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The Forest Safety Partnership
In cooperation with HFCA management, the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Committee, 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 Wildlane 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) Committee, 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
Newly elected HHFVF&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/paramedicat 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.
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.
Robert Palumbo, Natural Resources Director
I started with the Hemlock Farms Community Association (HFCA) in March 1989 as a Roads and Grounds laborer in the Department of Public Works (DPW). Over the years, I advanced through various roles, including Supervisor of Roads and Grounds in 1999, and Assistant Director of Public Works in 2005. I held the latter position until 2022. Along the way, I gained expertise in road maintenance, stormwater management, and budgeting. In 2022, I transitioned to Director of Natural Resources, focusing on projects like deer management and hazardous tree removal. In addition to my work with HFCA, I’ve volunteered with the Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company since 1987, rising to Fire Chief from 1996 to 2010, and later serving as 1st Assistant Chief. I’ve also been part of the Firewise Board since 2005, supporting wildfire initiatives. Outside of work, I enjoy hunting, fishing, and exploring the area’s natural beauty, and I am dedicated to preserving Hemlock Farms’ environment for future generations.
Chipper Days 2025
Chipper Days at Hemlock Farms is an annual event where the community comes together to have brush and yard waste collected and chipped. This service is offered only in specific areas of the community each year, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate on a rotating basis. The program aims to help keep Hemlock Farms looking beautiful while reducing fuel load for wildfires.
