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Firewise volunteers revive wildfire-preparedness push; council asks staff to explore prescribed burns
Summary
Volunteers leading the Firewise USA site in Lago Vista presented an education and mitigation plan to council; members asked staff to coordinate possible prescribed burns on large parcels, outreach and clearer evacuation planning with ESD 1.
Volunteers restarting the Firewise USA program in Lago Vista presented the organization’s history, services and an action plan to city council on Feb. 6, urging a stronger emphasis on homeowner defensible space and community-level planning for wildfire and evacuations.
Jeff Huegeli, lead volunteer for Firewise in Lago Vista, summarized the program’s purpose: “neighbors helping neighbors” to reduce structure vulnerability through voluntary home-hardening and vegetation management, not by providing emergency response or code enforcement. Huegeli outlined a calendar of volunteer training, home evaluations (“SIZ evaluations”), monthly office hours and a plan to reapply for national Firewise certification later in 2025.
Council discussion shifted to what the city can control. Councilor Blake Roberts and others asked staff to identify city- or privately-owned parcels that would be suitable for prescribed burns, which the Travis County/East Travis ESD and Texas A&M Forest Service could use for training and fuel reduction. Roberts said ESD 1 had expressed support for partnering on prescribed burns and that staff should reach out to large private landowners to ask if they would participate.
The council also discussed evacuation planning and communications. Several councilors noted that evacuation routes and public communication can be complex because wind and fire location alter the best routes; ESD handling emergency management is critical. Councilors asked the city manager to coordinate with ESD 1, Travis County Sheriff’s Office and other responders to document evacuation options and identify public information the city can post — for example, boat-ramps and alternate egress — and to create transparent outreach materials.
Council asked staff to report back in four to six weeks on outreach to large-tract owners about prescribed-burn participation, and to compile previous code-enforcement letter campaigns for clearing fuel on vacant lots. Huegeli offered Firewise educational materials and suggested the city post program resources online and provide outreach at community events such as LagoFest.
No formal regulatory actions were taken; the council’s direction was to coordinate with ESD 1 and the Texas A&M Forest Service on prescribed-burn opportunities, draft outreach, and post Firewise materials to the city’s website.
