Fire safety and communication latest topic at meeting of Key Biscayne Condominium Presidents Council (FL)

The Key Biscayne Condominium Presidents Council (KBCPC) members meet regularly to discuss topics affecting the island’s condominiums. Topics addressed include insurance, security, fire safety, reserve spending, engineering studies), association budgeting, electric vehicle charging, storm water drainage, and more.   Read the article………………………..

Increase the Defensibility of Your Home with These Crucial Fire Safety Products (CO)

There is no way around it — Boulder County is wildfire territory. Although we can neither predict nor control Mother Nature, there are some steps homeowners can, and should, take to harden their homes against fire damage. Some of the important first steps include clearing your gutters of leaves and other flammable materials, maintaining your […]

‘Tis the Season…for Fire Prevention

During the winter months, the rate and risk of residential fires increases. Your condo or HOA is not immune to this. The increase is often attributed to additional electricity use, holiday décor, Christmas trees and the increased use of electric space heaters. Residents and owners need to be sure that they are using common sense […]

Colorado wildfires are making it harder to insure homes. Could a publicly funded plan stave off an insurance crisis?

In the Pine Brook Hills subdivision north of Boulder, homeowners started reporting increasing insurance premiums about two years ago. Families who had bought insurance from the same company for 20 years or longer received notices that their carriers were going to drop them, said Kevin Smith, president of the Pine Brook Hills Homeowners Association.   Read […]

Co-op and Condo Boards Begin Tackling Fire Risk From E-Bikes (NY)

Steven Sladkus was eating lunch outdoors at a restaurant on East 52nd Street a few weekends ago when he noticed a commotion down the block. “I saw all these people congregating in front of a highrise building and so many fire trucks it looked like a 10-alarm fire,” Sladkus recalls. “Soon I heard there was […]

Red Cross installs more than 60 smoke alarms in Dungeness Meadows (WA)

The effort was “terrific” and “extremely well organized,” said Jane Martin, a volunteer and Dungeness Meadows Homeowners Association board member.  “No one could believe it was free,” Pratschner said.  Installations were pre-arranged with residents through the Homeowners Association, and volunteers chose Dungeness Meadows — which includes 205 manufactured, mobile and stick-built homes — for the […]

Deep Fried Turkeys: Don’t Let Your Holiday Go up in Flames

A time filled with gratitude, food, and – disaster? The Thanksgiving holiday, with all its warm spirit, can unfortunately bring danger as well, especially when fried turkeys are involved.  Thanksgiving leads the holiday season with the most home cooking fires, as there are approximately two to three times more fires on this food-driven holiday than […]

Are Dirty Dryer Vents Posing A Safety Risk to Your Community?

Laundry rooms and dirty dryer vents alone are responsible for thousands of house fires each year, costing up to $75,000,000 worth of damage to people’s homes.  These fires are responsible for ruining many lives and causing millions of dollars worth of property damage. These fires stem from the flammability of dryer lint, which can quickly […]

Malibu Country Estates recognized as ‘Firewise Community’ (CA)

The Malibu Country Estates (MCE) neighborhood, with its 107 homes adjacent to Pepperdine University, was officially recognized as a Firewise community on May 18 by Firewise USA. The program is part of the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the “Firewise” designation is expected to result in lower fire insurance premiums for individual homeowners.  […]

Kohl’s Ranch community gets fire evacuation plan (AZ)

A comprehensive fire evacuation plan was recently presented to the Kohl’s Tonto Creek Subdivision Homeowners’ Association at the summer potluck held July 23.  The plan was developed and presented by Bob Higel, who has served as the Firewise chair of the Kohl’s Tonto Creek Subdivision HOA, since 2013.   Read the article………………………..

Neighbors band together to evacuate animals during wildfire (TX)

Fire evacuees had to band together to save their beloved animals during the Hermosa Fire last week in Wimberley.  “I have quite a few horses, and a couple of mini donkeys and dogs and cats,” said Kellee Ferguson, the president of the River Mountain Ranch Property Owners Association. “So it was stressful.”  Read the article………………………..

Top Tips for Fire Preparedness (NY)

Remember the old Smokey the Bear commercials, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires”? Well, consider that living in a NYC coop or condo, or even rental building with hundreds of neighbors and how just one of them could adversely affect the entire community.   Read the article………………………..

One Developer’s Case for Building in a High-Risk Fire Zone

In the past five years, California’s wildfires have burned more than 30,000 structures, prompting debate over whether the state and local governments should allow development to continue in higher-risk parts of the state.   Read the article………………………..

Residents team up to tackle wildfire risks (WA)

The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires — and an understanding of what it means to live in wildfire country — has prompted hundreds of property owners around the valley to team up in work parties to clear brush, limb trees and load chippers.   Read the article………………….

The Basics of Condo & Community Grill Rules (GA)

While the regulation is not brand new (it has been in effect since 1999), it is becoming more known because structural fires caused by “grills” are at an all-time high. As a result, virtually every state’s fire code now regulates cooking over an open flame. The Rules and Regulations for the State Minimum Fire Safety […]

Should Fireworks In An HOA Be Allowed or Banned?

Fireworks are a Fourth of July staple. But, should the board allow fireworks in an HOA? Learn the ins and outs of enforcing rules on fireworks in a planned community.  Read the entire article……………………………….

Grilling in an HOA Community (Go-To Guide)

It’s officially grilling season, which means it’s time to fire up the barbecue and enjoy some delicious food. However, if you live in an HOA community, there are some guidelines that you need to follow to stay within the rules. Here are four helpful tips that’ll ensure your cookout goes smoothly.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Harden your home: How property owners can protect their house from fire danger, assist firefighters (CO)

Wildfire experts call the process “hardening a home,” or creating defensive space, which is what homeowners need to do if they want wildland firefighters to try to defend their home during an emergency.  When trying to protect multiple homes, firefighters with limited resources must make tough decisions to rate a property as defensible or non-defensible, […]

Even before Coastal fire, hilltop dwellers worried and some took key steps (CA)

A decade ago – long before February’s Emerald Bay fire, or this week’s Coastal fire – Newport Coast resident Gerald Klein tried to impress upon his homeowners’ association the importance of fire prevention. The brushy canyons of Crystal Cove State Park push in from two sides, and his home – along with hundreds of others […]

Emergency plans emphasized after Ocean City condo fire (MD)

Residents of high-rises were reminded this week to pay close attention to their buildings’ emergency plans after a transformer fire at a north Ocean City condominium forced a wide-sweeping evacuation.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Game Trail earns designation as Firewise USA community (CO)

The Game Trail Homeowners Association northwest of Buena Vista received national recognition from Firewise USA this year. HOA members are pictured with new signs and Chaffee Chips service partners during a fire mitigation event April 11.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Fire Hydrants in community associations, what you don’t know can cost you

Fire Hydrants are in every community association. Do you own yours? Or does someone else, the city, county? Find out for sure. If you own yours, you have to pay to have them tested/inspected/tagged annually. The liability to know and document that fact is real, and up to the board of directors and/or management.    Watch […]

San Marcos Trout Club is County’s First Firewise USA Community (CA)

The San Marcos Trout Club (SMTC), a neighborhood of 37 homes in the Santa Barbara foothills, is the first community in Santa Barbara County to be approved as a Firewise USA participant by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).   Read the entire article……………………………….

Why Do Chimney Inspections Matter to Homeowners?

A fireplace can make any home cozier and inviting. There’s something extraordinary about a roaring fire in the middle of winter and a mantelpiece covered in family photos. But, of course, with every fireplace comes a chimney. The chimney carries fire smoke safely outside the house. It is also a hollow stone tower that rises […]

California Wildfires’ Impact HOA Insurance

Severe weather and natural disasters have been a challenge for communities in different parts of California for decades, from droughts to earthquakes to wildfires. The state’s most recent wildfire season is putting pressure on insurance companies to cut back on coverage to homeowners.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Lake California residence worried about fire evacuations (CA)

People living in Lake California a community just north of Red Bluff and in Tehama County, only have one route in and out.  “It’s tree-lined, there are heavy ditches and a fire apparatus would not be able to come up that road and have residents exit safely,” said Sharon Crawford, Lake California Property Owner’s Association […]

The Woolsey fire burned their homes. Now this community has its own firefighting crew (CA)

The local Homeowners Association has contributed roughly $25,000 to the new fire department, and neighbors have thrown in hundreds of thousands more. Areas with fewer resources will likely face bigger obstacles that sets them apart from their wealthy neighbors, adding to the divide already being felt when disasters strike.   Read the entire article……………………………….