Scorching summer temperatures finally arrived in a summer that has proven to be one of the coolest on record in the Napa Valley.

With measurable rainfall still two months out, we cannot let cool temperatures lead us to believe the threat of fire is any lower this season. The recent fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains serve as a warning and remembrance of past fires threatening life and property during this time of year.

The best fire prevention and preparation by local departments is only as good as the support of our residents. The program Firewise Napa started in 2005 with a five-year education and prevention program, combining the money and energy of each of the five municipalities and Napa County.

In a collaborative effort reminiscent of the flood control project, each of the municipalities worked with “fire prevention professionals, public agencies, business owners and concerned residents” to create a comprehensive document covering all issues relating to the preparation for a catastrophic wildland fire in our county.

Consistent with this collaborative effort, the Firewise Napa logo includes the expressions “Sharing the Responsibility” and “County-Cities-Community.” Contrary to frequent suggestions that our city and county governments do not work in harmony, this effort clearly reflect energies and resources coming together for the common good of all residents to resolve a common problem.

Aided by a grant from the “Western States Wildland Urban Interface Project” and local fire agencies, this large 12-page color document should be required reading for all residents of our county and particularly those located in fire-sensitive areas.

The document includes a list of phone numbers for all fire agencies in Napa County, a list of fire-wise planting materials, a lean and green checklist, frequently asked questions and examples of how actual fires behave in different locations and habitats.

Experience tells us that wildfires in Napa County have created “greater loss of life, increased property losses, more damage to natural resources and more money needed for fire fighting.” To the extent that residents heed the information and direction provided, we can eliminate or minimize the damage and danger in the remaining months of this season.

In addition to the comprehensive information contained in the homeowner’s guide available at your local planning department, more information is available at www.co.napa.ca.us, www.co.napa.ca.us/firewise and www.firewise.org.

Even if you are not living in a fire-sensitive area, you may find another reason to examine this tangible result of a collaborative effort. While this effort is specifically about fire, our valley is consistently confronted with other county-wide issues such as transportation, water supply and housing that also require a collaborative effort to resolve.

The future quality of life might well be determined by this one defining issue: the ability of our county and municipal governments to work in a collaborative manner. By accepting the reality that we are one valley and one community, the efforts of Firewise Napa provide a template for the resolution of many more issues that confront our community.

Bogue is a real estate broker in Napa. He can be reached at 486-5511 or cbnapa@napanet.net.