CalFire awards nearlv $118 million in local Wildfire Prevention Grants
As part of California’s strategy to prepare properties and communities against the devastating impacts of wildfires, CAL FIRE announced it will direct nearly $118 million in funding for 144 local wildfire prevention projects across the state.
“Drought conditions have once again taken ahold of California and are already contributing to another year of early fire activity,” said Joe Tyler, CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief. “This funding is a critical part of our overall wildfire strategy.
CalFire’s Wildfire Prevention Grants enable local organizations like fire safe councils, to implement activities that address the hazards of wildfire and reduce wildfire risk to communities. Funded activities include hazardous fuel reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education. These projects all meet the goals and objectives of California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, as well as the Strategic Fire Plan for California.
In Los Angeles County, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments is one of many organizations receiving funding towards wildfire prevention efforts. Their project will work towards developing a Regional Wildfire Protection Plan that will help to protect over 31 cities and communities, 22 of which are identified as “Communities at Risk”. In Lake County, a grant has been awarded to the Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians for a hazardous fuels reduction proiect in the wildland-urban interface that will incorporate professional training as well as a community outreach and education campaign to increase awareness of defensible space and fuels management. In El Dorado County, a grant has been awarded to the El Dorado Fire Safe Council for a proicet that will assist residents with hazardous tree removal to slow the spread of the bark beetle infestation. The project will also assist with removing stressed and injured trees damaged by the Caldor Fire.
“These 144 local wildfire prevention projects, along with the 105 projects we just funded in September 2021, will significantly increase California communities* preparedness towards wildfires.” said Chief Daniel Berlant, CalFire Deputy Director of Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation.
The Wildfire Prevention Grants Program is funded as part of the State’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Strategy, in part with Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds administered by the California Climate Investments (CCI) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. CC is a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities. For more information about CAL FIRE’s other CCI programs, visit CalFire Grants.
These grants are part of the Governor’s unprecedented S1.5 billion investment in wildfire resilience. The Governor’s Wildfire Resilience initiative has launched 588 projects to date, in addition to projects to be funded by these grants.
