To: Board of Supervisors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: CAL FIRE California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grants Program
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Acting as the governing board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to apply for and accept California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) FY 2025-26 Wildfire Prevention Grant funding, in an amount not to exceed $950,000 for the creation of a shaded fuel break.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The grant request will not exceed $950,000. There is no local agency cost sharing requirement. District staff time and hand crew participation in the project is considered an in-kind match for the grant application.
BACKGROUND:
CAL FIRE California Climate Investments Fire Prevention grants support projects that focus on hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education.
The East Richmond Heights Shaded Fuel Break (Project) will significantly reduce the threat of uncontrolled wildfire and associated greenhouse gas emissions by reducing high fuel concentrations and disrupting the horizontal and vertical continuity of fuel beds. The tree canopy formed by healthy mature trees will remain largely intact to reduce the future growth of brush and understory vegetation and to preserve sequestered carbon in existing trees. The desired result is to restore fuel loading to more natural levels that can be maintained by the periodic introduction of prescribed fire or goat grazing.
This Project will result in the collective protection of over 3,600 residents in East Richmond Heights by creating a shaded fuel break approximately three miles in length. Expected outcomes include reduction of biomass of woody and vegetative material available for combustion; significant reduction in the probability o...
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