On June 4, 2019, The City of Converse was awarded the Firewise USA® SITE designation by the National Fire Protection Association and the Texas A&M Forest Service. The designation is awarded through participation in meeting Best Management Practices in the Wildland-Urban Interface, in cooperation with homeowners. Converse residents continue to work to improve awareness and prevention efforts as identified within the program, This includes adopting a Smokey Bear prevention campaign, sharing information about fire resistant landscaping at local meetings, working to educate homeowners on various fire safety practices, and removing “fuels” from and around homes. Homeowners worked collaboratively with the Converse Fire Chief and Public Works Director to create a community wildfire protection plan, and identified 19 specific hazard areas. The team then worked to remove the vegetation In 6 of these areas, in order to reduce the risk of a wildfire. On National Wildfire Preparedness Day, May 4th, 2019, approximately 200 Converse residents worked to paint fire hydrants and remove brush from 3 areas identified the community wildfire protection plan.
“The City of Converse has approximately 1,000 acres of open-space Wildland which poses a significant risk to the community. I am very proud of the efforts of the citizens in working to reduce risk, and grateful to earn the Firewise USA® SITE designation”, said Converse Fire Chief Valdez. Fire Chief Valdez also stated, “Approximately 2,500 homeowners will receive a 5% annual discount on their insurance policies because of this designation”.
