Department of Natural Resources says power tools may only be operated between 8 PM and 1 PM during the Burn Ban. NO power tool operation during the heat of the day!
August 2025, V5
Now that we are officially a Firewise USA community, a nationally recognized site, we have our signs displayed at both entrances of the LRAA for neighborhood recognition.
SAVE THE DATE!
Community Chipping Event
We heard your feedback from the Spring Chipping Event and it’s back on the schedule! Official date to be announced. Again, this is a complementary service to LRAA residents!
MICROGRANT UPDATE
We were awarded another $4,000 Firewise USA Micro grant for 2025! This is a total of $12k in 3 yearly microgrants. This year, the HOA Firewise Committee used the micro-grant to build a Fire Resilient HOA Member Tool Library! You all soon have access to use the tool library that is housed at the HOA fire hall. We have invested in several new pieces of equipment such as electric chainsaws, weedwhackers, trimmers, and blowers. There will also be an expanded selection of tools like rakes, wheelbarrows, shovels and more to help with your Firewising efforts.
The Firewise Committee is hard at work building out the library. Stay tuned for more details and how you can start to check out tools and equipment soon!
IMPORTANT REMINDERS DURING PEAK FIRE SEASON
Department of Natural Resources says power tools may only be operated between 8 PM and 1 PM during the Burn Ban. NO power tool operation during the heat of the day!
Details on the Ban
Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL) | Department of Natural Resources
Industrial Fire Precaution Levels Map
https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/ifpl/
Lost River Airport Association is part of section 687 W. Effective 07/07/2025 at 0001 hours, Level 2 - Partial Hootowl. The following may operate only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time: Power saws (except at loading sites); cable yarding; blasting; welding or cutting of metal.
HELP US MAINTAIN OUR FIREWISE CERTIFICATION!
Please track your hours of Fire Mitigation Work on your property.
Please share how many hours you have put into making your property more fire-resilient. We get to use these hours towards our Lost River Airport Firewise community hours. These hours give us access to neighborhood micro-grants and free programs, such as the chipping day or dumpster days in Oct. If two or more people worked, then add everyone hours separately so we record all total hours. Please email all your hours LRAA.business@gmail.com.
A NOTE FROM ELI LOFTUS
Wildfire and Community Resilience Lead
Okanogan Conservation District
If equipment has to be operated, like a mower, it should be done before the heat of the day comes into full effect, ideally no later than 10 AM.Treat areas where equipment has been run like you would a doused campfire, check it regularly after you're done, and be prepared to douse incidental ignitions. Have extinguishers and water handy. If the device doesn't have a spark arrester built in or has one that isn't functioning properly, it shouldn't be used during fire season. Washington does have an industrial fire precaution level system that limits when certain activities can occur.(https://dnr.wa.gov/ifpl). A good rule of thumb is to refer to the burn restrictions map put out by DNR (https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/outdoor-burning/burn-restrictions) and to check the burn portal (https://burnportal.dnr.wa.gov). While these maps typically refer to burning restrictions, they're a good indicator of when heightened caution should be utilized when operating equipment if IFPL hasn't been implemented yet.
With firearms, ignition is most likely to be caused by a bullet striking an object and creating a spark via a ricochet.Ignitions from incompletely burned powder are possible, but unlikely, especially if the gun and ammunition are well maintained. Gunpowder ignites at varying temperatures that are well above what could be produced by natural heat sources. If folks are going to shoot, they should avoid rocky areas, refrain from using metal targets or those that contain Tannerite and other combustibles, have solid backstops with no vegetation or rocks, and use regular firearm safety procedures. Ideally, if you're not at a designated outdoor range with proper safety procedures and features, or an indoor range, I would recommend refraining from recreational shooting altogether during the height of fire season.
Looking to the fire season, this year has a high potential for fire across the county and state.Conditions are drying faster than normal. This is the time that folks need to be vigilant and thoughtful about their actions on the landscape. If they haven't done so already, now is the time to do basic home hardening practices like moving fuel sources (firewood, cardboard etc.) away from structures and ensuring any landscaped vegetation is properly watered. Discuss evacuation plans in your household and with neighbors.
FREE MONEY FOR DOING FIRE MITIGATION WORK ON YOUR PROPERTY
We are now Firewise Certified Site and the benefit to becoming a Firewise neighborhood is we have an opportunity to receive funding to help make our neighborhood safe from fire through your individual contributions. And you, as property owners, can earn money doing the mitigation work. See the program details at https://www.dnr.wa.gov/cost-share.
Please note that nothing will ever be done to private property without the consent from the owner. It is your personal choice to participate.
Also you can schedule a FREE IN PERSON FIREWISE HOME ASSESSMENTS with Okanogan Conservation District and Department of Natural Resources. To schedule an assessment, email Eli Loftis at eli@okanogancd.org.
HOW TO STAY INFORMED ON FIRES & SMOKE IN THE AREA
Firewise resources for the upcoming summer…
If you’d like to stay informed on when fires are near us and evacuation levels you can sign up for Okanogan County alerts. It’s great to know whether you’re a part-time or full-time resident. Links can also be found on the LRAA Home page.
Okanogan County Emergency Management
AirNow - Air Quality Monitor App
Purple Air - Air Quality Monitor App (There’s a Purple Air monitor at LRAA.)
Inciweb - Up to date fire reports
National Interagency Fire Center - Fire tracking map
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Facebook
From Your LRAA Firewise Committee
Our annual Spring eNewsletter went out this week. If you didn’t receive it, please check your spam/junk folder or let us know if you’ve had an email address change. If you’re new to LRAA and haven’t subscribed yet, please visit our Communication page and click “Subscribe to Email List.”
Candidates Matthew Kennedy, William Smith and Martin Wild are running for LRAA Trustee for the first time. Matt O’Brian and Jon Moore are seeking re-election. Get to know them by reading their bios prior to the Annual Membership Meeting on May 25, 2025.
MATTHEW KENNEDY
Seeking first 3-year term.
Matthew Kennedy is excited to run for a position on the LRAA board. He and his wife have lived on Buck Circle in LRAA since 2019 and he feels it is time to be active on the HOA board. Matthew has been involved with other boards including the Bellingham Technical College Automotive Technology advisory committee so he understands how these systems work.
Matthew is currently the automotive and welding instructor for the Methow Valley School District Career and Technical Education department. Before that he spent 20 years in the automotive industry as a master certified technician. He is a full time LRAA resident and loves our community.
WILLIAM SMITH
Seeking first 3-year term.
My family has been coming to Lost River with Walt Mauldin and his family for 10 years. We loved it so much that in 2021, we bought the old Burdo place on the runway, so we always had a place to bring our kids and create memories as a family.
I have a professional background in Procurement and Supply Chain management for major telecom companies, and a long history of volunteering for my community, including a 3-year term on the Board of Directors of a 200 unit community in Bothell, WA.
MATT O’BRIAN
Current LRAA Trustee seeking another 3-year term.
Matt has faithfully served on our board managing the grading, plowing and other items related to keeping the roads functioning.
JON MOORE
Current LRAA Trustee seeking another 3-year term.
Currently serving as LRAA President and seeks re-election. In my first 3-year Board term I served as LRAA Secretary and led the Water Committee prior to assuming the role of President. Jon also serves on the Lost River Sewer Association board, and Secretary of the Mazama Community Church. Jon operates Comprehensive Financial Strategies in Winthrop and continues to work for a US Dept of Defense (DoD) contractor.
Jon has been a full-time LRAA resident since 2019. When not at home, you can find Jon walking the LRAA loop, riding motorcycle, hiking various trails, bird watching, or snowmobiling up Yellow Jacket or Harts Pass. Jon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), licensed Professional Engineer (PE), Project Management Professional (PMP), licensed Financial Planner and Amateur Radio Operator.
Please join us for the Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, May 25th over Memorial Day weekend at the Firehall on Mink Road.
Set-up will begin at 9 AM, where members can ask questions, meet your current trustees, get registered and visit with your neighbors. We will start the meeting promptly at 10 AM. When the meeting is over (usually around noon) we will provide hamburgers with all the fixings, as well as paper plates, silverware, and refreshments. Please bring a dish to pass and chairs.
Enclosed in this packet is the Agenda for the meeting, which covers all of the major points of discussion. A few highlights that we look forward to presenting are:
Overview of what has been accomplished in the Association in 2024/2025.
Update on past member dues collections.
Vote on the 2026 Budget.
Election of Trustees - We have two new positions that we would like to fill, along with two encumbants running for re-election. The membership elects Trustees, and the Board then elects the officers and committee chair positions. ( Bios can be found on the website and in the Annual Member Meeting Packet on the Annual Meeting Documents page.)
Dues and Fees for 2026:
Annual Membership Fee: $335.00
Annual Water Fee (per water right): $922.00
Total Dues for 2026 (for members with one water right): $1257.00
Come to the meeting, stay for the picnic!
We look forward to seeing you on May 25th. If you have any questions please contact our Business Manager, Bahia Rowan, at lraa.business@gmail.com.
Tired of people speeding in LRAA? Come to the Work Party to make traffic slowing barriers!
These will be large cans that have our 15 MPH signs on them. They will be weighted down so that they are hard to move from where they are placed unlike the smaller 5 gallon buckets that were tried in the past. We are making 6 of them and will be placing them in some of our busier intersections. If we think they are helping to slow traffic we may make more of them in the future.
Where? Meet at the Firehall
When? 10 AM on Saturday May 10th
Why? Because we want this to be a safe, walking neighborhood and we don’t like dust!
For more information, please contact the Business Manager at lraa.business@gmail.com.