Judith Leraas Cook and I decided to make some visits this year to communities and states where we felt the Firewise Communities/USA recognition program could be helpful as a tool to motivating residents toward wildfire safety. In Colorado back in August, I visited with one of our famous Firewise sparkplugs, Keith Worley of Perry Park, to see how he was spreading the good word to neighboring areas of Douglas County. His project in Woodlands-Escavera is resulting in excellent fuel reduction, literally in backyards. Neighboring city Castle Pines North has 
benefited from another resident dynamo, Barb Saenger, who took me for a tour of her backyard and beyond in the Pine Ridge Homeowners Association area where mitigation to reduce scrub oak fuels had made a huge difference in her and her neighbors' wildfire risk.The red carpet was rolled out for Judith in South Dakota, where she visited with
residents of Silver Star 1 & 2 subdivision in Custer, SD, and attracted press attention to the community's Firewise work. She toured the subdivision and general area with the South Dakota state liaison, Rob Lehmann, and participated in a potluck dinner hosted by Silver Star community leader Helen McGranahan. Silver Star 1&2 has been a recognized Firewise Communities/USA site since 2005, and their work over the past several years in a wildfire-prone ecosystem has helped give residents the safety edge.
residents of Silver Star 1 & 2 subdivision in Custer, SD, and attracted press attention to the community's Firewise work. She toured the subdivision and general area with the South Dakota state liaison, Rob Lehmann, and participated in a potluck dinner hosted by Silver Star community leader Helen McGranahan. Silver Star 1&2 has been a recognized Firewise Communities/USA site since 2005, and their work over the past several years in a wildfire-prone ecosystem has helped give residents the safety edge.Judith was also greeted warmly in Michigan, where the University extension service has been working with state forestry to develop education and outreach programs. Through their Master
Gardener's program, they have created demonstration gardens in public areas to help people see what Firewise plants look like. An extensive tour showed that Michigan indeed has a significant fire threat to homes in a number of areas.
Gardener's program, they have created demonstration gardens in public areas to help people see what Firewise plants look like. An extensive tour showed that Michigan indeed has a significant fire threat to homes in a number of areas. Finally, Judith and I descended on the Cook County Courthouse in northeastern Minnesota, to meet our state liaison, Larry Himanga, state wildfire specialist BJ Glesener, and Cook County Firewise Program administrator Cheryl Walimaa. We toured the Tait Lake Association community and saw the results of their Firewise labors i
n a huge slash pile that will be burned in February when several feet of snow will make it safe to do so. The County's Firewise program has been instrumental in publicizing the Firewise message and helping make it easier for residents to do the work around their homes by opening the local areas to pile and burn slash, by finding grants, and by helping with dry hydrants and other infrastructure challenges. This area of Minnesota can use Firewise to protect the many homes at risk in this region.
n a huge slash pile that will be burned in February when several feet of snow will make it safe to do so. The County's Firewise program has been instrumental in publicizing the Firewise message and helping make it easier for residents to do the work around their homes by opening the local areas to pile and burn slash, by finding grants, and by helping with dry hydrants and other infrastructure challenges. This area of Minnesota can use Firewise to protect the many homes at risk in this region.
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