The Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) recently awarded a number of micro-grants to support recognized Firewise Communities in reducing wildfire risk. Congratulations to District 4, which was awarded five of these micro-grants. This unique program was funded through a grant from the Disaster Relief, Recovery and Resilience Fund at the League of California Community Foundations with support from the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. It was administered by Sierra Business Council.
In August OES awarded 26 $3,600 micro-grants to support recognized Firewise Communities in reducing wildfire risk. Projects ranged from defensible space treatment on individual parcels to ambitious roadside vegetation removal by entire neighborhoods.
According to the Hyatt/Blue Sage Firewise Community, one of the first groups to finish out the grant: “We are happy to report that the 1.5 inches of rain allowed our contractor to complete the work on our micro-grant for limbing the overhanging trees on Hyatt Road, from Tyler Foote Crossing Road to the green gates at Milky Way. The contractor worked with one other worker to cut/limb and chip over a mile of Hyatt Road, which was our target. Our grant application mentioned that CAL FIRE was interested in being able to access Hyatt Reservoir via Hyatt Road but were concerned with some of the over-hanging trees on the road. That risk has been eliminated and safe ingress and egress for CAL FIRE and all those who use Hyatt Road has been greatly increased. I honestly do not know how we would have accomplished this without the micro-grant.”
“The need for hazardous vegetation abatement in Nevada County far outpaces the public resources that are currently available. Our Firewise Communities are dedicated to closing the gap with their own sweat equity and the County is proud to support them,” said OES Director Craig Griesbach.
In sum, the micro-grant program awarded seven grants for defensible space work, four grants for equipment purchase, and five grants for hazardous vegetation removal. Funding to address evacuation routes was the most pressing need identified by program applicants, and ten grants were awarded in this category. For a full list of grant awardees check out www.nevadacountyca.gov/3595/Firewise-Community-Grants.
Projects that have been funded will be implemented over the coming months, although some may be delayed so that work can take place after wildfire conditions subside. OES will feature key projects as they unfold at www.facebook.com/NevadaCountyOES/.
For more information on wildfire preparedness in Nevada County, visit: www.nevadacountyca.gov/3453/Ready-Nevada-County
