Labor Day weekend is often considered the end of summer, but in California it is not the end of wildfire season. In fact, State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant says climate change, population growth and tree mortality have made the concept of a "fire season" out of date.
“It really has become a fire year,” he says.
Wildfires now occur throughout the year, including during the winter months of January and February. That makes wildfire prevention even more important.
To help, Cal Fire's Wildfire Prevention Grants program is supporting Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties with $2.6 million for prevention projects. They include wildfire education and helping low income residents create defensible spaces around their homes.
The money is also used to keep wildfires from moving into and destroying cities and neighborhoods. Berlant says that work includes, “fuel reduction, building fuel breaks, or reducing hazardous vegetation in and around communities.”
Wildfire prevention work can even help us breathe better.
“For us, every wildfire that we prevent [means] less smoke in the air [and] less carbon that negatively impacts our air quality," Berlant says.
The San Benito Fire Safe Council and the Community Foundation for San Benito received grants for the first time this year.
Statewide, $90 million in grant money is being given to cities, counties, nonprofits and tribal entities for nearly 100 fire prevention and education projects.
