Grab bag stuff.
When a burn restriction is in place there is absolutely no debris burning allowed. Calaveras County Burning Restricted June 18, 2012
If you plan to burn debris from lot cleanup, plan on doing so in the next few days.
Got Facebook?
Check out the ALPHA Facebook page. This is the place where ALPHA homeowners can post comments, concerns, and other information about Lilac Park and Arnold.
This is a closed group, so only ALPHA Homeowners can access it
For the first time in several years, ALPHA does not have a board member participating in the VIP program therefore we cannot answer any specific questions regarding the upcoming inspections. Please note that ALPHA and the Cal-Fire VIPs are completely independent of each other, though ALPHA supports a fire-safe community and urges homeowners to prepare their property according to Cal-Fire mandates.
Cal Fire VIP first inspections are scheduled from May 29 to May 31 and second inspections are from June 18 to June 22. If you do not have your lot cleared to Cal-Fire standards by May 29, be prepared to receive a notice in the mail, but don’t wait for that notice to get your lot cleaned up appropriately.
If you receive a notice from Cal-Fire, don’t ignore it, act on it. The first notice you receive is a courtesy letter to inform you that your lot isn’t fire-safe. If you receive a second notice, this too, is a courtesy to remind you that your lot doesn’t meet Cal-Fire standards. There are no third notices and more than one homeowner was fined last year. A few homeowners indicated that they never received anything in the mail, so your best bet is to get your lot(s) prepared before 5/29/12. These fines can be stiff, require an appearance in court, and can be time consuming to resolve.
VIP Inspectors are expected to adhere to specific standards. If anything about your property is questionable including property lines, appropriate foliage, or clearances, ALPHA encourages you to contact Cal-Fire directly for more information or clarification of their mandates. The number to dial is 209.428.1131.
For a printable PDF copy of Cal-Fire’s most current lot clearance guidelines, click the link below.
Fire safety is everyone’s business.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Tuolumne – Calaveras
CONTACT: Nancy Longmore, Fire Prevention Specialist II, 209/754-3831
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2012
Burn Permits Required May 1, 2012
San Andreas – Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at 8AM, the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) will require burning permits within State Responsibility Areas of Tuolumne County, Calaveras County, Eastern Stanislaus County and Eastern San Joaquin County.
Until CAL FIRE stations are fully staffed later in the season, permits will be available only during business hours Monday through Friday, at the following locations:
Remember that personnel may be away from the station for extended periods of time when they are responding to emergencies.
Burn permit terms include limiting pile size to a maximum of four feet by four feet (four feet in diameter, and four feet high) and clearing down to bare mineral soil 10 feet from the outer edges of burn piles. Burn hours will remain open until further notice, but outdoor burning may be done ONLY on permissive burn days. Remember that burn day status is determined on the basis of air quality: how quickly smoke will disperse. Therefore, many permissible burn days are very windy. Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Chief Brian Kirk would like everyone to remember that even if it is a permissible burn day, never burn on windy days. Have tools and water close by in order to suppress any escape from your burning operation.
Wildfire is coming. Are you ready? “Getting your property ready for the coming fire season by creating100 feet of defensible space around all structures is an excellent way to protect not only your home, but your neighborhood and community as well,” Chief Kirk says.
It is your responsibility to check burn day status by calling your local Air Pollution Control District with jurisdiction over your area.
We encourage everyone to call the police IMMEDIATELY if they feel a situation or circumstance is suspicious. DO NOT think you are bothering deputies; this is why they are here! DO NOT be embarrassed if your suspicions prove unfounded.
IF IN DOUBT, CALL! It is better to err on the side of safety. Following is a partial list of incidents that should be reported to the police by dialing 9-1-1. This list is not intended to be complete. Use your own judgment when calling the police.
While some, if not all, of the above situations could have innocent explanations, the police would rather prevent illegal activity than be called to investigate a crime after it is committed.
Please remember, timely reporting is important. Dial 9-1-1 as soon as you witness
suspicious activity and DO NOT take any action on your own!
Fire Danger IncreasingPlease take the appropriate steps to protect your property and community by removing dead or dying timber (whether standing or not), clearing your lot(s) appropriately of needles, slash, and other potentially flammable debris. There are a number of trees in Lilac Park infected with the Bark Beetle and these should be removed to reduce fire loading and to prevent spreading these pests to healthy trees.
See CalFire’s Lot Clearance Guidelines for appropriate clearances and other things you can do to protect your property. Start early, doing a little bit over a longer period of time helps make it an easier task. If you are unable to do this yourself, consider hiring a lot clearing service. Preliminary CalFire inspections have already begun.
Water Conservation
The lack of rainfall and snow in the Sierras this winter will also have an impact on water storage that comes from the many lakes, streams, and rivers in our area. Proper water conservation practices are crucial to preventing heavy restrictions on use of water and most are relatively simple and inexpensive to put into use around your Lilac Park home.
Here are just a few tips to help conserve:
Here’s 100 tips you can use around your home and business to help conserve water.
It’s old news for some, but many may not know that a new state-wide law went into effect on 7/1/11 which requires homes that burn fossil fuels, and/or homes with an attached garage, to have a Carbon Monoxide Detector.
It’s doubtful that the “CO Detector Police” will come and check your home, but if you have any propane burning appliances, fireplaces, or floor heaters, having one is a good idea. These can be purchased at our local hardware stores.
Here is a link to some information regarding the law. Other information can be found via a Google search.
The Bear Valley Summer Day Camp (formerly BVSAFE) has been operating for 9 years, and is only getting better!
This year our program will run from Monday the 20th of June until Friday the 12th of August, Monday to Friday. As always families have the flexibility to sign up for the 8 weeks, weekly or just for the day. Featured activities this year include (but are not limited to) kayaking, rock climbing, archery, mountain biking, camp skills and cookouts, swim enhancement, nature hikes, river walks, frisbee golf, tennis, field games, cooking, sailing, wind surfing, music and much more!
To visit their Bear Valley Summer Camp web site, go to www.bearvalleysummercamps.org.
For more information and to speak to someone in person about this, please contact
Emily Kay at 209.753.4266 or email her at bvsafe@gmail.com.
Attention Lilac Park Homeowners,
Power has been restored to Lilac Park as of 5pm yesterday (Tuesday, March 22 – it went out on Sunday, 3/20 around 11:00am), but Comcast service to much of the area remains non-operational. No ETA has been given as to when it will be restored.
We will keep you up-to-date via posts here on the ALPHA site and by e-mail.
More snow is forecast for the Sierras and Arnold is expected to get more in the coming days. As always, please be prepared for winter driving conditions and carry chains. Be sure to check the road conditions (view ‘Road Reports’ to left) before heading into the mountains.
To view the Winter Storm Warning, click HERE.
Make Your Home & Community Fire Safe Year Around!
Clear 100 feet for fire safety (or to your property line, whichever is nearest — as required by California Public Resources Code 4291
Remove Dead Vegetation
For more detailed information and information regarding required burn permits, click here. To download a CalFire PDF Flyer on burnpile safety, click here.
These cleaning services are in no particular order. Arnold Lilac Park Homeowners Association makes no endorsement or recommendation of ANY lot cleaning services. These are listed for your convenience only.
| Paul Bunyan Forest Debris Service | 795-4457 |
| Sierra Helpful | 728-8207 |
| Frank Stone | 795-1808 |
| Sierra Lot Cleaning | 795-4556 |
| Perry Gentry | 795-4292 |
| Bruce’s Tree Service | 772-7905 |
| D&L | 768-6977 |
| Mike Davis | 795-4628 |
| Dan Lamb | 795-8834 |
| Bitner Property Services | 728-0141 |
| Mountain Seasons Service | 795-9121 |
| Jon Dashner and Sons, Inc. | 795-4175/795-4180 |
| Sean Murphy | 728-1233 |
| Wood’s Lot Services | 795-5440 |