Frequently Asked Questions

A firewise community gives neighbors a way to collaborate with each other and with local and state fire departments to enhance the community's wildfire resiliency. Firewise communities work to increase fire resistance of homes and surroundings and to address emergency preparedness and safety.

Firewise is supported by the NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA), Fire Safe Sonoma, Rancho Adobe Fire District and the California Division of Forestry.

The West Sonoma Mountain Firewise Community covers an area on the west side of Sonoma Mountain including the properties east of Old Adobe (Adobe) Road, including those accessed via Manor Lane, Lila Lane, East Washington Street, Edwin Kelsey Way, Sonoma Mountain Road, Lynch Road, Hardin Lane and Jacobsen Lane. You are an owner or occupant of property in this area and we encourage you to join this firewise community.

Start by completing our community signup form on the homepage—it signs you up for our newsletter AND lets you share what fire safety topics matter most to you. From there, you can attend community events, volunteer with our committee, or participate in our certification surveys. There are no fees or membership requirements.

See TAKE ACTION for newsletter sign up and share your needs.

Focus on three key areas: harden your home against embers (like screening vents), create defensible space around your property, and prepare for evacuation. See the TAKE ACTION tab to find out what steps you can take in these three critical areas.

Download the free Watch Duty app for real-time wildfire tracking and sign up for Nixle alerts to receive Sonoma County emergency notifications. Both are free and highly recommended.

No, there is no cost to join or participate.

No, the Firewise Community won't take much time for most members, however Firewise Communities encourage each member to invest some time and energy to prepare their own property for fire safety, stay abreast of community news and to attend Firewise community gatherings.

We had a community meeting in December and a board was selected from those attending. The board has been meeting and is working to initiate programs to benefit the community, contact residents within the area to become involved in the Firewise Community and become more knowledgeable about threat of wildfires in the area.

Board Members: Jim Heppelmann (President), Joan O'Brien (Secretary), Millo Fenzi (Treasurer), Michael Caruana, Gary Huisingh, Nicholas Pfender.

See the About Us page for details on the Firewise advantage.

See the About Us page for details on the Firewise USA certification process.

Absolutely. No information will be shared beyond our volunteer committee. We only use your contact information to send community updates you've opted into and to coordinate fire safety initiatives. Your home assessment data, if you choose to participate, remains completely confidential and is used solely for community planning purposes.

⚠️ Always call 911 for fire emergencies. Our local first responders are Sonoma County Fire District. For non-emergency questions about fire safety or community involvement, contact our committee.