An email sent directly to individual Firewise Communities by the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County has baffled some and prompted a response by the Steering Committee of the FWC Coalition explaining why they declined to support the Fire Safe Council’s grant application.
Last Wednesday, an email from the Fire Safe Council sent to leaders of the 108 FireWise Community leaders asked for a letter of support for a grant. The email stated:
The goals of this grant are to greatly improve compliance with defensible space requirements around homes, create adequate clearing along evacuation routes within the 108 active Nevada County Firewise Communities (FWCs), and increase the number and effectiveness of FWCs.
To accomplish the above goals, this project will:
• Establish and administer a program for the FWCs in NC to apply for assistance to undertake hazardous fuel reduction and evacuation route clearing projects.
• Coordinate and improve the Defensible Space Assistance Visits (DSAV) program to help homeowners assess their wildfire risk and develop plans to reduce that risk.
• Hold quarterly meetings with the FWC leaders thru the Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities (Firewise Coalition) to update them of this program’s work, educate, share knowledge, and help support their work.
• Work with individual FWC leaders to review and update their action plans and help them apply for help to do this work.
• Organize biannual green waste drop-off events that occur over several week-ends and is open to all residents of Nevada County.
• Provide expertise, develop information, and be a point of contact to help support FWCs.
• Increase community outreach with the goal of increasing the number and effectiveness of FWCs in NC.
The email went on to clarify: “This program will fund a FWC Program Manager (PM), a Licensed Professional Forester (LPF), and an Administrative Assistant (AA) who will coordinate with the existing Firewise Coalition to carry out all elements of this grant-funded program. The physical work of hazardous fuels reduction will be contracted out on a bid basis to assure there are positive local economic impacts. The Program Manager and the Admin will work for and be housed at the FSCNC.”
Grant application appears to duplicate existing services
The second bite at the apple by the Fire Safe Council has confused several Firewise Communities.
- The Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities already holds quarterly meetings.
- The Fire Safe Council has had a Defensible Space Advisory Visit (DSAV) for years through volunteers trained by the Fire Safe Council.
- In 2008, the board of directors of the Fire Safe Council Nevada County voted to change their mission to include promotion, development, and retention of formal Firewise USA® Communities in Nevada County.
- According to their website, “Fire Safe Council of Nevada County is busy planning Free Residential Green Waste Disposal Days 2025. We are currently searching for funding and a location in collaboration with other funders.” Free green waste disposal days were announced by last week by Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES), Nevada County Public Works, CAL FIRE, Waste Management of Nevada County, City of Grass Valley, City of Nevada City, and Nevada County Consolidated Fire District.
Coalition Steering Committee declined to support the grant application earlier this year
YubaNet has obtained a copy of an email sent by the Firewise Coalition Steering Committee to leaders of Firewise Communities in Nevada County. The email explains why the steering committee declined to provide a letter of support in February, stating:
On the surface this grant makes great sense, because the Fire Safe Council’s stated intention is to use the funds specifically for personnel and programs that would support the formation and functioning of Firewise Communities.
Unfortunately, the Steering Committee of the Coalition of Firewise Communities had to make the difficult decision not to support the grant application.
After thorough discussion in a Zoom meeting on February 13, the Steering Committee reached a consensus not to support the grant application, citing concerns regarding the Fire Safe Council’s management and financial capacity to effectively administer such a grant.
On February 14th, Bob Long, representing the Coalition, personally informed Pete Williams, Chair of the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County, of this decision.
The email continues on
We became aware this morning, via the email from Pat Leach, that the Fire Safe Council is now reaching out to individual Firewise Communities to request their independent support. This led the Coalition Steering Committee to be concerned about inconsistent messaging and the appearance of disagreement among Nevada County’s fire safety organizations.
Our Coalition decision was based on careful consideration of the Council’s current operational and financial capacity. While we all share the goal of improving wildfire resilience in our communities, we must ensure that grant funding, which is taxpayer money, is managed effectively and responsibly. Also, there is the open question as to whether the ongoing investigation from the D.A.’s office could negatively affect the future operations of the existing Fire Safe Council.
We respect the right of all individuals and Firewise Communities to make their own decisions, and we encourage the leadership committee of each Firewise Community to discuss this issue amongst yourselves and make your own decision.