The National Fire Protection Association has a program called Firewise USA with an accompanying motto of “Residents Reducing Wildfire Risks.” This designation has been earned by the Woodland Hills Community in Pinetop-Lakeside, in cooperation with the Pinetop Fire Department.
It means that the residents of the subdivision abide by certain rules to keep their community safer from wildfire by reducing fuels near structures. Nationwide, there are about 1,400 communities that have earned the Firewise designation.
“Community Home Owners Associations (HOA’s) like Woodland Hills have committed to addressing and following those guidelines to be designated Firewise and by doing things annually to engage the property owners to reduce the risk of wildfires to their individual properties,” said Pinetop Fire Chief, Jim Morgan. Woodland Hills has 28 homes in a subdivision of about 56 lots as of August 2016. A little over half are occupied with structures.