Officials Want You to Help Protect County from Wildfires

After this year’s long wet spring, some folks are focusing less on the picnics and pool parties and more on July’s hot weather and it’s potential to bring wildfire as an uninvited guest to the party.

Local fire departments, non-profits groups, homeowner associations and others are working together to develop the Alameda County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Residents are invited to add their local insights to the planning efforts at an upcoming workshop: 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday July 30th, Dublin Regional Meeting Room, 100 Civic Center Drive, Dublin.

A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaboratively developed plan that identifies wildland fire hazards, prioritizes ways to reduce those hazards and recommends measures for homeowners and communities to reduce ignitability of structures. The workshops in July will focus on wildfire risks and hazards.

One of the goals of the CWPP is to identify and fund community fire reduction projects, according to a press release. This past year, 21 neighborhood groups in Contra Costa County have received funding from the Diablo Fire Safe Council courtesy of a National Fire Plan grant through the California Fire Safe Council.

Cost-share assistance of up to $5,000 per project was provided to these groups to create defensible space based on the Contra Costa CWPP adopted in 2009.

This year’s available funds have been allocated. The Alameda County CWPP will help select the places future funds could be spent.

For more information visit our website.