3-8.
The LCFC will maintain the cleanup project history and submit
necessary documentation to the National Firewise Committee as
required.
Adopted October 18, 2006
Note: Applications
to clean up an area or your home are available at the lodge.
