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Fire Adapted
Santa Clara County
All the Wildfire News You Can Use!
May 2023
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From Seth Schalet, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council CEO
I am pleased to announce we won a new CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant project. Thank you to the CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant’s leadership team for having confidence in our ability to deliver on the goals of this program. The grant, $6.3M in new funding for forest health and wildfire mitigation treatments, covers 841 new acres in the Los Gatos Creek Watershed and incorporates Aldercroft Heights Firewise and Lupin Lodge in the treatment areas. We came together in about seven weeks to take this on—and it is a testament to the Collaborative’s partnership and existing engagement on the first Forest Health Grant project that we received back in 2021. I want to thank our partners on this new project, San Jose Water, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Dudek, Auten Resource Consulting, Aldercroft Heights Firewise, and Lupin Lodge for all your time and efforts. Let’s go!
Click to read the full press release.
Work on our CWPP continues, as does our County Coordinator project. As of this writing, we are waiting to hear about our CAL FIRE Fire Prevention Grant application—it’s very competitive this year with many excellent applications, for limited funding. Either way, we have an excellent working partnership with the CAL FIRE SCU Unit, and this will continue well beyond this potential funding opportunity.
OK, that is it from me. Read more and learn more in the pages that follow about what the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council team is doing to help ensure wildfire safety and awareness remains front and center as spring turns to summer.
Thank you.
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National Wildfire Awareness Month! | | |
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National Wildfire Awareness Month dedicates the entire month of May to prevention and preparedness. While wildfires may not be prevalent in all areas, the responsibility to be aware and alert belongs to all of us.
As the weather becomes warmer and wildland vegetation, or fuels, begin to dry out, it is time to plan for wildfires. During a wildfire, embers cause most home ignitions. Residents can harden homes minimizing property damage and protecting firefighters. Learn More
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Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a national campaign that encourages people and organizations everywhere to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks.
Learn more
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The Firewise USA® recognition program is administered by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level. If you reside in a WUI community and are Firewise USA® recognized then you may be eligible for a discount through your insurance company.
SCCFSC offers workshops and guidance for neighborhoods and communities that want to become Firewise USA® recognized.
Learn More
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Chipping Program
Due to limited grant funding the 2023 chipping program is at MAXIMUM capacity.
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Are you prepared for your upcoming chipping event? We are so glad that you have been working on creating defensible space around your home! Remember it's created for defensible space and not storm debris removal.
Learn More
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Tree of the Month
Bluegum Eucalyptus/
Tasmanian Bluegum
(Eucalyptus globulus)
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Fuel buildup occurs very rapidly in unmanaged Tasmanian bluegum in California. Bluegums are highly flammable and the bark catches fire readily. The have heavy litter fall, flammable oils in the foliage, and open crowns with drooping branches.
Learn More
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Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Update | | |
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The CWPP Advisory Team convened for two full days of meeting in early April. We had over 36 attendees and the meetings were very productive. We are targeting Monday, June 19th through Sunday, July 2nd, for our CWPP public comment period where the public can provide feedback and input into the CWPP draft. Learn More
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Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative Forest Health Grant Update | | |
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Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative Awarded $6,336,790 In New CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant Funding
The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council will serve as the CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant recipient and grant administrator for Phase Two of the collaborative’s latest implementation of forest health and wildfire mitigation treatments, covering 841 new acres in the Los Gatos Creek Watershed and incorporating Aldercroft Heights Firewise and Lupin Lodge in the treatment areas. This brings total funding for the LGCWC’s Forest Health Grant projects to $13,836,790. Learn More
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County Coordinators From Around the State Meet in Sacramento | | |
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Last month, County Coordinators from across California met for two days in Sacramento to advocate for and collaborate on the CAL FIRE-sponsored California Firesafe Council County Coordinator Program. On Tuesday, April 18, Program Director, Amanda Brenner Cannon joined fellow County Coordinators to meet with our representatives to talk about the work that we do to prepare Santa Clara County for wildfire and the importance of the County Coordinator position (supported by the Board of Supervisors). Amanda had the opportunity to speak to representatives throughout California, including our local representatives; Senator Cortese, Senator Beker, and Assemblymember Robert Rivas.
The following day, Amanda met with fellow County Coordinators to network and discuss the project and workshop next steps in how we can all work together and collaborate on a regional and state level. This was the first of many workshops where County Coordinators will be able to meet and leverage the work that we are doing in our communities and expand our efforts statewide in order to meet county and state-wide goals. Learn More
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What is a Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) assessment?
A trained representative from the FireSafe Council will come to your home, walk your property, and offer suggestions to improve your home's capacity for surviving a wildfire. You'll receive a comprehensive report with personal recommendations to amplify the resiliency of your landscape and home, examining vegetation, construction standards, and commonly overlooked fire hazards. This program aims to facilitate an open discussion between landowners and our FireSafe personnel; this program does not aim to evaluate or grade land owners on any scale. Learn More
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Los Altos Hills HIZ Program | | |
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SCCFSC has partnered with the Los Altos Hills County Fire District to provide a new HIZ reporting platform to increase accessibility and interaction between landowners and FireSafe personnel.
If you live in Los Altos Hills and want to sign up for a FREE HIZ assessment, click here.
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Saratoga HIZ, Dead Tree Removal, & Home Hardening Incentive Programs | | |
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The City of Saratoga and SCCFSC have partnered to provide property owners in the WUI with a FREE Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) assessment to increase accessibility and interaction between landowners and FireSafe personnel.
SCCFSC, in cooperation with the City of Saratoga, is sponsoring hazardous tree removal matching cost-share assistance of up to $1,000 per residence/applicant. Funding is available on a first come first served basis. Learn More
The City of Saratoga offers a Structure Hardening Incentive Program to assist property owners with increasing a building’s wildfire resistance. Learn More
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Did you know that you might be able to double—or even triple—the impact of your gift?
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs, which means they will match any charitable contribution made by their employees.
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SCCFSC is a 501(c) non-profit organization that relies on funding from local partners and residents of the wildland-urban interface areas. While federal and state grants provide a significant amount of support for ongoing projects, donations from the local community is crucial to our success.The SCCFSC appreciates every donation, large or small. When you donate to Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, you are helping us and yourself by mobilizing the people of Santa Clara County to protect their homes, communities and environment from wildfires. | | | | |
