County granted nearly $4 million for fire prevention work
–San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council (SLO FSC) is able to begin $3.9 million in grant funded fire prevention work because of legislation State Senator Bill Monning sponsored and Governor Brown signed. The California legislature approved more than $200 million dollars in fire prevention and forest health grants to help reduce the impact of wildland urban interface fires. Senate Bill 1079 is critical legislation for fire prevention in California by enabling Non Profit Fire Safe Councils to receive advance grant payments from the state for fire prevention work. Without the advances, the Fire Safe Council could only do work with limited cash on hand and wait 3-4 months for reimbursement. Authorizing grant advances will enable work to begin soon and progress smoothly without interruption.
Debbie Arnold, President of the SLO FSC, previously announced that Cal Fire had approved four fire prevention grants for San Luis Obispo County. $3.9 million in grants for projects across the county: $1.8 million to improve forest health and reduce the severe fire danger in the Monterey Pine forest of Cambria and the north coast, $775,000 for fire safe projects at Oak Shores, Heritage Ranch, and the south shore communities of Rancho del Lago, Cal Shasta, Tri-counties, Running Deer, and South Shore Village at Lake Nacimiento, $505,000 for improving fire safety in the Parkhill-Pozo area east of Santa Margarita, and $883,000 for specific fire safety projects in Los Osos, Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Ranchita Estates, San Luis Obispo, funding for hazardous tree removal and curbside chipping countywide, and a defensible space/fire safe property hygiene display at the Mid State Fair.
The non-profit SLO FSC, started in 1999, is comprised of an all volunteer 27 member board of directors from key stakeholder organizations, fire professionals, and citizens dedicated to creating a fire safe environment.
Post Office Box 5305, San Luis Obispo, CA. 93403 501.c.3 Not for Profit
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