Current Events & News
Funding for Fire Safe Chipping Program
(GRASS VALLEY, California, January 30, 2012) The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County recently received a $20,000 grant award from the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District. The grant will be used to fund the popular Defensible Space Chipping Program.
The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County has been struggling to keep their chipping program operational with memberships and donations. The council continually applies for grants to provide landowner assistance programs to Nevada County residents to make the community safer from wildfire.
Council Executive Director, Joanne Drummond, said “We’re proud to partner with the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District on our chipping program. Their efforts to reduce vehicle trips to the transfer station while avoiding smoke emissions is ongoing. The opportunity to burn vegetative material is extremely limited, whereas the chipping program operates year-round, weather permitting. Providing funding for the chipping program meets multiple goals in the community.”
Residents in need of chipping services must submit a Defensible Space Chipping form. The form is available online at www.areyoufiresafe.com or by calling the Council office at 530-272-1122. The program rotates throughout Nevada County neighborhoods based on a first-come, first-served basis. To receive priority chipping service, people may become a Sustaining Member of the Fire Safe Council for service, generally within two weeks. The chipping program is available to all Nevada County residents regardless of their ability to pay. The Fire Safe Council suggest a donation of $50 per hour for chipping services received to help ensure the program can continue when grant funding is not available.
The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County is a non-profit corporation dependent upon grants, private donations, and community volunteers to exist. In addition to the chipping program the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County also provides defensible space clearing for low-income seniors and the disabled, landowner education and assistance programs, the Scotch Broom Challenge, and community fuel break projects.
To find out more about the program, visit the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County’s web site at www.areyoufiresafe.com or phone them at (530) 272-1122.
