History

Nationally, reducing wildfires has touched all levels of government, from local citizens’ groups, cities, counties, state & federal agencies, Congress, and even the President.


After the dramatic 2000 wildfire season, then-President Clinton directed the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to develop a plan to address the wildland fire and hazardous fuels situation, as well as the need for habitat restoration and rehabilitation across the nation.


Congress directed the federal agencies to develop the Ten-Year Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment.


The Ten-Year Comprehensive Strategy, finalized in August 2001, included four primary goals:
• Improve Fire Prevention and Suppression.
• Reduce Hazardous Fuels.
• Restore Fire Adapted Ecosystems.
• Promote Community Assistance.


The last six years have also seen a new focus on the wildland urban interface (WUI), the zone where structures and other human development meet at-risk forest and rangelands. Federal land management agencies have invested more than 60 percent of fuels treatment dollars in the WUI.


More at “Updated 10-year Plan”: http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/


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California
In California, the California Fire Safe Council is focused on mobilizing Californians to protect their homes, communities and environments from wildfire.


The goal is to reduce the overall costs and losses from wildfire in California. Fire Safe Councils throughout California are playing an integral role helping the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) meet this goal.


Grants
In California, agencies have pooled their National Fire Plan (http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/) funding into a one-stop shop to simplify the process of finding and applying for grants. This one-stop shop is located on the internet and hosted by the California Fire Safe Council (FSC) (http://www.grants.firesafecouncil.org/).


Locally
Locally, there are three Altadena Fire Councils: The Meadows, Chaney Millard and LaVina.

They are designing action plans to help protect our communities. However, only with the help of our homeowners will these plans succeed.

General Goals for Chaney Millard Fire Safe Council
Chaney Millard is an urban interface community of 219 acres that is surrounded by National Forest land. Extremely hazardous fuels conditions persist on all of the Forest Service lands bordering Chaney Millard, posing an immediate and critical threat to the community. The Chaney Millard Fire Council (CMFSC) has identified 127 acres for "Other Treatment" and 92 acres for Mechanical Treatment for a total of 219 acres.


Strategic areas have been identified within the CMFSC with the assistance of J. Lopez, Deputy Forester, County of Los Angeles Fire Department. Large, privately owned, undeveloped land parcels interface with the residential community. These areas have heavy native chaparral, which has died and increased the fire hazard to the residences within the CMFSC.


Priorities
Four elements provide for the potential of a large devastating wild fire in Millard Canyon. These are: 1) the steep fire-prone topography of the canyon, 2) annual hot, dry Santa Ana winds, 3) dense, overgrown chaparral that has not burned in over 100 years, and 4) canyon visitors are generally unaware or under educated about wild land fires.
The following recommendations prioritize the fuels treatment project within the Chaney Millard community:


1. Reduce the potential for fire propagation from the northeast (prevailing Santa Ana wind direction and direction of previous fires in this area) by eliminating dead chaparral in the Chiquita Canyon ravine (SummerKids camp/Grech/Zorthian properties) and thinning living chaparral vertically and horizontally, thus reducing the propagation of fire to trees.

2. Continue the reduction of hillside chaparral and replace with less flammable landscaping materials to stabilize steep hillsides.

3. Thin or remove eucalyptus trees that provide a fire propagation pathway from the south into the CMFSC.

4. Thin or remove overhanging trees along Chaney Trail, Alzada Road, and Jaxine that obstruct traffic and fire equipment ingress/egress.

 


Public Education

* Provide education to property owners about the need for fire wise construction standards, laws, and codes.
* Maintain ongoing practices of assuring the removal of overgrown vegetation and fuel loading on private lands. Emphasize defensible space clearing on private lands within the Chaney Millard FSC.
* Reduce local fire risk and improve native habitats.


More information can be found at:

http://www.fire.ca.gov/
http://www.cafirealliance.org/

 

FAQ's

Who is your local fire safe council?

Board Members: Alice Wessen, Mary McGilvary, Susan Dimotakis, Cici Koenig, Irmi Maunu-Kocian

**Board Members at large: Nancy and Bruce Steele, Eric MacCalla

FSC Advisors: J. Lopez, Cathy Brooke


What happened so far?

Requests for fire safety assessments were completed by J. Lopez, who was accompanied by board members. Board members took notes of his professional recommendations. Based on the recommendations, a 'Request for Proposals' was submitted to bonded, insured, certified vendors.
Environmental Compliance Studies have been completed and the guidelines will be followed.


What are the next steps?

A final walk-through of board members and J. Lopez with the vendors will trigger written estimates. Fire Safe Council will convene and determine which work will be funded by the grant with the monies available. Priority is given to access-egress parcels, high fuel areas.


I did not participate in the assessment, can I still have grant funded fuel reduction work done on my property?

Unfortunately, you will have to wait for the next grant, approved for distribution in 2010. Please make sure that you participate in the next round of assessments.


Which properties will benefit from grant funded fuel reduction?

The decision is made by the board members under guidance of J. Lopez and Cathy Brooks. Criteria are: access-egress, high fuel areas, potential fire paths.


I am not part of the grant funded fire reduction work. Can I still benefit?

The vendor(s) winning the bid will offer discounted tree & fuel reduction work to all neighbors. The discount is triggered by the fact that all necessary machinery will be in the neighborhood already.

Can I be reimbursed for tree work I have already paid for?

Grant funded tree work has to be board approved.


What about the quality of the tree work?

The vendor will be advised by a certified arborist.


What can I do to help?

Please keep all receipts of tree and fuel reduction work, construction you have initiated or completed to make your home more fire safe. All monies spent in the area of the Chaney Millard Fire Safe Council can be used for matching funds and are a much needed indication of neighborhood participation.


Can I contact the California Fire Safe Council directly?

Please direct your questions to the CMFSC board members.