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National Fire Plan Success Story

Woodshire Firewise Community
Virginia Department of Forestry
2008

Four men and a women posing with a Firewise poster.

The following is the content of a letter to the Virginia Department of Forestry on April 4, 2008 by Archie Minton, President Woodshire Subdivision:

"I would like to express my gratitude to the men and women on every level of Government which created the program. If it had not been for you, our subdivision would not be where it is today!

I moved from the city to Blue Ridge, Virginia in the year 2000 not knowing what dangers lurked in and around the subdivision as fire hazards. To be honest it never crossed anyone’s mind until late in the year of 2006. That’s when several men and women from the National, State, and Local County Governments arrived with several Fire Departments representatives for a brief inspection of our subdivision. This contact was the first for me, but also for our neighborhood. I was introduced to everyone and after a short discussion; I found out how uneducated we where about the danger of fire, etc. So, I invited the Firewise Representative’s to attend our meetings to discuss what we must do in order to become a Firewise community. We had already started taking some action in debris cleanup in our subdivision; also cutting down dead trees. They had also observed this during their visit.

With additional information and direction from the Firewise Program representatives, we started cutting down more trees that could have caused more damage to our homes. We scheduled workdays to help neighbors out with cleaning up property, etc. If we saw others who needed help outside of it being a scheduled work day we pitched in. I think it was about 187.5 total man hours that year. Like other subdivisions we have several who say "the natural look is why they moved here". You can still have a natural look whichwill not harm you, your family, or home if you are a Firewise Smart Person! The above is the opinion of those few who think that way and we respect it. We hope the information given to us at the meetings by the Firewise individuals, will have an impact on their way of thinking and outlook!

We finally had the money apportioned for us to get the chipping done after weeks and months of stacking up undergrowth, branches, and debris. Our subdivision still has a long way to go and we are looking forward to the future. We hope that the State of Virginia and Local Governmental legislative bodies will continue in supporting the Firewise Programs. I believe it is imperative that this program stay effective to help make the public aware, of the dangers lurking in subdivisions as progress expands in our State.

Ours is a most beautiful State and we must endeavor with all our power and resources to keep it that way. We hope money is always made available through the proper sources. I would like to thank all who worked so hard in our subdivision; also the men and women from the Firewise Virginia Department of Forestry.

I’d like to recognize the following individuals and Departments for their unsung hard work and dedicated efforts in guiding not only us; but others in the right direction: Mr. John Miller, Mr. Jonathan Short, Mr. Boyd Ritchie, Mr. Brad Wright and a special thanks to Mr. Lou Murray; and all the men work for the Virginia Department of Forestry. I’d also like to thank Mr. Scott Hawkins Captain of the Montvale Volunteer Fire Department, The Moneta Volunteer Fire Department, The Blue Ridge Fire Department and a special Thanks to Mr. Frank Leonard, Jr. The individuals mentioned give their time, effort, and take away from their families each day to serve us in our State and communities."

Contact: Fred X. Turck, Assistant Director for Resource Protection, Virginia Department of Forestry, Wildfire Prevention and Education, Fred.Turck@dof.virginia.gov.