The history of the Atlas Peak Fire Safe Council
Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (NCFF) hosted a fire awareness meeting at Silverado Country Club (SCC) in 2010 with the goal of getting a neighborhood Firesafe Council started in the Atlas Peak area. The presentation was effective, and many residents signed up to be contacted. The Atlas Peak Firesafe Council (APFSC) was formed by a group of eighteen residents, with four directors taking the lead. NCFF and Napa County Fire helped the fledgling group get organized to start helping the Atlas Peak community be Firewise.
In 2011 the first newsletter was published, work started on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), a demonstration project was completed and a community phone alert system (Call-em-all) was implemented. The demonstration project entailed clearing of dense brush and small eucalyptus trees at a road pinch point for safe egress in a fire emergency. It showed what could be done as a community.
In 2012 the CWPP was completed by the APFSC with the help of NCFF, Napa County Fire and a forestry consultant. It provided the template for improving the safety of the community. Also this year, the first major road easement clearing project was completed by the APFSC with funding from NCFF. Brush was cleared and trees limbed up within the road easement of Atlas Peak Rd. from the base at SCC to about halfway to the end.
Over the years the APFSC has continued to work towards community awareness and fire safety. Multiple meetings of the residents have been hosted over the years covering such topics as defensible space, fire hardening homes, evacuation preparedness, etc. Multiple projects have been completed, primarily focused on road egress and road edge weed abatement.
The APFSC address sign project achieved reflective address signs installation for the entire neighborhood. The work was done by the APFSC with residents reimbursing the cost of the materials. Reflective address signs are imperative for safety in emergency situations when seconds count.
The APFSC continues working today towards improving community safety as a member of the Firewise USA program.