Pine Mountain Firewise Committee Updates:
Next Committee Meeting:
- Date: TBA
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Location: POA Community Building
- Agenda: Firewise Updates
Committee Meeting Minutes:
- 03-20-2026 Firewise Committee Minutes
- 02-09-2026 Firewise Committee Minutes + 02-2026 Committee Agenda
- 11-03-2025 Firewise Committee Minutes
- 10-04-2025 Firewise Committee Minutes
- 09-08-2025 Firewise Committee Minutes
- 07-02-2025 Firewise Committee Minutes
- 03-2025 Firewise Committee Minutes – March meetings were held on the 6th, 13th & 14th
- 02-15-2025 Firewise Committee Minutes
National Firewise USA Program Certificate of Recognition:
Firewise Community Gathering Information:
Community Event Cancelled
- Date: May 2nd – Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
- Time: TBA
- Location: TBA
- Agenda: TBA
- Note: Safeguarding your Community campaign information: Firewise USA Help Safeguarding Your Community
The Latest Firewise Meeting Minutes:
March 20, 2026
Pine Mountain Community Building
Present: Gary Thorpe, Ed Hallyburton, Ruth Robertson, Brian and Tina Rieper
Gary Thorpe, PM POA Firewise Chair, called the meeting to order. The only New Business to be discussed for this meeting is to determine a site for fuel removal and cleanup by the Pine Mountain community for our May 2 community event. Participation in this nationwide event is a requirement by the National Organization for continued recognition as a Firewise Community.
Gary and Ruth proposed that Pine Mountain concentrate on fuel removal at the entrance to our community where Hurricane Helene took down numerous trees that border Ward’s Gap Road. Our neighbors who reside across the road from the entrance used their farm equipment to push downed trees off the road and onto the shoulder of Pine Mountain’s property. Gary said he has not counted how many downed trees there are, but a guesstimate is in the neighborhood of 10 – 12 trees. These will need to be cut into manageable lengths to move further off the road and from under power lines, into an area where they can be burned. Those in attendance agreed this was a necessary project to undertake for this community event.
Members of Pine Mountain who own chainsaws will be asked to gather at this location the morning of Saturday, May 2, to cut up and move this debris. Once completed, we can apply for a burn permit from Burke County, and we will engage the assistance of SMFR to assist in a controlled burn of this fuel at their earliest convenience.
We will also request that lunch be provided for those who are working with chainsaws and four-wheelers to cut up and move the wood. Community members will be asked to treat this meal as a “family picnic” and to bring sandwiches, chips, deserts, and any picnic style side dishes to the Pavilion for a noon meal.
The question was raised about the debris pile located at 2nd Tee Drive and whether this pile of debris can be burned there or if it needs to be moved. Gary explained that although burning had often occurred at 2nd Tee in years past, it was not a safe location for burning a large pile of debris. Ed will talk with the POA Board to secure permission for the debris at 2nd Tee to be moved from that location back to the area on the old golf course where debris piles have previously been burned. If approved, then Firewise can alert the members that debris suitable for burning should be brought to this location.
Gary and Ruth will work out the details of this event and will request the Board help us advertise this event by posting this information on the PM POA Website and Facebook page.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ruth Robertson, Secretary
PM POA Firewise Committee
