From: “Northwoods Homeowners Association Board Communications”
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 10:56 AM
To: Yela, Frank L
Subject: FD6 sanctioned burn
Frank,
We (North Woods members) would like the fire station to once again provide a “burn day” for excess wood yard debris, as there are many who still need this service.
Would you please have your board consider having one. I totally understand that it needs to be restricted to yard debris and NOT building materials.
Thank you!
“Northwoods Homeowners Association Board Communications”
From: Yela, Frank L
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:14 AM
To: “Northwoods Homeowners Association Board Communications”
Subject: RE: FD6 sanctioned burn
We regret that we will not be able to provide a place for our Northwoods customers to burn their yard debris.
We have not secured the proper permits and do not have staff to stay continuously by the fire. We are also rapidly approaching the county wide burn ban which will start on July 1.
The Fire Commissioners discussed this at our last meeting on June 13th and they have agreed with this position.
Best Regards,
Frank
Franklin L. Yela, Chief
Skamania County Fire Protection District 6
From: “Northwoods Homeowners Association Board Communications”
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:28 PM
To: Yela, Frank L
Subject: RE: FD6 sanctioned burn
Frank,
I don’t know if the permitting process has changed over the years, but the void in support between the fire station and the North Woods is noticeable and to me, it seems like we have to find a way to get beyond it.
We can all pretend differently, but when our organizations worked together we were all a better community, and when we work separate we are both less.
If there is something FD6 can do for North Woods members, we are all ears. If there is something North Woods can do for FD6, please let me know. I will be happy to advertise any training or new volunteer notices you may have. I have already advertised the pancake breakfast and will do so again in the newsletter.
“Northwoods Homeowners Association Board Communications”
From: Yela, Frank L
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:58 PM
To: “Northwoods Homeowners Association Board Communications”
Subject: RE: FD6 sanctioned burn
Hello again
Thanks for your reply. Let me offer a little more explanation.
There is no void in support of our customers living in Northwoods, Swift Estates, Three Rivers, Pine Creek East or Swift View. The Fire District is a State organization and is accountable to each person entering and leaving the district boundary, whether a land owner, resident, camper, tourist, hiker, or motorist. We respond individually to our customers as prescribed by RCW and WAC. HOAs, while in some cases are expedient to work with, we focus directly on our customer base, doing our very best to provide those services prescribed by law and to the best of our ability. With the long hours we volunteers spend staying qualified to respond to emergencies in the area, there is often little time to devote to activities that are not prescribed and take even more of our time. All of our volunteers serve without pay and take a great deal of pride in the service we provide. You can feel confident that we treat all of our customers exactly the same.
There was a time when we provided additional services like dust abatement and yard debris burning.
The dust abatement was stopped due to complaints against the Fire Department and District personnel for using publicly owned equipment for private use, not prescribed by RCW/WAC. The complaint was made by a Northwoods customer. Our Staff and Commissioners responded quickly to curtail the practice.
The “burn pile” was another customer service that was provided for many years. Again, our customers in Northwoods complained to DNR and County Authority that the proper Burn Permits were not in place to authorize such practices. I personally investigated the process for acquiring a proper permit. With the change in jurisdiction in such cases, two authorities were identified: DNR and Clean Air Authority of SW Washington. The DNR is only involved in silvicultural burns (forest reproduction) and the Clean Air folks are for all other types of vegetation burning on private land. Clean Air, however, denied us a permit because material to be burned was not originated on the Fire District property but was hauled in to the area, similar to a dump or landfill. They claimed that they could not be responsible for the permit. The Fire District can issue “self issue” permits under County authority for individual property owners for a 10’ x 10’ vegetation fire, but does not cover hauling in others material. The Staff with Commissioners complete support stopped the process for all customers in the area, not just our customers in Northwoods.
There is much that the Fire District and its wonderful assembly of skilled volunteers can do for the Northwoods. We provide fire prevention, fire mitigation, fire suppression, and medical (EMS) response services. We aid in search and rescue operations in the district area and aid homeowners in fire prevention (including smoke alarms, extinguishers etc.) I feel this is a very large service to our customers living in and transient to the district. With only one or two exceptions, this is the feedback we receive.
I sincerely regret that you feel otherwise. If I have misread or misunderstood your comments, I would be very happy to sit down with you and discuss the issues.
Thank you for posting our FF Association web page in your news letter. We will keep this information up to date as best we can.
I would again like to take the opportunity to invite you, and all others in the community, to attend the Fire Commissioners meeting the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10:30 AM. Our Commissioners and Staff are very focused on providing a high degree of professional service to our customer. History, however, has taught us not to bend the rules, even for the good of the community. It seems to come around and bite us.
Please join us on the 2nd Saturday.
Best Regards,
Frank
Franklin L. Yela, Chief
Skamania County Fire Protection District 6
