Idaho Community Stories

Wilderness Ranch is a development of approximately 225 homes that lies north of Boise, Idaho. Construction on the Ranch began about 20 years ago. Residents enjoy a community common area of approximately 400 acres and support their own volunteer fire department as well as a community-owned water system on a community well.

Residents of Wilderness Ranch have prepared---and shared---a slideshow demonstrating the Firewise role in the Ranch's plan to reduce the risk of property loss in the event of a wildfire. They enlisted the Student Conservation Association's Fire Education Corps to perform wildland fire risk evaluations for 38 homeowners.

Wilderness Ranch also held a Fall Cleanup/Fuel Reduction Day. During this event, residents were given the opportunity to dump branches, pine needles and other wood-based fuels removed from their property at a single location. A chimney sweep was available to clean chimneys at reduced cost. A chemical retardant for chimney fires was also available free of charge.

The Wilderness Ranch plan includes:

* Developing a tool for rating home ignitability for Wilderness Ranch and using it to evaluate each home on the Ranch
* Providing incentives for homeowners to reduce their hazard ratings
* Featuring a Firewise home in each issue of the Wilderness Watch
* Posting seasonal Firewise tips
* Scheduling a Cleanup/Fuel Reduction Day each spring
* Recommending changes to the development's architectural requirements including elimination of flammable roofing materials and installation of metal flashing between wooden decks on all new and remodeled homes

Visit the Wilderness Ranch website at http://www.wroa.org.

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