Who we are
We are your neighbors! We represent the neighborhood located in the SCZ-E006 Evacuation Zone. This is the area bounded to the South by High St., the North by Pogonip and Coolidge Dr., to the East by Harvey West, and to the West by Kalkar Park and Westlake Elementary. Want to take a closer look? Check out our interactive map!
If you want to get in touch you can email our leads at:
You can also find us over on our Facebook page!
Original Founders: Shareen Bell, Scott Smith, Kit Soetaert, Ron Esche
Core Team Members: Adam Bender; Angela Stanford; Migahm Takahaski; Michael OConnell
Our Mission
Highland Firewise is a neighborhood organization dedicated to protecting our homes, reducing Wildland Fire hazards in the WUI open spaces, and increasing fire-safety awareness in our neighborhood. We foster community involvement by building partnerships and finding resources to mitigate fire danger.
Our Values
Resourceful - We use our individual expertise, and our collective knowledge to seek resources that will help reduce the threat of wildfire in our neighborhood
Responsive - We make it a practice to be responsive to our neighbors and partners
Responsible - We educate ourselves on restorative & regenerative practices
Collaborative - We work in partnership with other agencies with complementary Missions to address wildfire issues within our neighborhood
Why was Highland Firewise formed?
Following the devastating Camp Fire in 2018 we formed as a neighborhood group to learn more about how to protect our homes from Wildfires and address the growing threat of wildfire at the top of Evergreen Cemetery ravine where the Eucalyptus trees line the street near power poles on Highland Ave
I live in a city, why should I be concerned about wildfires?
If you live in Santa Cruz it is undeniable that you live in a city, however, it is a city that is built right into the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains. We are surrounded by massive and beautiful trees, but those trees and the surrounding vegetation can quickly become a dangerous fuel ladder which allows the fire to begin spreading from tree top to tree top. This danger is especially pronounced at the Wildland Urban Interface that the neighborhoods surrounding Pogonip and the Evergreen Cemetery are part of.
How can I get involved?
Join the Highland Firewise Community mailing list by contacting: team@highlandfirewise.org
You will be added to our monthly newsletter with updates about Firewise projects and activities happening in your neighborhood
Take our volunteer survey and let us know what you want to do!
Become a resource for our Firewise Team by contacting: team@highlandfirewise.org
Tell us about your expertise and let us know how you might be a resource or help us find a resource to mitigate wildfire dangers in our neighborhood and open spaces
How is Highland Firewise connected to the nationwide Firewise organization?
We completed the necessary requirements to become a certified member of NFAP and we receive all of the NFAP updates and have access to their resources when needed.