You never really "Think" about fire until after the fact....
Fire is REAL - create your Zones Of Protection
This Mountain has about 107+ years of Accumulated Fuels
Download your Wildfire Risk Assessment Sheet at Top of page.
107 years since the last Destructive Fire
Fire has History on White Oak Mountain
1916 - Dec 24 Log Cabin Inn - cause unknown
1917 - May 30 - Destructive fire over several days – notice in newspaper
1938 - March 3 Blazing fire came within 4 feet of The Narrows with Caretaker Dewey McMurray credited helping save the house.
1961 - The Narrows - Lighting Strike
1977 - Dec - Rix Haven - Unattended campfire
1980's - The Brow Unit D - Cause unknown
2010 - Wildfire between Little White Oak and WOM - Lighting Strike
2013 - WOMA Log Home - Fire from Appliance
2016 - WOMA Log Home - Lighting Strike
2017 - WOMA Home to the East of Sunrise Rock - Lighting Strike
2020 - WOMA Log Home - Poor handling Fireplace embers
2022 - May 22 - Fireworks at Sunrise Rock
2022 - May 24 - Lighting Strike Hickory Tree between Hemlock Trail & WOM Rd. - See photo
2023 - April 1 - WOMA Log Cabin at bottom of WOM Rd total loss - Fire started in home.
If you know of other Fire Incidents, Please report or correct
Four Fire Balloons Launched at Sunrise Rock
About 9:30PM Tuesday, August 10, 2021 someone launched Four 32inch tall, 10 sqft, paper balloons powered by an open flame suspended in the opening.
The four balloons scattered, with this one landing 400 feet above and 1/4 mile away from the launch site on Morning Ride Drive. Two of the other Fire Balloons were swept by the air current down hill at Sunrise Rock near the end of their flame lit flight.
Our mountain has not burned in 104 years, we have decades of fuels scattered vertically along the Bluewall Escarpment. Polk County Fire Resources would have been stretched thin to fight 3 to 4 woodland wildfires.
Which brings to mind... is your home ready to face a wall of flames and survive? Become FireWise now... as you maintain your property and start establishing three fire defense zones out.
Click the Download below for your Risk Rating Sheet.
Your WOMA Board strongly supports Firewise Program
On Feb 4, 2021 Ms. Jen Haas and Ranger Ryan Searcy presented, via Zoom, the Power Point Presentation PDF download Above.
We encourage you to spend some time and review the Presentation. It is easy to follow and explains the FireWise Program quite well.
The Board agreed to move forward with the Firewise Program because it is in the interest of the common good of the mountain.
What Can We Do?
WOMA becomes a Certified FireWise Community
Start by Protecting your Home.
Create your Home Zones of Protection.
Your Action and Participation is the Key!
It is in your interest. Consider: the photo of the Dry Hydrant, at Pond #3, or the City Hydrant, at Houston and Chocolate Drop, are your closest water sources. Those two hydrants are where the Fire Department tanker truck re-fills and returns to fight the fire that threatens our mountain homesite - perhaps up to 20 minutes turn-around-time.
Take Action - Protect Your Home First
Excellent video to bring you Up to Speed.
Take Action - Protect Your Home First - Create your Zones of Protection
1. View the Power Point at top of this page.
2. Conduct an Individual Homeowner Risk Rating Below
3. Become a participating WOMA FireWise committee member
Skip Williams is Lead on this for the Association.
Contact: 828-894-5483 or email: skipwilliams0319@gmail.com