17 local fire agencies, nonprofits awarded $200,054 in wildfire safety funding, including $15,351 for the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department
The California Fire Foundation, with support from The PG&E Corporation Foundation has awarded wildfire safety grants to 49 local fire departments, fire agencies and community groups in Northern and Central California. This is the sixth year these grants have been awarded to help communities bolster their disaster preparedness and response programs.
Within PG&E’s North Valley and Sierra Division, 17 grants totaling $222,054 have been awarded to fire departments, fire protection districts and nonprofit organizations in Lassen, Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Colusa, Sierra, Placer and El Dorado counties.
Receiving grants for creating defensible space, vegetation management and fuels and hazard reduction:
- City of Auburn Fire Department, $20,000.
- City of Red Bluff Fire Department, $25,000.
- Camp Alta in Placer County, $17,000.
Receiving grants to purchase personal protective equipment and specialized equipment for firefighters:
- Cottonwood Fire Protection District in Shasta County: $13,500
- Downieville Fire Protection District in Sierra County, $15,526
- Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department in Lassen County, $15,351
- Pioneer Fire Protection District in El Dorado County, $16,680
- Sacramento River Fire Protection District in Colusa County, $9,240
- Tehama Conservation Fund, $20,000
- Williams Fire Protection Authority in Colusa County, $6,209
Receiving grants to conduct public safety education and outreach activities:
- El Dorado Hills Fire Department, $5,000
- Greater Auburn Fire Safe Council, $4,000
Lakehead Volunteer Fire Company 54 in Shasta County, $25,000
- North Valley Animal Disaster Group in Butte County, $5,046
- North Valley Catholic Social Services in Butte County, $4,500
- West Slope Foundation in El Dorado County, $15,000
- Yankee Hill Fire Safe Council in Butte County, $5,000
“All of us must work together to combat California’s growing wildfire threat exacerbated by climate change,” said, Joe Wilson, Regional Vice President for PG&E’s North Valley & Sierra Region. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting the California Fire Foundation and help fund local fire departments and agencies to make us all better prepared and more resilient against disasters like wildfires,”
The 49 wildfire safety grants throughout Northern and Central California — totaling $730,000 this year — have been distributed to agencies in high wildfire-risk areas with the goal of strengthening their disaster readiness and response. The grants announcement comes during National Preparedness Month, observed each September to raise awareness of the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that can happen at any time.
To see a full list of grantees click here.
The PG&E Foundation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company support CFF’s broader 2023 Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program with $1.4 million in charitable funding. The program’s objective is to raise awareness about wildfire safety in more areas in California and bring resources to underserved communities in high fire-threat areas. The grants to local organizations are one core component of the WSPP.
“Californians are able to be better prepared for wildfires and other natural disasters because of the WSPP and our partnership with PG&E,” said Rick Martinez, Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation. “These grants are helping implement projects ranging from fuels reduction and community education to obtaining new equipment for their firefighters with this direct funding. These projects aim to prepare and protect residents and grantees are beyond grateful to do just that for the communities they serve.”
Since 2018, 314 fire departments and fire agencies statewide have received $3.79 million in direct funding through the grant program as part of WSPP, and each year the program receives more applications than the prior year. Funding targets specific communities identified as having extreme or elevated fire risk as identified by the California Public Utilities Commission High Fire-Threat District map.
About The PG&E Corporation Foundation
The PG&E Corporation Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, separate from PG&E and sponsored by PG&E Corporation.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation,, is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
About California Fire Foundation
The California Fire Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they protect. Formed in 1987 by California Professional Firefighters, the California Fire Foundation’s mandate includes an array of survivor and victim assistance projects and community initiatives. cafirefoundation.org.
