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By Brian O’Shea, Plateau Daily News
Volunteers from Team Rubicon worked hard last week spearheading an effort to build fire breaks, widen access, and remove dangerous fuel for wildfires at The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center off Dillard Road. Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization where volunteers respond before, during, and after disasters and crisis hit an area.
Members of Team Rubicon remove debris that could add fuel to wildfires at The Mountain.
There is only one access road leading to the summit of The Mountain. As an educational retreat that’s often-hosting groups of people, a fire incident could prove disastrous without proper fire mitigation in place.
“The Mountain has only one road in and out,” said Team Rubicon Safety Officer Tom Aycock. “If a fire were to endanger The Mountain and the road was involved, the people at The Mountain would be trapped. Team Rubicon spent 8 days removing fire fuel across the mountain including around the cabins, lodge, and office where the preponderance of attendees would be located, along with making the road accessible to all first responder agencies, specifically large firetrucks.”
A fire break created by Team Rubicon at the top of The Mountain to prevent the spread of wildfires.
Fire mitigation at The Mountain was a collaboration between The Mountain, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, NC Forest Service, and Team Rubicon.
Executive Director of The Mountain, Steph Anderson, said she was thrilled with what Team Rubicon’s 30 volunteers achieved and feels confident The Mountain is much safer if there were to be a fire.
“They are one of the most professional, efficient, and kind people I have met,” said Anderson. “They really cared about doing an excellent job here on The Mountain. They achieved in 1 week what would have taken us years to accomplish. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for our non-profit and the connections that were made will last forever!”
Team Rubicon members removed several dead trees throughout The Mountain’s campus.
The project came about after Team Rubicon WNC Administrator and local firefighter Davis Picklesimer began discussions with Anderson last year.
“I started volunteering with Team Rubicon in 2018 after Hurricane Michael,” said Picklesimer. “Over the years, I’ve learned more about their capabilities and assumed several volunteer leadership roles. Being a local firefighter and responding to wildfires, my concern was centered around our dryer weather in Highlands. The Mountain’s Executive Director, Steph Anderson, being from out west, she understood fire mitigation.”
Team Rubicon’s administrative team coordinates fire mitigation efforts throughout The Mountain.
The operation was not without its challenges.
“Located at approximately 4,200 feet above sea level, and the mountainous-uneven terrain with complicated undergrowth and thick rhododendrons made chainsaw work technically difficult and exhausting,” said Aycock.
Aycock added that Team Rubicon is thankful to The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center for the opportunity to assist in their mission and their gracious hospitality while they stayed there.
To learn more about The Mountain click HERE.
To learn more about Team Rubicon, click HERE.