CalFire announced this week it will be awarding nearly $16 million for fire prevention grants to local fire departments and fire safe councils to reduce the threat of large wildfires. The 2016-2017 State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund and tree mortality grants are aimed at reducing the threat wildfires as well as dead and dying trees in and around communities within the State Responsibility Area (SRA).

“In just the last couple of weeks, we have seen how destructive this fire season has already been and the critical role fire prevention projects play in helping us protect lives and property,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CalFire Director. “As the drought continues, and millions of more trees die off, we must take every step to prepare our neighborhoods and communities from wildfire.”

The 2016-2017 CalFire grants have a one-time appropriation of 10 million dollars that is intended to address the risk and potential impact of wildfire and dead and dying trees on habitable structures in the SRA. The grants also provide a one-time allocation of six million dollars for fire prevention projects that are not limited to the SRA. The target audiences for the grants include, but are not limited to, local government agencies, fire districts and fire safe councils to augment recent fire prevention projects. The grant amount will be limited to a maximum of $200,000 per project. This will allow for broad distribution of grant funds to local government agencies and organizations throughout the State. The 2016-2017 grant applications are due Wednesday, Sept. 28 by 3 p.m.

CalFire is encouraging a wide range of applicants throughout the state to apply for this funding. Interested parties can get more information at CalFire’s grants webpage at: http://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/grants.php.