For immediate release
August 1, 2005
Contact: Anita Yoder, 530-889-4012 or
Robert Miller 530-889-4080
PLACER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GIVES PRELIMNARY APPROVAL TO SIX FIRE DANGER REDUCTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES PROJECTS
AUBURN, CA -- The Placer County Board of Supervisors has given preliminary approval to funding for six projects that will reduce fire danger countywide and improve emergency services in rural and wilderness areas of the county.
The total amount tentatively approved for the six projects is $322,500 and is part of federal legislation passed in 2000 that provides predictable funding to rural counties like Placer. The projects will:
Develop a community wildfire protection plan (CWPP) for the Western Slope of the Sierra;
Create a program to conduct a defensible space inspection program for the unincorporated parts supervisorial districts 3 and 5;
Assist with the acquisition of private street and home signs for rural areas to ensure code-compliant address signs are in place;
Fund a fuels management project for the Dollar Point area of North Tahoe;
Assist with the funding of county search and rescue operations on federal lands; and
Provide funding for hiring of a fire mitigation coordinator and administrative assistance
“Protecting our communities from the very real threat of wildfire is a top priority for me,” said Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz, whose District 5 contains much of the county’s rural areas, including the North Tahoe portion of the county. “These six projects represent a critical first step toward protecting our citizens from the catastrophic effects of wildfire.”
With the board’s preliminary approval of these six projects in late June, a 45-day public comment period began. Funding of the projects would occur if the board gives final approval. The board is scheduled to revisit the project at a September meeting. Money for the projects comes from the county’s Forest Reserve Title III fund and will not affect the county general fund.
“I am pleased to be able to work with District 5 Supervisor Bruce Kranz in approving the funding for this very important countywide issue,” said District 3 Supervisor Jim Holmes, who has a long history of fire protection work. “The six projects listed will greatly help our citizens reduce the fire danger to their homes and properties. By protecting our natural areas from fire hazards we also protect our families, our wildlife, and we help to ensure water quality.”
Additional information on the six projects follows:
The CWPP will give the City of Colfax and Western Slope communities of Weimar, Applegate, and Meadow Vista a plan to reduce vegetation (fuels) on public and private lands, improve current defensible space compliance and develop criteria to continue these two activities in the future. This project would receive $50,000.
Defensible space inspections will not only serve to improve compliance, but will also offer an opportunity to educate and motivate residents to improve wildlands fire safety. This is especially important in light of the increase this year in required defensible space around structures from 30 feet to 100 feet in rural areas. This project would receive $35,000.
If emergency response personnel can more easily locate specific addresses they can lessen structure damage and prevent the spread of a fire from a structure to wildlands. For medical intervention, quick and accurate response can save lives and reduce the effects of injuries. This project would receive $122,500.
The Dollar Point project will remove heavy fire fuels that could allow a fire to quickly move through the community. Such a fire would likely prevent suppression equipment from reaching burning structures. Given the fuel loads in this area and the prevalence of winds, this project is considered a top priority. This project would receive $30,000.
Search and rescue operations on federal lands are currently unfunded. This funding would allow the sheriff’s office to continue to maintain one of the most successful search and rescue operations in the state. This project would receive $20,000.
Hiring of a fire mitigation coordinator and providing administrative assistance will assist the Placer County Office of Emergency Services in accomplishing many fire planning activities currently not possible. Some of the tasks that would be possible include coordinating Fire Safe Councils’ activities, coordinating activities with other counties and agencies, securing grants, and implementing fire safety programs. This project would receive $65,000.