CWPP PRIORITY #5 Community: John West Road
Location: Section 7, 18, R22E, T7S
Population: 44 dwelling units with numerous outbuildings
Specific Problems
- A 2-mile narrow, winding two-lane road (John West Road) with contiguous forest fuels on both sides that serve as the only road in and out of the community
- A large amount of timber fuels interspersed with heavy volumes of brush within and surrounding the community
- Narrow roads within the community
Evacuation Routes
South on John West Road to Road 426, then west on 426 towards Oakhurst or
east towards North Fork
Past Actions
- Roadside fuel reduction by Cal Fire and Madera County Road Department on roads within the community
- Intermittent compliance inspections for PRC 4291 regulations by fire officials
Priority Mitigation Needs
- Citizen involvement to reduce fuels on their property and to utilize fire-wise construction techniques to improve structure survivability
- Identify and construct safety zones that can be used as temporary shelter-in-place areas for residents as well as fire personnel
- Continued roadside fuel elimination or reduction along roads within the community
- Fuel reduction on Sierra National Forest land adjacent to the community on the east side by the use of harvesting or thinning projects
- Completion of Emergency Access route from Taylor Mountain Road to Indian Springs Road, therefore providing an alternate escape route
- Implement a PRC 4291 compliance inspection program within the community
Education
Through homeowner association or town hall type meetings, develop and promote community specific programs designed to inform and involve the community on wildfire mitigation plans, escape routes, potential shelter-in-place locations, and activities that could reduce the risk to citizens, property and community assets.