CHICO, CA (MPG) - 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 (FSCs) is critical to strengthening the safety and preparedness of local communities during the 2021 wildfire season.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) continues its strong support of local FSCs and non-profit organizations that are focused on reducing the threat of wildfires in its communities, with $2 million in grants for projects scheduled in 2021. Of that, $100,000 of that will go to the Forest Ranch Fire Safe Council and $50,000 to the Butte County Fire Safe Council.

“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.

Since 2014, PG&E has provided $17 million in grant funding to support local FSCs in their efforts to improve fire safety in communities. Typical FSC projects include reducing fuel, creating fuel breaks, and improving fire evacuation routes and emergency access roads.

The Forest Ranch FSC will use the funds to expand evacuation safety along primary roads by thinning brush and small trees near the roadside along Garland and Doe Mill roads, so that wildfire would not threaten vehicles evacuating or fire equipment coming into the community.

The Butte County Fire Safe Council will use the funds to supports its no-cost vegetation chipping program. The program is an important opportunity for landowners who are working on defensible space, forest thinning or creating safer ingress and egress routes.

The program operates by residents requesting service online (www.buttefiresafe.net) or by phone (530-877-0984) a list is then developed for each community region, and a chipping contractor provides the service for the resident.  

“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. The free community chipper is a great way to get your defensible space clearing for the season done,” said Calli-Jane DeAnda, executive director of Butte County Fire Safe Council. 

For more information on the Butte County Fire Safe Council Chipper Program, visit https://www.buttefiresafe.net .

“PG&E’s vegetation management team members who work in Butte County have a strong appreciation for Calli-Jane and her team for the important work they do,” 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 all with the goal of reducing fire risk in the communities we serve.”

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.