Woodside Park Homeowners Association Units 2 through 6 are proud to be officially recognized as a Firewise Community by the National Fire Protection Association. Our Association, which represents Units 1, 2, 3 and 4, is pleased to be joined by Woodside Park Homeowners Association Units 5 and 6 to build awareness in our community about wildfire dangers and how to take action to mitigate those dangers in the wildland-urban interface. To read the Elk Creek Fire Protection District assessment of Woodside, which was prepared for our original application in 2013, please click here.
Firewise Committee
Chair Lorna Serber (303) 548-9507 boulderlas@msn.com
Member, Units 1, 2, 3 and 4 Linda Klein lrezklein@gmail.com
Sharon Evridge (303) 816-0831 majesticmtnarabians@msn.com
Monte Poague (720) 318-8830 mpoague81@me.com
Member, Units 5 and 6 Doug Windemuller (303) 838-6337 thedouglascompany@juno.com
Firewise Committee
Chair Lorna Serber (303) 548-9507 boulderlas@msn.com
Member, Units 1, 2, 3 and 4 Linda Klein lrezklein@gmail.com
Sharon Evridge (303) 816-0831 majesticmtnarabians@msn.com
Monte Poague (720) 318-8830 mpoague81@me.com
Member, Units 5 and 6 Doug Windemuller (303) 838-6337 thedouglascompany@juno.com
Woodside Park Chipping for 2020
The chipping program for this year will be coordinated between individual homeowners and Elk Creek Fire Protection District; the HOA will not be taking the sign-up information. Please note that registration begins on April 15 and they are currently limiting chipping to the first 300 applicants within the fire district who sign up. Below is information taken from the fire district website regarding the program for this year. Additional changes have been made, so if you plan on signing up please make sure you adhere to their program. Please visit their website beginning April 15 to sign up. http://elkcreekfire.org/chipping-program/.
The chipping program for this year will be coordinated between individual homeowners and Elk Creek Fire Protection District; the HOA will not be taking the sign-up information. Please note that registration begins on April 15 and they are currently limiting chipping to the first 300 applicants within the fire district who sign up. Below is information taken from the fire district website regarding the program for this year. Additional changes have been made, so if you plan on signing up please make sure you adhere to their program. Please visit their website beginning April 15 to sign up. http://elkcreekfire.org/chipping-program/.
Mitigation Activity Tracking Form
The Firewise Committee is on the hunt for grant funds to help Woodside residents with costs associated with fire mitigation efforts on their properties, such as clearing juniper bushes and otherwise creating defensible space around their homes. Most grants require at least some amount of matching funds. We don't have a cash reserve to use for matching, but what we do have is "in kind" funds stemming from mitigation work that we do on our properties or contract with someone to do for us. The current value in Colorado of every hour of volunteer mitigation work is $24.14. In order to aggregate "in kind" funds we ask all residents to track every volunteer hour of mitigation work they do on their properties. Here's a FORM that you can use for tracking the work you have completed. More than one person working at a time? Be sure to record the hours of every person who helps with mitigation work because the value of the work is per hour per person. You may also record dollars spent on mitigation efforts, for tools purchased or contractors retained to do the work for you. By recording your hours and expenses and submitting the information to the Firewise Committee you are helping all of Woodside, and that's a good thing!
The Firewise Committee is on the hunt for grant funds to help Woodside residents with costs associated with fire mitigation efforts on their properties, such as clearing juniper bushes and otherwise creating defensible space around their homes. Most grants require at least some amount of matching funds. We don't have a cash reserve to use for matching, but what we do have is "in kind" funds stemming from mitigation work that we do on our properties or contract with someone to do for us. The current value in Colorado of every hour of volunteer mitigation work is $24.14. In order to aggregate "in kind" funds we ask all residents to track every volunteer hour of mitigation work they do on their properties. Here's a FORM that you can use for tracking the work you have completed. More than one person working at a time? Be sure to record the hours of every person who helps with mitigation work because the value of the work is per hour per person. You may also record dollars spent on mitigation efforts, for tools purchased or contractors retained to do the work for you. By recording your hours and expenses and submitting the information to the Firewise Committee you are helping all of Woodside, and that's a good thing!
Fire Season Is Here To Stay—Safety First!
Ready, Set, Go!: Elk Creek Fire Protection District encourages all of us to know what to do in case a wildfire threatens our homes. Check out the publication regarding emergency preparedness on the Elk Creek website here, and the Ready, Set, Go! website here.
Firewise USA: Take a look at the Firewise website. It's full of helpful information on wildfire safety and preparedness. Also check out two helpful Guides, the Homeowner Checklist identifying action steps now and through the year to prepare and help reduce the risk of your home and property becoming fuel for a wildfire, and Red Flag Day suggestions to get you ready in the event an evacuation order is issued.
Slash Sites: Slash drop off sites are available in Bailey and Jefferson County throughout the summer months. You may visit the respective websites for dates and additional information at: Bailey Slash Site or Jefferson County Slash Site.
Reflective Green Address Signs: The 6” by 18” green address signs with white reflective numbers are available for just $10. These are the same signs available for sale at Park County administrative offices in Fairplay at the same price -- just closer! To order one, call Andrea Black at the Platte Canyon Fire Station at Crow Hill, (303) 838-5853, or email her.
Code Red® Program:
Park County Code RED® program: register your phone number(s) at www.parkco.us to receive emergency notifications.
Jefferson County Code RED® program: register your phone number(s) at Code Red.
Other Helpful Materials:
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Publication number 6.302, entitled Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zones, available by clicking here.
Smokey Bear is still educating people on Wildland Fire Prevention. Check out the website for helpful information.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for the upcoming months may be viewed by clicking HERE.
Tax Credit for Mitigation Costs Extended Through Tax Year 2024
As authorized by C.R.S. § 39-22-104(4) (n), for income tax years through 2024 individuals, estates and trusts may deduct from federal taxable income listed on their Colorado State Income Tax Return up to 50% [see note below] of the costs incurred in performing wildfire mitigation measures that meet the following qualifications and limitations:
(1) The taxpayer must own the property upon which the mitigation measures are performed;
(2) the property upon which the wildfire mitigation measures are performed must be located in Colorado;
(3) the property upon which the wildfire mitigation measures are performed must be located in a wild land-urban interface area;
(4) the wildfire mitigation measures must be authorized by a community wildfire protection plan adopted by a local government within the interface area; and
(5) the total amount of the subtraction may not exceed $2,500.
A summary of the statute by the Colorado Department of Revenue can be found here.
Please visit with a tax professional if you have any questions on what items may be claimed or need additional information about this claiming this subtraction on your tax return.
Note: Colorado has increased the subtraction for private landowner mitigation from 50% to 100% of mitigation expenses for the years 2017 through 2019, not to exceed $2,500. See summary here.
Ready, Set, Go!: Elk Creek Fire Protection District encourages all of us to know what to do in case a wildfire threatens our homes. Check out the publication regarding emergency preparedness on the Elk Creek website here, and the Ready, Set, Go! website here.
Firewise USA: Take a look at the Firewise website. It's full of helpful information on wildfire safety and preparedness. Also check out two helpful Guides, the Homeowner Checklist identifying action steps now and through the year to prepare and help reduce the risk of your home and property becoming fuel for a wildfire, and Red Flag Day suggestions to get you ready in the event an evacuation order is issued.
Slash Sites: Slash drop off sites are available in Bailey and Jefferson County throughout the summer months. You may visit the respective websites for dates and additional information at: Bailey Slash Site or Jefferson County Slash Site.
Reflective Green Address Signs: The 6” by 18” green address signs with white reflective numbers are available for just $10. These are the same signs available for sale at Park County administrative offices in Fairplay at the same price -- just closer! To order one, call Andrea Black at the Platte Canyon Fire Station at Crow Hill, (303) 838-5853, or email her.
Code Red® Program:
Park County Code RED® program: register your phone number(s) at www.parkco.us to receive emergency notifications.
Jefferson County Code RED® program: register your phone number(s) at Code Red.
Other Helpful Materials:
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Publication number 6.302, entitled Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zones, available by clicking here.
Smokey Bear is still educating people on Wildland Fire Prevention. Check out the website for helpful information.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for the upcoming months may be viewed by clicking HERE.
Tax Credit for Mitigation Costs Extended Through Tax Year 2024
As authorized by C.R.S. § 39-22-104(4) (n), for income tax years through 2024 individuals, estates and trusts may deduct from federal taxable income listed on their Colorado State Income Tax Return up to 50% [see note below] of the costs incurred in performing wildfire mitigation measures that meet the following qualifications and limitations:
(1) The taxpayer must own the property upon which the mitigation measures are performed;
(2) the property upon which the wildfire mitigation measures are performed must be located in Colorado;
(3) the property upon which the wildfire mitigation measures are performed must be located in a wild land-urban interface area;
(4) the wildfire mitigation measures must be authorized by a community wildfire protection plan adopted by a local government within the interface area; and
(5) the total amount of the subtraction may not exceed $2,500.
A summary of the statute by the Colorado Department of Revenue can be found here.
Please visit with a tax professional if you have any questions on what items may be claimed or need additional information about this claiming this subtraction on your tax return.
Note: Colorado has increased the subtraction for private landowner mitigation from 50% to 100% of mitigation expenses for the years 2017 through 2019, not to exceed $2,500. See summary here.
USAA Offers Insurance Discounts for Members Living in Firewise Communities in Colorado
USAA members now can save money on their homeowners insurance premiums by living within the boundaries of a recognized Firewise Communities/USA® program. Currently, the discounts are available to eligible members in California, Colorado and Texas, three states prone to wildfire activity. Check out the article here.
USAA members now can save money on their homeowners insurance premiums by living within the boundaries of a recognized Firewise Communities/USA® program. Currently, the discounts are available to eligible members in California, Colorado and Texas, three states prone to wildfire activity. Check out the article here.