Walton County’s First Ever “Firewise Community” Plans Celebration
SOUTH WALTON COUNTY, FL
–The Florida Forest Service and the South Walton Fire District are proud to announce Walton County’s first ever official Firewise Community—Hidden Dunes in South Walton County. As part of the community’s obligation in becoming a Firewise community, the Hidden Dunes Community Association will be holding their annual “Firewise Day” on Thursday, October 11th, beginning at 10 A.M. on-site at 9815 Highway 98 West, Miramar Beach, Florida 32550. (Please see agenda below.)
Hidden Dunes is a twenty-seven acre residential resort designed, constructed, and landscaped to enhance the natural beauty of the woodland areas and beaches of South Walton County. Taking that into consideration, the goal of the Hidden Dunes Firewise committee is to reduce the fire hazard throughout the property to a “low hazard” status. This is being done by making changes that lead to more effective fire safety. This includes planning and participating in activities that promote an awareness of fire prevention and safety among the property owners and neighboring communities.
The Firewise Communities, USA program is a national, multi-agency effort designed to reach beyond the fire service by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in the effort to protect people, property, and natural resources
from the risk of wildland fire BEFORE a fire starts. The initiative is directed and sponsored by federal agencies and national organizations that are responsible for wildland fire management in the United States.
What makes a community “Firewise” you may ask??... Like Hidden Dunes has done, Firewise communities are those that have taken steps to become more resistant to wildfire structural damage. Communities designed from the start or modified later with Firewise concepts help to save lives, protect homes, businesses, and property, and preserve surrounding natural resources.
Hidden Dunes ‘Firewise Day’ celebration schedule of events, Thursday, October 11th:
10:00 a.m. – Community center gathering. Hidden Dunes Community Association president will be presented with the official “Firewise” certification plaque by Florida Forest Service and South Walton Fire District personnel.
10:30 a.m. – Celebration tour and ‘parade’ of the Hidden Dunes property showcasing the positive Firewise changes and other
aspects involved in the mitigation activity. Tour will end at the Tennis Center with refreshments.
12:30 p.m. – Owner’s/Guests first Firewise Golf Event at Kelly Plantation Golf Club.
$79.00 per person
Call Nancy at the association office to reserve your time: 850-654-1325
ALL DAY – Firewise Tennis Day. Call the Pro-shop to sign up: 850-269-2590
For more information about Firewise Communities, visit www.firewise.org.
For Florida Forest Service media interviews and photo and video opportunities, contact Brian Goddin—Wildfire Mitigation Specialist/ Public Information Officer: Florida Forest Service (Chipola Forestry Center) at 625-6621. To report a suspicious fire, call
547-7083. For more information about the Florida Forest Service, including wildfire information, or recreational opportunities, visit the Florida Forest Service website at www.floridaforestservice.com. The Chipola Forestry Center of the Florida Forest Service consists of 7 counties including Bay, Walton, Gulf, Holmes, Calhoun, Washington, and Jackson counties.
(Special Note: Effective July 1st, 2011, the Florida Division of Forestry returned to its ‘original’ name—the Florida Forest Service!)