On Halloween 2024, residents of Talmage, including Michael Pound and Sarah Axford, experienced the Montezuma fire, which damaged and destroyed homes. The fire’s cause is undetermined, but linked to a nearby homeless encampment. In the year since, the Talmadge Fire Safe Council, co-founded by Pound and Axford, emerged alongside four other fire safe councils to help local communities identify fire risks and improve safety. They organize events like “dumpathons” to clear brush and educate residents about fire preparedness.
Increased community involvement has led to a sense of ownership regarding fire safety. Fire-Rescue officials are supporting these efforts by spraying brush with fire inhibitors and promoting continuous wildfire management. Local authorities acknowledged the need for action after seeing the impact of the Montezuma fire and other nearby incidents, motivating residents to form councils and take safety measures into their own hands.
Source link
