Fire Preparedness

Many of the homes within the Foothills Neighborhood Association (FNA) are located in the pinon/juniper forest, and therefore, are subject to dangerous fire events particularly during the warmer dry summer months.  Catastrophic fires in New Mexico in recent years have demonstrated that fire risk is real for our beautiful neighborhood on the slopes of the Weimer foothills.

Several neighbors have formed a Fire Preparedness Committee to develop programs to help our neighbors protect their homes and families.  

Goals for this committee include:

Education:  There is a wide range of programs developed by forestry professionals and government agencies designed to help land owners understand and mitigate fire dangers in our area.  The FNA Fire Preparedness Committee intends to keep neighbors informed of any new publications and programs dealing with these issues.

FNA Events:  The Committee intends to sponsor workshops and tour events regarding fire preparedness for our neighbors.

Neighborhood Work Days: Eventually, the committee may pursue collaborative work events such as sponsoring community chipper service days.  

Resource Lists:  A list of consultants and contractors in the forestry industry will be maintained and made available to the community.

What have we learned so far?

There are too many trees:  For much of the forested area in the FNA, there is a significant need to reduce the tree density.   This is for two reasons:

• Fuel Reduction lowers fire risk to reduce the potential for catastrophic loss from fire. 

• The overall health of the trees left behind is greatly improved as they have more access to limited water.

This tree reduction can be done in a way that still maintains privacy and the feel of living in a forest.

There are public funds available to home owners to help with the cost of fuel reduction on their properties.  See Additional Resources listed below.

Homeowners Insurance providers are becoming more involved, and in some cases are dropping coverage or increasing the cost of coverage.  There are sources of help for those home owners so affected.  See Additional Resources listed below.

Basic Safety Tips from Fire Professionals Include:

• It is suggested that you have no landscaping, mulch, wooden furniture, or the like within five feet of your home, or in the first 6 inches up the walls

• Clear dead vegetation from around your property.

• Store firewood a good distance away from your house.

• Make your driveway accessible for firefighters. An optimal situation is an unimpeded driveway long enough for a firetruck to turn around in.

• Add screens to your fireplace and plumbing vents so that sparks can’t enter or leave your home through them. 

• Have an evacuation plan

  • Know how to reach family members quickly, and implement a phone tree and/or group text if there are more than three people to keep track of.

  • Know where your critical documents are (such as deeds, wills, car titles, insurance documents), and prepare to take them with you, if you have time to retrieve them before evacuating. Keep photos of these documents, in case you don’t have time to retrieve them before evacuating.

  • Close all windows if you have time before evacuating.

  • Consider leaving doors unlocked to allow firefighters to enter.

  • Have a plan to keep your phone charged and usable.

  • When fire is heading your way, have a “GO” bag packed with your most pressing necessities, medications, phone chargers, laptop, critical contact list, key family documents (marriage license, car titles and the like), and a small amount of clothes and cash you’ll need in an emergency. 

• Know who your neighbors are and how to contact them.  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Financial Assistance for Fire Mitigation Treatment:  Taos Soil and Water Conservation District Forest Health Program info: 

https://tswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Forest-Health-Program-Information-Revised-5-16-2022.pdf

Application: 

https://tswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Forest-Health-Cost-Share-Application-2025-26.pdf

Homeowners Property Insurance Assistance: The New Mexico Property Insurance Program (NMPIP) offers an alternative for residents who have been turned down for insurance. This program is funded through premiums that are collected, as well as any contingency funding that the program receives from the New Mexico Legislature. The program requires mitigation to help prevent future losses from wildfires and other perils. Without this program, many New Mexicans would have no options to help them rebuild their homes and businesses after a natural disaster. Learn more at  https://www.osi.state.nm.us/en/news/pr-2025-01-16/

US Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program: 

https://www.fs.usda.gov › managing-land › fire › grants › cwdg

FIREWISE USA®  

https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/fire-prevention-programs/firewise-usa/

“Living With Fire”: 

www.livingwithfire.info   

Contact the FNA Fire Preparedness Committee

Steve Hicks -- steve@greenwellfarms.com

Kurt Weidler --  kurtweidler@yahoo.com

Barry Holfelder -- bmh.enterprises@yahoo.com

Christopher Larsen  -- cwl.ventures@gmail.com

Diana Terry -- satfire96@icloud.com

Nancy Colvert -- nlcolvert@taosnet.com