The following is a press release issued by Pacific Gas & Electric:
This wildfire season, mobilizing Californians to protect their homes, businesses, communities, and the environment from wildfire is more important than ever. The work of local California Fire Safe Councils (FSCs) is critical to strengthening the safety and preparedness of local communities during the 2021 wildfire season.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) continues its strong support of local FSCs and non-profit organizations that are focused on reducing the threat of wildfires in its communities, with $2 million in grants for projects scheduled in 2021. $60,000 of that will go to the Mendocino Fire Safe Council.
“With our Community Wildfire Safety Program, we focus on reducing wildfire risk by meeting and exceeding state vegetation safety standards, continuing to harden our electric grid with stronger power lines and poles and by integrating new tools and technologies. But we can’t do it all alone. We need to work together and enable each other to prepare for this wildfire season, which is why the work of the local Fire Safe Councils is so essential,” said Peter Kenny, PG&E Interim Vice President of Vegetation Management.
Since 2014, PG&E has provided $17 million in grant funding to support local FSCs in their efforts to improve fire safety in communities. Typical FSC projects include reducing fuel, creating fuel breaks, and improving fire evacuation routes and emergency access roads. The Mendocino County FSC will use the funds to expand its chipping program.
“We are thrilled to partner with PG&E again to bring this vital community service to residents, ahead of what has the potential to be a particularly challenging wildfire season. Free community chipper days are a great way to work on organizing your neighborhood for enhanced wildfire safety and for getting a date set to get your defensible space clearing for the season done,” said Scott Cratty, President of the Mendocino County FSC.
For more information on the Mendocino County Chipper Program, visit https://www.chipperday.com/mendocino.
“PG&E’s vegetation management team members located in Mendocino County have a close working relationship with Scott and his team,” said Eric Haggerty, Supervisor for PG&E’s Vegetation Management Programs in Mendocino, and Humboldt Counties. “We work with the local Fire Safe Councils to target areas of fire concern and provide our regional vegetation work schedules all with the goal of reducing fire risk in the communities we serve.”
Cratty adds that this year they have also used PG&E’s support for a matching fund that helps provide defensible space clearing assistance for Income Qualified Seniors and the handicapped. More details on that program, or to register, here.
