The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council:
The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council (MCFSC) is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Micro-Grant awards. Seventeen deserving local Fire Departments and affiliated Neighborhood Fire Safe Councils have been selected to spearhead vital fire-safety projects in their respective communities.
Local organizing and action are cornerstones of identifying and mitigating hazards that threaten our neighborhoods. Micro-Grant funding gives communities momentum for pivotal projects, transforming apprehension into preparedness and action. Recognizing this significance, the PG&E Corporation Foundation has generously contributed $50,000 funding, nearly doubling the resources available for MCFSC’s 2024 grants.
Ranging from $4,500 to $10,000, these Micro-Grants will make a tangible impact throughout the county. This year, a total of $130,622 (significantly more than last year, thanks to PG&E’s continued support and Measure P funding) has been allocated to implement the 17 selected projects, which include:
- Albion Little River Fire Safe Council (FSC) will hire help to organize residents into neighborhood groups to enhance wildfire preparedness and response.
- Brooktrails Township Community Service District will acquire a portable, collapsible water tank and associated equipment for wildfire incidents.
- Comptche Preparedness FSC will establish a Neighborhood Captains Emergency Radio Network for community-wide communication.
- Covelo Fire Protection District (FPD) will procure a water bladder and equipment to increase the capacity and functionality of their water tender.
- Fox Rock and Woodman Creek FSC will complete fuel-reduction projects and roadside work to improve emergency access and open up alternative evacuation routes.
- Hopland FPD will purchase two water tanks to place on McNab Ranch, to drastically reduce response time when its trucks need refilling.
- Long Valley FPD will continue implementing its Defensible Space Program to provide free defensible-space assessments and education to residents.
- Mariposa Neighborhood FSC will host a queer chainsaw workshop to train county residents on reducing fuel loads near their homes.
- Navarro Area FSC will add to their Fire Hydrant Project, trenching and installing pipes and hydrants for the community as well as necessary signage.
- Piercy FPD will install potable gravity-fed spring water to their Emergency Shelter.
- Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire Department will educate the public using One Less Spark literature as well as distributing McLeod and other fire-suppression tools to class attendees.
- South Coast FPD will purchase equipment to support planned prescribed-burn projects.
- Spy Rock Ready FSC will purchase used water tanks to increase firefighter capacity in rugged terrain without needing to travel long distances for water.
- Vista Del Lago FSC will purchase used water tanks and place them on strategically located properties with easy access for fire trucks.
- Westport FSC will focus on roadside fuel reduction and native plant vegetation management to encourage long-term fire resiliency.
- Whale Gulch FSC/ Volunteer Fire Department will hire a coordinator to work on qualifying as Firewise, apply for various grants, buy bulk reflective address signs, and coordinate community projects.
- Yorkville FSC will focus on fuel reduction on Pomo Tierra Road to improve safety on a one-way, one-way out road.
Most Micro-Grant proposals include local in-kind contributions in the form of volunteer hours, donations, or supplies, amplifying the impact through collaborative efforts. The evaluation process favored projects that demonstrated matching contributions, partnerships, and thorough planning.
Mariposa will host a queer chainsaw workshop! Did I read that right? Please tell me that is a typo. WTF is a queer chainsaw workshop and how does it differ from a regular chainsaw workshop?