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Home -> Community Conservation -> Forest Safety Partnership
The Forest Safety Partnership
In cooperation with HFCA management, the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Subcommittee, Hemlock Farms Conservancy (HFC), Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company (HFVF&R Co.), and the HFCA Environment Department have created the Forest Safety Partnership to better strategize, educate, and protect our forested home. Each group brings a valuable facet to this cumulative effort, and each has made its mission to protect our corner of the woods.
Key Partners in the Forest Safety Partnership
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
The Wildland Urban Interface plays a crucial role in the Forest Safety Partnership by focusing on the areas where residential zones meet forested landscapes. Through strategic planning and development, they work to mitigate wildfire risks by educating residents on how to help prevent wildfires. Their efforts aim to reduce the impact of wildfires on homes and improve overall community preparedness.
Hemlock Farms Conservancy
As stewards of the land, Hemlock Farms Conservancy is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and ecological health of the Hemlock Farms area. They help manage our forests to reduce fire hazards and maintain biodiversity. The Conservancy collaborates with local authorities and residents to implement best practices for forest management, contributing to long-term environmental safety and resilience.
Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company
Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire and Rescue is an essential partner in the Forest Safety Partnership, providing rapid response capabilities and emergency services in the event of wildfires or other disasters. Their trained volunteers not only fight fires but also participate in fire prevention efforts, community outreach, and training programs to enhance safety awareness. Through their commitment and expertise, they help ensure the safety of residents and protect the valuable forest resources in Hemlock Farms.
To learn more about the importance of the partnership and education in mitigating wildfire risk, watch the following video created by WUI, HFC, & HFVF&R Co.
The Educators Behind the Forest Safety Partnership
The Forest Safety Partnership (FSP) is a partnership between HFCA’s Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Subcommittee, Hemlock Farms Conservancy (HFC), and Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company (HFVF&R Co.) to educate members and mitigate the likelihood of wildfire within the gates of Hemlock Farms. The organizers and facilitators behind the FSP are qualified individuals trained and equipped with extensive knowledge that allows them to efficiently, accurately, and effectively educate others on topics related to wildfire prevention. Each of these experts volunteers time to their organization and is unpaid for the work they do to protect our forested
community. In their first video, HFVF&R Co. Fire Chief Dmitry Boykov, WUI Vice-Chair Tom McCarthy, and HFC President Kelly Stagen emphasize the importance of this partnership and the strength that can be found in working in cooperation with one another. This trio and their groups look forward to sharing more information to equip you with the tools to protect your forested home.
Dmitry Boykov, HFVF&R Co. Fire Chief
HFVF&R Co. Fire Chief Dmitry Boykov has a distinguished career in emergency services. He was born in the USSR and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Chief Boykov is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran (2001-2012). He served as a firefighter/EMT specializing in aircraft rescue and was a space shuttle rescue technician for the NASA Orbiter Program. After his discharge, Chief Boykov graduated with a degree in Emergency Medical Services and worked as a paramedic in New York City. Currently, he serves as a federal firefighter/paramedic at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Chief Boykov has lived in Hemlock Farms full-time since 2016.
Kelly Stagen, HFC President
Kelly Stagen is a mixed media artist, author, and environmental educator. She is recognized on a local, state, and national level for her conservation advocacy. Kelly has served on many national and state committees and received training on a multitude of conservation topics, including forest land management, invasive-species management, wildfire prevention, and water quality and conservation. She is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and served the Commonwealth as a delegate of the National Association of Conservation Districts. In our county, she is the vice-chair of Pike County Conservation District and president of HFC. She was recently awarded a National Honorable Mention for Distinguished Service in Conservation. As a resident of Hemlock Farms, Kelly considers her volunteer efforts for wildfire prevention in our community to be one of the most important ways to use her voice to protect our precious forested environment.
Nancy Ross, WUI Chair
After a 36-year career, Nancy Ross retired from the U.S. Forest Service as the Eastern Region Director of Renewable Resources. She moved to Hemlock from Pittsburgh in the fall of 2024. Nancy serves as Chair of the Ad Hoc Wildland Urban Interface Committee and participates as member of the Environment and Public Health Safety & Security Committees. She enjoys playing pool, bocce, Tai Chi and exploring NE Pennsylvania.
Tom McCarthy, WUI Vice-Chair
Tom McCarthy earned a BS in Biology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ, and then an MBA at Baruch College in NYC, NY. He served four years in the United States Navy as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Technician at NAS PAX River in Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-1. His civilian employment included working as an Assistant Scientist in the Molecular Genetics Lab at Interferon Sciences in New Brunswick, NJ. Due to impending layoffs, he began working as a senior Research Technician in NYU’s Pathology Department in lower Manhattan. After realizing he’d need a PhD to move forward in genetics research, he opted to change fields and found himself working as a Loss Control Engineer and Account Manager at The Travelers Insurance Company. This led to employment at the US-DOL OSHA. He began as a Compliance Safety and Health Officer, served as Assistant Area Director in the Parsippany and Tarrytown Area Offices, and retired as a Compliance Assistant Specialist. Outside of work, he was Scoutmaster for Troop 96 and a firefighter with the Erskine Lakes Volunteer Fire Company in Ringwood, NJ. Here in Hemlock Farms, he serves as Chairman of the Public Health, Safety, and Security Committee and Vice-Chair of the Wildland Urban Interface Committee.
Chipper Days 2026
Chipper Days and Becoming Fire-Wise
By Nancy Ross, Ad Hoc WUI Committee Chair
This article was originally published in the June 2026 issue of Hemlock News.
In July, our 2026 Chipper Days program begins! Each year, we chip the woody debris set out in one specific quadrant of our community—so be sure to check the map and road names to see if your property is included! Only those within this designated area will be eligible for free pickup, so don’t miss out!
Did You Know?
Your most critical line of defense is the Defensible Zone—an essential 30-foot buffer around your home.
Woody stems, twigs, and branches under four (4) inches will be picked up. Piles must be placed in front of the residence, three-to-10 feet from the edge of the road’s surface. Our contractor will chip piles along the roadside and recycle the chips.
HFCA offers this free service at no additional cost to members. The funds for this project come from our operating budget, and Hemlock Farms Conservancy has generously provided a grant of $4,500 towards this project.
Helpful Hints
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You can place debris and branches in one direction in designated areas in front of your property.
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Do not wrap debris or branches in any bundling materials; this creates a safety hazard for contractors.
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Did You Also Know?
In order to re-certify Hemlock Farms as a Firewise USA® community, we really need your help!
Time you spend cleaning up your property and money you spend to have contractors clean up, chip, prune, or landscape your yard all count towards our Firewise USA® application. In order to qualify, we need to show an investment of at least $35 per dwelling unit. Every hour you spend counts as $36, so if every resident reports at least one hour, our re-certification effort will be more likely to succeed!
You can use the online fillable form at http://tinyurl.com/hfcafirewise or visit the Dorisann Mooring Administration Building for a paper copy and drop it off there or email it to the Ad Hoc Wildland Urban Interface Committee at hfcafirewise@gmail.com.
Learn more about how to keep your family safe and reduce your home’s risk for wildfire damage at www.firewise.org.
