Quincy Firewise group moving forward
By Victoria Metcalf
The Quincy Firewise group is moving forward.
What began as an idea is now a growing reality as more individuals and groups are joining the effort to clean up hazard fuels around homes, in neighborhoods and other places where weeds and neglect create ripe areas for fires.
“We haven’t scratched the surface yet,” said Mike Flanigan one of four people spearheading the project.
On a recent Saturday, 40 members of local church organizations turned out to help those who are unable to clear their own properties. The result was five truckloads of natural debris that could have fed fires, Flanigan explained.
And as they were working, Flanigan said that Dave Sims, who owns and operates a local tree service, offered his facilities to dump the debris, Flanigan told people at a regular second Tuesday of each month Quincy Firewise meeting. That group meets once a month at 4 p.m. at the Rotary picnic area at Pioneer Park. And places to dump yard waste are usually a problem finding, he added.
As Flanigan and others coordinate the next work party, Quincy Firewise is identifying work sites. “A labor of love is a direction that we would really like to go,” said organizer Richard Stockton.
Whether projects are spearheaded by neighborhood captains or in pods, it’s an opportunity for entire neighborhoods to invest in becoming fire safe and not just one person’s yard, Stockton added. It’s also a way to help people who can’t get out and do the work for themselves.
Beginning with nothing, the Quincy Firewise group has now clocked $140,000 toward its goal of $300,000. That’s an investment of $3 an hour for reporting all of the wildfire preparedness work in the Quincy area. In fact, with the recent Saturday’s contribution of time and work, $2,500 was invested toward the overall goal, Flanigan said.
The Quincy Firewise group should be near and dear to local residents. In 2020 the Claremont Fire burned right down to family homes a long La Porte Road, in East Quincy and other areas. While the Bear Fire, burning at the same time, threatened communities from the opposite direction.
For more information on what to do or how to get involved, there are three ways to get connected to Quincy Firewise. People can email the organization at [email protected]; there are the second Tuesday meetings at Pioneer Park; or follow the people and their activities on Facebook.
