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UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring Fuel Reduction Workday & Community Potluck- March 28, 2026
Spring Fuel Reduction Workday & Community Potluck- March 28, 2026
Making Your Home Fire Resist (Home Hardening) Webinar - March 9th @ 2PM
Making Your Home Fire Resist (Home Hardening) Webinar - March 9th @ 2PM
As part of her Firewise Communities project, Pacific Region Director Tanja Swanson has set up five free webinars featuring topics that can help you and your family prepare for fire-related emergencies. These webinars feature professional speakers from a variety of sources addressing topics ranging from firewise landscaping, personal preparation, making your home fire resistant, and understanding insurance. The webinars will take place at 2 pm PST on the second Monday of most months from February through September 2026.
Speaker: Laura Blaul, Senior WIldfire Fellow, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
Speaker: Laura Blaul, Senior WIldfire Fellow, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety
The Wildfire Guys Webinar - March 5th @ 6PM
The Wildfire Guys Webinar - March 5th @ 6PM
Fire Insurance Discounts Explained: How to qualify for FAIR Plan and other insurers' discounts
Fire Insurance Discounts Explained: How to qualify for FAIR Plan and other insurers' discounts
Wildfire insurance is changing — and Santa Cruz Mountain homeowners who take the right steps may qualify for meaningful discounts under the California FAIR Plan. As of November 15, 2025, FAIR Plan customers can receive discounts of more than 16% if they take action harden their homes against wildfire. Other insurers such as State Farm offer discounts to some of their policy holders.
Join Dave Millman of The Wildfire Guys and Chris Robinson of Coverage Plus Insurance Agency for a practical, homeowner-focused webinar.
We will cover:
• What wildfire hardening actions matter most
• What insurers look for
• Common mistakes homeowners make
• How to document your work and apply for the discounts
Click here to register. There is no cost. There will be a live Q&A session at the end.
About the webinar hosts:
Dave Millman, Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist
Dave founded The Wildfire Guys to help Santa Cruz Mountain homeowners who are facing insurance cancellation or drastic cost increases. He has developed proprietary tools to create home assessments and reports that qualify for discounts, including the California FAIR plan guidelines and the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home checklist. After more than 30 years of home ownership, insurance carriers cancelled Dave’s homeowners policies three times in four years. His home is now covered by the California FAIR plan at an 860% cost increase, so he knows the impact of these discounts. https://www.thewildfireguys. com/ or call (408) 256-3796.
Chris Robinson, CWCU
Chris is the owner/broker at Coverage Plus Insurance Agency. His firm helps homeowners throughout the Bay Area get insured, and qualify for home hardening discounts. Chris found Dave new insurance coverage all three times he was cancelled. http://www. covplus.com/ (408) 626-7800
PREVIOUS EVENTS
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Firewise 2026 Kickoff - February 28, 2026
Firewise 2026 Kickoff - February 28, 2026
Come by and learn how Firewise can help you in 2026!
This is a casual evening to meet the people who live near you — the ones you'll wave to during a power shutoff, flag down when the road's blocked, or text when the sky turns orange and you're not sure if it's "pack the car" time or "just another Tuesday" time.
We'll cover:
What actually worked last year (and what didn't)
New preparedness programs that still keep money in your pocket
The latest on fire insurance — what's changing and what you can do about it
How to communicate when your phone is useless
Wildfire myths that need to be busted
How to plan your local evacuation routes by car and by foot
You'll meet fire chiefs, local contractors who do fire-safe work, your county supervisor, and neighbors you probably should have met by now.
Pizza from Redwood Pizza. Free tickets but grab one so we know how much to order.
Please consider a donation to help us cover the cost of this event.
Free Tickets: https://givebutter.com/firewise-kickoff-2026
If you're busy: You'll spend more time this month stuck behind a truck on Highway 9. Come eat pizza, meet the people you'd call if you had to leave at 2am.
If you're skeptical: Good. Bring your questions. We're doing myth-busting specifically because much of what people believe about fire safety is outdated or wrong. The insurance landscape is shifting — find out where things stand.
If you're new to the San Lorenzo Valley: This is the fastest way to understand how this place actually works when something goes sideways.
February 28, 5PM - 7PM @ Felton Community Hall - Hosted by Forest Lakes Firewise
Firewise Residents Reducing Fire Risks - January 7th
Firewise Residents Reducing Fire Risks - January 7th
Firewise Residents Reducing Fire Risks Webinar
This session reviews practical, homeowner-focused steps to reduce wildfire risk, including defensible space principles, structure hardening basics, and how neighbors can work together through the Firewise framework to strengthen community resilience. The information is relevant to all wildland-urban interface communities, including Boulder Creek.
Webinar Link - Passcode: Y4DP&uv4
Winter Fuel Reduction Workday - December 6th
Winter Fuel Reduction Workday - December 6th
Winter Fuel Reduction Workday - December 6th
The Nina Terrace Wildfire Action Plan has a goal in place to hold a Winter Fuel Reduction Event. This goal is meant to encourage all households within our Firewise community to gather and eliminate yard waste on their property by disposing of it in a Greenwaste bin or visiting the Ben Lomond Transfer Station.
Here is how it works:
Spend the minimum of one hour reducing wildfire hazards and fuel loads on your property. The critical area is 30 feet surrounding your home. If you really want to nail it down, start focusing on the zero zone (0-5 feet from your dwelling).
Document the time spent working during the event, the amount of people working with you on any risk reduction, and any expenses incurred. Using the Nina Terrace online ARR Survey, report your Annual Risk Reduction. This information must be reported annually to the NFPA to retain our “good standing” as a Firewise community.
See the list below for a few ideas to consider. For a more extensive list, see Time & Expense Investment Examples
· Can you see your home’s address number from the street? If not, trim overgrown vegetation covering or blocking the numbers
· Blow off roof debris/liter, focusing on the nooks and crannies
· Clear gutters
· Trim overgrown bushes and trees, removing low-hanging branches up to a height of 4 feet from the ground
· Rake and remove leaves or redwood droppings to a minimum of 3 to 5 feet from a home’s foundation
· Pull weeds (focusing on the 6-inch area (from the ground up) around the base of the home)
· Mow your lawn (if applicable)
· Weed whack your yard
· Sweep porches and decks, clearing them of leaves and redwood droppings
· Rake under decks, porches, sheds, and play structures
· Consider relocating items stored on patios to another location
· Remove and relocate items stored under decks and porches
· Clear 10-feet around your propane tank (this includes under and above the tank)
Our Firewise community stands a greater chance of surviving a wildfire event if each resident regularly invests a small amount of time working on their property throughout the year to create a safer environment for themselves and their neighbors.
TEDx Merit Academy Event- November 9th
TEDx Merit Academy Event- November 9th
TEDx Merit Academy Event
Hear from firefighters and leading experts in community risk reduction, wildfire response, and mitigation strategies.
Event Date: November 9th
Time: 1:00 PM
Tickets: https://tedxmeritacademy.com/tickets/
Location: 418 Project: 155 South River Street, Santa Cruz
Fee: $20 - or $25 at the door
Topics covered:
“Tips of Fire Protection” by Tony Akin
Tony will share mitigation strategies for property owners, including reducing grass along roadways, thinning tree limbs, and heavy brush reduction, all while protecting endangered species and sensitive habitats. He will also encourage groups to form Firewise Communities to minimize wildfire risks.
About Tony Akin:
Tony Akin is Central Fire District’s Defensible Space Inspector, a FireWise cheerleader and a board member of the FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County. He focuses on mitigation strategies for property owners, including reducing grass along roadways, thinning tree limbs, and heavy brush reduction, all while protecting endangered species and sensitive habitats. He also encourages groups to form Firewise Communities to minimize wildfire risks.
“Wildfire: How can Homeowners Save Their Fire Insurance?" by Marco Mack
What if you could lower your wildfire risk - and your insurance premiums - at the same time? As wildfires become more frequent and severe, many homeowners in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) have lost coverage entirely. In this eye-opening TEDx talk, Marco Mack introduces a boldnew solution: a national wildfire retrofit standard that empowers individual homeowners to take action. By having properties evaluated and scored by a trusted third party, insurers could finally base rates on proven fire prevention - not just ZIP codes.
Statewide Insurance Virtual Town Hall - October 28th
Statewide Insurance Virtual Town Hall - October 28th
Statewide Insurance Virtual Town Hall
Event Date: Oct 28, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Online Zoom Meeting
You’re invited to join Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and CA State Fire Marshal Chief Daniel Berlant for an important virtual town hall on California’s insurance market.
Learn how the Department of Insurance is addressing the homeowner insurance crisis and hear from experts on how you can better protect your home, stay safer from wildfires, and reduce your insurance risk.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get the latest updates directly from state leaders and wildfire experts. You will need to register for this discussion:
Defensible Space Landscaping Workshop - October 25th
Defensible Space Landscaping Workshop - October 25th
Defensible Space Landscaping Workshop
Event Date: October 25th
Time: 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Location: Van Ausdall Residence: 685 Rebecca Drive
Notes: Wine and light refreshments will be provided
Nina Terrace residents and gardeners of all levels are encouraged to join us for an afternoon of learning and awareness.
Topics covered:
Key elements of firescaping
Fire-prone plants and fire-smart plants
Maintenance practices for fire-resistant landscapes
Plant and tree spacing
Protecting mid- or steep-slope properties
Ladder fuels and fuel continuity
Mulch recommendations
Fire smart yard checklist and landscaping tips
For more information, please send an email to NinaTerraceSLV@gmail.com
Central Coast Good Fire Fair - October 11th
Central Coast Good Fire Fair - October 11th
Central Coast Good Fire Fair
Event Date: October 11th
Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Main Parking Lot
Notes: *The event is free, but parking at the park is $10. No registration required.
The Good Fire Fair will offer educational activities for children and adults:
Learn how to safely build, tend and extinguish a campfire
Watch live burns of piles and redwood understory growth (likely between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., depending on the weather)
Savor sandwiches, burgers and Venezuelan food from local food trucks
Observe demonstrations and visit informative booths
Learn how to make your home more resilient to wildfire
Test your fire knowledge and win prizes
“Kids will get to see a wildland fire engine up close, try fire science experiments and play educational games. Bring a camera,” said Satink Wolfson.
For more information, please contact Barb Satink Wolfson at bsatink@ucanr.edu.
Ham Radio Tech Study Group - September 2nd
Ham Radio Tech Study Group - September 2nd
Free Limited Ham Radio Technician Study Group
Description: A free, 6-week study group focusing on the Technician License, the entry-level for ham radio. The class is free, but registration is required.
Start Date: September 2nd
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Santa Cruz County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 5200 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (the green building with the golf ball on top).
Registration: Register on Sign Up Genius (limit of 20 study buddies) at https://rebrand.ly/hamclass.
Note: License exam dates are to be announced later.
Boulder Creek Fire Department Annual BBQ - August 23rd
Boulder Creek Fire Department Annual BBQ - August 23rd
Boulder Creek Fire Department Annual BBQ Dinner & Dance
Support your local fire department on Saturday, August 23rd 2025 for an evening of music, firehouse BBQ, and drinks. This is a family friendly event and all money raised goes towards the purchase of medical and rescue equipment!
Purchase tickets here: https://BPT.ME/6672301
Boulder Creek Fire Department Pancake Breakfast - July 4th
Boulder Creek Fire Department Pancake Breakfast - July 4th
Your Boulder Creek Volunteer Firefighters are happy to announce their 4th of July Pancake Breakfast!!
Join them for a breakfast full of pancakes, eggs, sausage and fruit.
They will be open 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM (or while supplies last). You can also catch the Boulder Creek 4th of July parade at 10:00 AM while you’re in town.
Prices are $15 for adults and $5 for kids under 12 years old.
All money raised goes towards the purchase of medical and rescue equipment!
PG&E Wildfire Safety Webinar for Santa Cruz Mountains - June 25th
PG&E Wildfire Safety Webinar for Santa Cruz Mountains - June 25th
PG&E Wildfire Safety Webinar for Santa Cruz Mountains
Wednesday, June 25 5:30 - 6:30 p.m
Join online: https://click.em.pge.com/?qs=4237bbe26dbf853f2d835e52bd5595e75a4d3359e8b7ad1271d82c37428f50e1c0ef67f71eb916833e9396f31cfedf4fe702e208fe261d40860d734cf2f3d89b
You can also join via phone by calling 877-939-1569
Conference ID: 8725878.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9457650994...
Meeting ID: 945 765 0994
Passcode: 12070
Lynn participated in this webinar. Please contact her directly with any questions.
Nina Terrace Scheduled Burn - April 12th
Nina Terrace Scheduled Burn - April 12th
Nina Terrace Firewise Community Burn Day
Nina Terrace Firewise Community Burn Day
Here is the volunteer schedule for tomorrow's burn:
8 - 10AM Allan & Jaymie
10AM Carson
11AM Dave J.
12PM Erika
1PM Daniel O.
2PM Jean
3PM Peter
4PM Laurel
Thank you for the help, it is much appreciated!
Thank you for the help, it is much appreciated!
March 29th - Fuel Reduction Workday 8:00 - 4:00
March 29th - Fuel Reduction Workday 8:00 - 4:00
Emergency Evacuation Road Tour 11:30 AM
Emergency Evacuation Road Tour 11:30 AM
Firewise Community Party @ Van Ausdall's 4:00 PM
Firewise Community Party @ Van Ausdall's 4:00 PM
Firewise Workday Party
The Van Ausdall's have generously offered to host a post-workday gathering at 4PM, for the Nina Terrace Firewise community. Snacks and beverages will be provided! In addition, we will have a Firewise Q & A, Information on Evacuation Workshop, Fire-Resistant Landscape Workshop, MURSvsFRSvsGMRS Class, and the RCD Chipping Program
Fuel Reduction Workday
This coming Saturday there is a Fuel Reduction Workday from 8-4pm for the Nina Terrace Firewise community. There will be times when Santa Cruz Street may not be accessible due to the clearing performed during this period. Please consider allowing additional travel time when attempting to exit this area or park your vehicle on Rebecca Drive. In addition to the road work, we will also be accepting truckloads of vegetation from other parcels in our community - adding to the extra traffic in our zone. Thank you for understanding!
The goal is to clear 10-15 feet on either side of Santa Cruz Street, where appropriate. We will be cutting down dead and diseased trees. Brush will be taken to our property to burn, limbs will be piled for chipping in May with the RCD Spring Chipping Program, and the firewood will be bucked up and available on the ground until April 15th (first come, first serve). Healthy trees will be limbed up to the recommended 4-foot minimum from the ground. We will be raking, blowing, chain sawing, weed whacking, hauling, creating a lot of dust and making a lot of noise.
Thank you to those that spent some time working on fire mitigation last weekend. If you have not done so, please complete the Individual Risk Reduction online IRR form for our annual report to the NFPA. Document the time spent working during the event, the amount of people working with you on any risk reduction, and any expenses incurred. If preferred, complete the attached paper form, then scan and submit to ninaterraceslv@gmail.com.
Emergency Evacuation Road Tour
A guided walk through private property will be available to offer the opportunity for you to examine an emergency access road for evacuation purposes.
Meet at Santa Cruz Street and Hillary Heights - 11:30 Sharp!
Firewise Leadership Meeting @ BLFD March 23rd 1:30 - 3:00 PM
Firewise Leadership Meeting @ BLFD March 23rd 1:30 - 3:00 PM
Annual Firewise Leadership Meeting
Laurel and Lynn were both in attendance at the Firewise Leadership Meeting. We were introduced to the newest Firewise communities in SLV, notified of upcoming events, and requested to sign-up and volunteer for a variety of programs and events.
Please check with either of us if you have any questions.
RCD Chipping Webinar March 18th 6:30 PM
RCD Chipping Webinar March 18th 6:30 PM
RCD Spring Chipping Webinar
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84308399797
Learn about FREE chipping services for County residents. This webinar will discuss our chipping program details, who is eligible, how to sign up and general information about wildfire preparedness and defensible space.
Registration for RCD's Spring 2025 No-Cost Community Chipping Program begins April 1st. Early bird registration for chipping is available to residents of recognized FireWise Communities. The program is available to Santa Cruz County residents who live in areas, defined as the Wildland Urban Interface, that have the potential for wildfire to impact their properties.
Lynn participated in this webinar. Please contact her directly with any questions.
March 15th - Fuel Reduction Workday 8:00 - 3:00
March 15th - Fuel Reduction Workday 8:00 - 3:00
Emergency Evacuation Road Tour 11:30 AM
Emergency Evacuation Road Tour 11:30 AM
Fuel Reduction Workday
The Nina Terrace Wildfire Action Plan has a goal in place to hold a Spring Fuel Reduction Event. This goal is meant to encourage all households within our Firewise community to gather and eliminate yard waste on their property by disposing of it in a Greenwaste bin. I am also offering an opportunity to relocate appropriate trimmings on a designated day to one of my parcels, where it will be disposed of resourcefully. This option is available to any neighbor within our Firewise community, and there is no limit to the amount of loads you dump during this time. Drop your loads at Santa Cruz Street and Hillary Heights, following signs for instructions on where to park and unload.
Two different dates have been chosen in the event that you are unable to attend one of them. We will be present and available on both of these days in order to advance mitigation efforts in our neighborhood. Please pick one day (or both) to participate.
Emergency Evacuation Road Tour
A guided walk through private property will be available to offer the opportunity for you to examine an emergency access road for evacuation purposes.
Meet at Santa Cruz Street and Hillary Heights - 11:30 Sharp!
MURS Radio Training February 15th 1-3 PM
MURS Radio Training February 15th 1-3 PM
Multi-Use Radio Service Class
Felton CERT is hosting an introductory training at Mountain Community Resources. The event is free, but space is limited and you must register for a spot. This training will best serve those who attend in person, with their own MURS radios. We'll provide loaner radios for those who don't have them now.
Neighborhood organizations, Firewise participants, CERTs, and individuals interested in local radio communications are all welcomed to this training. We understand that we will be training folks with varied experience with radio use, so come one, come all who are interested. Our training focus is to educate everyone about the CERT Radio Plan, and give you some experience with the plan and MURS radios. The outcome, we hope, will be that we are all more effective at getting our needs met when disaster strikes and channels are busy, and to better serve those in more remote areas..
Lynn attended this training session. I believe it would benefit our Firewise community to form a Communication Group. This would be comprised of individuals spread throughout our neighborhood and capable of keeping a radio charged and responding appropriately in an emergency.
Watch Duty Q & A Webinar January 14th 6 PM
Watch Duty Q & A Webinar January 14th 6 PM
Watch Duty Webinar
Please use this link to share any questions you may have in advance:
We're excited to invite you to a special Q&A session with the creators of WatchDuty. If you aren't familiar with WatchDuty, you can find out more about the non-profit and app here.
This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about how WatchDuty can help keep you informed and safe during wildfire season. You'll have the chance to ask questions, provide feedback, and gain insights directly from the app's creators.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9457650994...
Meeting ID: 945 765 0994
Passcode: 12070
Lynn participated in this webinar. Please contact her directly with any questions.
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