Cal Fire Pre-Fire Engineer Greg Schwegler and Wildlife Mitigation Coordinator Alex Bourriague provided an informative and important presentation on home hardening and wildfire mitigation, highlighting practical steps homeowners can take reducing the risk of wildfire damage from embers, flames, and radiant heat. 

Among the most important recommendations were keeping roofs and gutters free of leaves and debris, maintaining a five-foot noncombustible zone around the home, and covering attic and foundation vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh to help prevent embers from entering. Homeowners were also advised to avoid using decorative bark or other combustible landscaping materials within five feet of structures and to use fire-resistant fencing or noncombustible materials where fences connect to a home.

The presenters emphasized that wind-driven embers are responsible for many home ignitions during wildfires and can travel more than a mile ahead of the main fire. Because of this, preventing embers from accumulating near or entering a home is one of the most effective ways to improve wildfire resilience.

The presentation served as a timely reminder that small, proactive measures can significantly increase a home’s chances of surviving a wildfire.

Dave Sargent introduced scholarship recipient Grace Xu, one of six outstanding students awarded a $2,000 Rotary academic scholarship this year. Grace is no stranger to our club, having attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp near Portola as a junior.

Grace graduated with an impressive 4.41 GPA. The scholarship committee was especially impressed by her success in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, among the most challenging classes offered in high school. To earn college credit, students must pass a nationally administered exam, with a score of 5 being the highest possible. Grace earned top scores in Chinese, World History, United States History, Precalculus, Statistics, and English Language and Composition—a remarkable accomplishment that reflects both her academic ability and dedication.

Outside the classroom, Grace participated in Speech and Debate, served as a Key Club officer, was active in the California Scholarship Federation, competed in Math Steeplechase, attended the National Student Leadership Conference in the neuroscience cohort, participated in Mock Trial, and volunteered extensively at Mercy Hospital in Folsom.

This fall, Grace will attend University of California, San Diego, where she plans to major in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience while pursuing a pre-med track. Her goal is to attend medical school and become an anesthesiologist.

We congratulate Grace on her many accomplishments and wish her continued success in the future.

A special thank you goes to our generous sponsors whose raffle prize donations helped make the event such a success: Nighthawk Home Inspections, American Pipe Bursting, Home Warranty of America, NHD, Farmers Insurance, N&G Floors, JoEllen Brooks – Your Next Door Realtor, Bryherr Construction, Gina Posey, U.S. Bank, and the Cameron Park Community Center.

We would also like to recognize the volunteers for their time and energy to make the evening possible. Volunteers included Chair JoEllen Brooks, Gigi Brooks, Leighton Allen, Dan and Annette Gott, Dave Sargent, Don Fuller, Adam Marshall, Marlyn Pino-Jones, and Bill Ettlich.   

Thank you as well to everyone who attended, purchased raffle tickets, donated prizes, and supported this community event. Rotarians and spouses Gary and Dede Clarke, Gina Posey, Mary Chan, Sid Bazett, Linda Fuller, and Bill Ettlich also joined the bingo players, helping make the evening a memorable success.

Events like Bingo Night bring neighbors together, strengthen community connections, and remind us what makes Cameron Park such a special place to call home. We look forward to seeing everyone again at our next Bingo Night!