The Fire Safe Council for Monterey County Embarks on Campaign to Raise Funds and Awareness

Sept. 13, 2014 - PRLog -- INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE

The Fire Safe Council for Monterey County Embarks on Campaign to Raise Funds and Awareness

MONTEREY — Wildfires are a fact of life. And with California's extreme drought conditions, a dangerous and life-threatening fact of life.

Monterey County is especially vulnerable because of its abundance of forested lands and hot, dry weather in its inland areas. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of water resources to fight fires. It's a recipe for disaster.

The Basin Complex Fire of 2008 — the third largest wildfire in California history — had a devastating impact on the economy and the residents of Monterey County. Effects of that fire are still reverberating throughout the county.

The Fire Safe Council for Monterey County was created to not only help protect lives, property and the natural environment from catastrophic wildfires, but to empower people to live safely with fire.

The council, a nonprofit agency headquartered in Monterey, does that by educating residents and businesses about firesafe practices, managing and reducing vegetation that fuels fires and partnering with various fire agencies.

These goals are outlined in The Monterey County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which was created over a two-year period by volunteers living in communities bordering the Los Padres National Forest, and signed by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in December 2010.

The protection plan enables communities at-risk — those that are clearly threatened by catastrophic wildfire because of hazardous forest fuel build-up — to apply for fuel-reduction project grants from the federal government.

The Fire Safe Council helps residents and businesses apply for these grants. This year, the California Fire Safe Council awarded 38 grants of more than $4 million, which is projected to treat 17,793 acres in 30 counties.

In addition to fuel-reduction projects and chipping programs, the council hopes to sponsor grants for smoke detector and carbon monoxide installations, evacuation routes, education programs, and more.

Over the past few years the council has brought more than $1 million worth of  “on the ground” work to Monterey County.

The Fire Safe Council is asking for the public's support of its current campaign to promote and educate the public and help maintain the quality of life when a wildfire does occur.

Monterey County residents can become active members, donate in support of a project, subsidize a mailing brochure, promote a fundraising event or be a champion of the cause.

Contact the council at the following places:

Fire Safe Council for Monterey County

Address: 2221 Garden Road, Monterey, CA  93940

Telephone: (831) 333-2600

Fax: (831) 333-2660

Website: www.firesafemonterey.org

Email: info@firesafemonterey.org