Fire Suppression

During fire season, the wagon stays on Hoover Creek Road about halfway between the GMPOA boundaries. It is for the use of any property owner. You’ll need a 2-inch hitch ball to pull the trailer.

Wildland fire is a serious threat GMPOA landowners face.  The Board works at fire control. Cattle grazing reduces the fuels available and therefore helps lessen the threat of fire. The Board maintains a fire wagon parked on Hoover Creek Road during fire season that can be rushed to any fire incident. Several times in the past few years, use of the wagon prevented local fires from spreading.

The Blackfoot Challenge in Ovando works with landowners throughout our area to reduce fire danger.  The Blackfoot Challenge program generally pays 50% of the cost of thinning timber. A similar program is available through the U.S. Forest Service.  However, the Blackfoot Challenge’s administrative requirements are much simpler. If the site includes merchantable timber, it can be removed to offset the cost to the landowner. Significant savings can be had if adjoining landowners work together to treat their properties. If you are interested in treating your property, visit the website: www.blackfootchallenge.org.

Another issue brought to the attention of the Board by various firefighting agencies is that the GMPOA main access roads were established with a 40 easement (20 feet on either side of the centerline). This is a minimum requirement for traffic and, more importantly, for access by firefighting and other emergency/first responder vehicles. Firefighters have been trained not to drive into areas where the trees enclose the road and would prevent escape if they caught fire.  All property owners are urged to remove vegetation where needed on the roads crossing their land.