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| LIFE IN SOLERA | AUGUST 2026 | 9 We are as a community are into our third month of the Firewise program. Some residents are reporting that they are receiving homeowners' insurance discounts and some residents are reporting that their homeowner's insurance carriers are not recognizing the Firewise program. Remember, the purpose of the Firewise program is to make our homes and community more fire resilient to the threat of wildfires. As more local communities receive Firewise recognition, the greater the possibility that insurance companies will start to recognize the Firewise program. I was asked recently to assist the Four Seasons HOA in Beaumont in their Firewise program. Every community presents unique challenges in getting their Firewise application approved. Four Seasons HOA, because of its size in area and resident population, had to divide their community into two separate areas requiring two separate Firewise applications. I was recently informed that one of their Firewise applications was submitted for approval and finishing touches are being made to their second Firewise application. This is great news for the Beaumont community. Solera is always ready and willing to assist our local community partners. Recently Cal-Fire announced that Riverside County and nine cities within its service area including the city of Beaumont have been added to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection's Risk Reduction Community List. This is a great honor for our city. Communities included on the list are better positioned to compete for state and federal grant funding opportunities that support wildfire mitigation and resilience projects. The designation may also support homeowners through California's "Safer from Wildfires" framework, which encourages insurance companies to recognize actions taken to reduce wildfire risk. is month's Firewise tip: Trim Your Hedges Trimming your hedges is an important part in keeping your home fire resilient. As you or your gardener trim your homes hedges, don't forget to clean out all the dead leaves, needles, and twigs underneath the hedges, this material is commonly called "duff " in fire department parlance. "Duff " is extremely dangerous. Duff fires burn through glowing f lameless combustion. They produce very little smoke and often go unnoticed by residents and firefighters alike. The best way to prevent a duff fire is by regular maintenance. Use gloves, shovels and rakes to clean out the duff under your hedges. Avoid using gasoline power tools when cleaning out your hedges as these may spark and start a fire. One other consideration. Our local critters such as snakes and bobcats like to hang out in quiet undisturbed places such as hedges. Use caution! ~ Ron Monroe, Solera Firewise Resident Leader, ronoap@aol.com, (909) 732-6139 Firewise News & Tips