Pacific Gas and Electric Company has joined forces with local Fire Safe Councils and other 501(c)(3) organizations across Northern and Central California to enhance the safety and preparedness of local communities in connection with the 2021 wildfire season. PG&E has provided $2 million in grants to fund local Fire Safe Council and organizations projects across 28 counties to reduce the threat of wildfires and help keep communities safe.
Locally, the energy company is providing Lassen Fire Safe Council, Inc., as fiscal sponsor for the Day Lassen Bench Fire Safe Council, $100,000 for fuel reduction treatments along the Day Road corridor east of McArthur, CA. Last year, PG&E provided $100,000 in funds for similar activities in a different portion of the project area.
Since 2014, PG&E has provided over $17 million to local Fire Safe Councils and 501(c)(3) organizations to fund more than 300 projects in Northern and Central California.
Projects have included fuel reduction, shaded fuel breaks, emergency access and wood-chipping programs. This wildfire season, mobilizing Californians to protect their homes, businesses, communities, and the environment from wildfire is more important than ever. The work of local California Fire Safe Councils is critical to strengthening the safety and preparedness of local communities during the 2021 wildfire season.
“We are thrilled to partner with PG&E again to bring this vital community service to residents, ahead of what has the potential to be a particularly challenging wildfire season.” said Tom Esgate, who serves on the Boards of both the Lassen & Day Lassen Bench Fire Safe Councils.
“PG&E’s vegetation management team members located in Lassen and Shasta counties have a close working relationship with Tom and his team,” said James Brink, Supervisor for PG&E’s Vegetation Management Programs in the North Valley.
“We work with the local Fire Safe Councils and other organizations to target areas of fire concern and provide our regional vegetation work schedules all with the goal of reducing fire risk in the communities we serve.”
“The Lassen Fire Safe Council thanks PG&E for their continued partnership and providing funding to expand these critical fuel treatments being conducted on our joint Day Lassen Bench project that will help protect our communities from the devastating effects of wildfire,” said Lloyd Keefer, Lassen Fire Safe Council Chair.
Community Wildfire Safety Program
“With our Community Wildfire Safety Program, we focus on reducing wildfire risk by meeting and exceeding state vegetation safety standards, continuing to harden our electric grid with stronger power lines and poles and by integrating new tools and technologies. But we can’t do it all alone. We need to work together and enable each other to prepare for this wildfire season, which is why the work of the local Fire Safe Councils is so essential,” said Peter Kenny, PG&E Interim Vice President of Vegetation Management.
