Town Hall Meeting with Cal Fire
June 13, 2013 at 6:30pm in the Yosemite Lakes Clubhouse.
Chief Koerperich and her staff will speak to the residents during a community fire awareness meeting (town hall). CAL FIRE is continuing to work in the area and meet the needs of the public, including fire investigation and fire damage mitigation. They also would like to discuss how residents can be prepared in the event of a wildfire. They hope to quell some of the rumors, provide answers to questions and address some inaccuracies being portrayed in the community and on Facebook.
Community Service Bulletin 5/23/2013: Fire Safety
To all of our residents this is a reminder of the extremely dangerous fire conditions we currently experience. Even though we have not had any official word on the cause of our recent fires we cannot rule out any possibilities. We need to keep our eyes open to what is happening around us. If you see any suspicious activities report it to the Sheriff’s Department at (559) 675-7770 and to the YLOA Security Office at (559) 658-7466 ext. 113. Try to give a detailed description of what and who you see.
This last weekend we had two more fires in the park. On Saturday May 18th we had a brush fire in the 30000 block of Rivas Road. Cal Fire responded to the scene and was contained the fire before it could reach any houses in the area. Our Security assisted Cal Fire with traffic control until they were released by CHP.
On Sunday May 19th we had a much larger fire which started on Road 400 and spread up the side of the hill towards Lilley Mountain Road. Unfortunately Cal Fire could not contain this fire before it damaged several out buildings and one home. Cal Fire utilized several engine companies, support teams and aircraft working to contain this fire. In addition to fire personnel we had assistance from the Sheriff’s Department and CHP to block-off streets and control the flow of traffic in and around the scene.
Not only did we have help from outside agencies, but our own internal departments assisted in these emergency. Our YLOA Roads and Maintenance departments assisted the Sheriff’s Department by barricading streets wherever was needed. YSPUC assisted Cal Fire by showing them the locations of the fire hydrant and other water resources were. We prepared our Clubhouse as an evacuation center for our residents if they were unable to return home. At approx. 9:30 PM Sunday Red Cross advised us that Cal Fire was allowing the residents back into the closed off areas of the park and our evacuation center would not be needed. The one displaced family had made arrangements for lodging.
In addition to the two over the weekend we had another brush fire on May 22nd in the area of Rivas Road and East Rivas Circle at approx. 8:30 PM. This fire was in the same area as the fire we had on Saturday May 18th. By 10:30 PM Cal Fire had this fire fully contained. There were no injuries or damage to any buildings in this fire.
At this time the cause of the three fires are still under investigation so we do not know what started them. These fires have shown us the importance of being extremely cautious in our everyday routines; don’t use lawn equipment in the heat of the day, don’t ride motorized off road vehicles in dry brush or grass covered areas. Although there will be no more burn days until sometime in the fall, remember to take extra care on burn days, make sure you keep your burns small and have a water source nearby to put out the fire. Make sure you properly put out burning objects prior to disposing of them. The dangers of throwing out a burning cigarette have been reported for decades. Please do not throw glowing cigarette butts, or anything else, out the car windows. We were lucky this time that no one was injured on these fires. We may not be so lucky next time.
It is going to take all of us working together to keep us safe during this fire season.
Community Report 5/13/2013: FIRE SAFETY
Over the weekend (5/11/13 & 5/12/13) Yosemite Lakes Park and nearby areas experienced three reported brush fires. On Saturday afternoon a fire occurred on the side of Yosemite Springs Parkway approx. 200 yards from the Hillside Market. YLOA Security was first to arrive on scene and assisted Cal Fire with traffic control until the Fire Incident Commander released our security. At this writing (5/13/2013) there is no word on what caused the fire.
On Sunday morning another fire occurred on Highway 41 in the area of the passing lane between Yosemite Springs Parkway and Road 200. The third fire occurred Sunday afternoon on Ranger Circle. YLOA Security again was first on scene and assisted Cal Fire with traffic control. This fire burned several acres. Numerous engines responded to this fire. Cal Fire also had two fixed wing aircraft and one helicopter covering the area. At this writing we have not been notified what may have caused this fire.
There were no reported injuries or structural damage in YLP from these fires. Cal Fire advised that this year’s fire season is approximately two months ahead of our normal season. Please take extra care during these very dry conditions in order to prevent fires from occurring. Cal Fire and our Engine Company 10 recommend completing yard mowing by 10 AM - fires can be caused by sparks from lawn equipment.
Best Regards,
Tom Swire, President
YLOA Board of Directors
CREDIT CARD FRAUD
We received notification from the Madera County Sheriff’s office that fraudulent text messages were being received by some of the county’s residents about their Visa Cards. We wanted to share this information with you so you could protect yourselves from this scam. Please read the Sheriff’s Notification below.
Sheriff Issues Credit Card Fraud Alert -
MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson is issuing a credit card fraud alert to all cell phone users.
Sheriff Anderson was advised by local bank officials today who reported that at least two customers so far have received one of two text messages on their cell phones: "Visa Cards has been blocked," or "visa card has been suspended."
In both text messages, the cell phone owner was instructed to click on the following link: http://www.shiftedlands.com.
Sheriff Anderson warns anyone who receives a text like this, "Do not open that link. Do not respond to that text. Delete that message from your phone immediately."
YLOA ™Community Service Bulletin April 12 2013 In the past month our office has received several reports of burglaries and suspicious persons in the park. Most of the reports are centered between two main locations. One location is in the area of Long Hollow Drive and Deep Forest Drive. The other area appears to be side streets that connect to Lilley Mountain Drive. The Sheriff’s Department has been notified about these incidents and they are investigating them. If you see any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity within any portion of the park please contact our Security department at (559) 658-7466 extension 113 or 112. When contacting us the more information you give such as description of vehicles (make, model, color and license number), people (gender, race, build, hair color and clothing description) and direction of travel, will greatly improve our chances of locating these people and reducing the number of these kinds on incidents in the park. News releases like this remind our residents to be aware of what is happening in their neighborhoods. Protect yourselves and property by being knowledgeable about what takes place in and around your neighborhoods. Please report any suspicious activities to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office (559) 642-3201 and to the Yosemite Lakes Park Security Office. With your help we can reduce the chances that you and your neighbors will become victims of criminal activity. Best regards, Tom Swire, President YOSEMITE LAKES OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
March 4 2013
COMMUNITY NEWS RELEASE
In the previous two weeks, our office has received a report of “solicitors” claiming to be Fresno State students allegedly performing various fund raising efforts in the YLP subdivision. These individuals did not display ID, business cards or other certified flyers from Fresno State. They have been seen driving a small white car and a small silver car. Our office has not been able to verify these individuals’ identification or their purpose. Solicitation is not allowed in the subdivision, and we have no communication from Fresno State of specific fund raising projects in this area. We do not believe these individuals are soliciting for Fresno State. If you have had contact with these individuals, please contact our Security department at 559 658-7466 extension 113.
This news release reminds our residents to be aware of what is happening in your neighborhoods. Protect yourselves and your property by being vigilant, and by contacting authorities about suspicious activities. Please report suspicious activities to the Madera County Sheriff and to our YLP Security. Being cautious and communicating your concerns will aid in reducing your chances, and your neighbor’s chances, of becoming a victim to crime.
Copyright ©YLOATM 2013 all rights reserved.
27 November 2012
NEWS RELEASE
During the early morning hours on Sunday November 18th 2012 unknown person(s) broke into the mailboxes located at Revis Road and Ranger Circle Drive in Yosemite Lakes Park. The units containing the individual mailboxes were compromised by the backs of the units being pried open.
YLP security recovered the mail that was exposed and left at the scene. These items were turned over to postal authorities. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the thefts.
YLP security asks that if your mailbox was one that was compromised to please monitor your private accounts, credit score, etc. and immediately notify the Sheriff’s Office of any suspicious activity.
If you have any information regarding who was responsible for this incident to please notify the Sheriff’s Office as soon as possible.
Joseph W. Shreve
Safety/Security Manager, Yosemite Lakes Park
P.P.O. License # 10839
P.I. License # 19562
Retired, Fresno Police Department
josephs@yloa.org---559-658-7466
COMMUNITY ALERT
On February 1st 2012 during the early afternoon hours there was a witnessed attack on a 25 pound dog by a single coyote in the Lilley Mountain-Road 400 area. Unfortunately the dog had to be euthanized due to its injuries sustained in the attack.
The Yosemite Lakes Owners’ Association wants residents to be aware of this incident. Fish and Game officials have recently commented on the growth of the coyote population in the YLP area. Residents are encouraged to be vigilant in protecting their family pets. The methods to do this are as unique as your property. Some common things to consider:
· Do not leave your dog tethered to a run line while outside and unattended
· Do not leave loose dogs unattended outside
· Consider an outside kennel with high chain link fencing and concrete footings on the fence line.
Generally, Fish and Game wardens and other law enforcement officials will not discharge their firearms in the park absent an imminent or immediate threat to human safety. Federal regulations have virtually eliminated the use of traps/cages to capture wild animals. Federal regulations have also eliminated the use of poison to eradicate unwanted or nuisance wildlife. This makes it incumbent on the pet owners to take what steps they deem are necessary for their pets’ safety. Wild animals, including carnivores, live in our park in abundance. We need to learn to live with them.
