Additional Information

FAQ

What do I need to do to get this started?

12/7: We've set a goal for ourselves to have our community Fill out 2 forms by 12/25/24 so that we can submit our application. 3 ways to complete these forms. It will only take a few minutes!

Complete them online.
- Home Self Assessment Online Form
- Investment Data for 2024 Online Form
Download and Fill out a Paper Copy
- Home Self Assessment Printable Form
- Investment Data for 2024 Printable Form
We can help!
- Email or Call us and we can help you complete the form (We can swing by In person if needed too!)

This data Is collected by the Steering committee and Responses will be summarized and only reported as percentages for our Firewise USA application and future renewals.

Is My home Included In the boundary.?

We mapped the proposed boundary off of the addresses that are members of the Melody Woods Water Company. Don't see your home? Think the boundary should be adjusted? Until we submit our application these lines are not set In stone! Please reach out to us If you feel something should be adjusted.
12/7/24: As a Group we discussed expanding this boundary to Include the homes on Old Summit Rd as well as the homes between Melody Ln and Old Santa Cruz Highway. Virginia will be contacting these neighbors to ask If they would like to participate with us. This would add an estimated 30 homes to the 57 we already plan to Include.
1/26/25: After totaling all parcels, 119 homes are within our desired boundary. As of today we have attempted to contact via phone, email and visits all homes In this boundary. 44 homes have filled out the home assessment forms. Below Is the current estimated boundary for our future submission!
3/1/25:

Do I have to Participate?

No, But we want you to!
While your house may be Included In the boundary, It does not mean that you have to participate. The Firewise USA™ program is designed for residential occupancies where residents actively participate in reducing the wildfire risk where they live.
12/7: The Goal of the program Is to educate and do what we can to reduce risks. We would encourage everyone to participate and do what they can as It helps us be safer as a community.

What kind of commitment do I have to make?

Investing the equivalent of one volunteer hour per residential dwelling unit within the site’s boundary in annual wildfire risk reduction efforts is a requirement of the national recognition program’s criteria for maintaining an “In Good Standing” status. We will need to collect this data yearly so that we can remain In good standing.
Examples of how to contribute can be found here (We believe our community naturally exceeds this minimum yearly)
12/7: There Is no monetary Investment that anyone must make. The requirement for recognition Is that as a community we Invest a minimum of 1 hour per home within the boundary. This can be a monetary Investment and the value of one volunteer hour can vary. Example: If we have 100 homes, as a community the minimum contribution Is 100 hours. If we cannot volunteer the hours, and 1 Volunteer hour Is valued at $31, that would mean as a community we would need to invest a minimum $3100 total as a community. Most homes in our neighborhood invest more than that individually for activities that help to keep their home firesafe.
1/26/25: As of today, with only 37% of our community reporting, we have 5168 hours spent towards firewise activities and $441,139.00 spent towards firewise!

Where can I learn more?

Link Below have additional Information about the program as well as other Local Firewise Communities
We will keep this page updated when we plan our next community event!

Will this affect my Homeowners Insurance?

April 2023 enacted the 'Safer From Wildfires' regulation. More Information about how It may discount your homeowners Insurance can be found here and additional Information from the Firewise program can be found here
12/7: Many homes In our neighborhood have had to move to the FAIR plan. Loretta Swanson Shared some of her research at our event. That Information can be found here.

When will this be effective?

The process for communities to meet all the Firewise USA recognition criteria can take between six months and one year. Other websites quote that the process can take 2 to 6 months. We are hoping to try and have our application In during January 2025

Is this county specific?

No. While we are working with the Santa Clara FireSafe Council, It Is ok to reside In Santa Clara or Santa Cruz County within the boundary we created for Melody Woods.