 The Solano County Board of Supervisors this week approved $1.9 million for wildfire prevention and preparedness.
Board of Supervisors Approve $1.9 Million for Wildfire Prevention Efforts
Wildfire preparedness and prevention remains a high priority of mine and I’m pleased that the Board of Supervisors this week approved the allocation of $1.9 million toward those efforts.
In the wake of the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, myself and staff have been working with our partners to identify opportunities for partnerships and funding. Solano County, with the help of Senator Bill Dodd, was fortunate to secure $1.9 million in state funding for wildfire prevention late last year.
County staff met with Fire Safe Councils and the Solano County Resource Conservation District to discuss needs that may be addressed by this funding. Input was also sought from our Sheriff, Office of Emergency Services and Department of Information Technology.
In late 2020, I held a series of listening sessions with residents who were impacted by the LNU Lightning Complex Fire. One overwhelming area of concern was, and continues to be fuel reduction. As part of the Board’s action this week, $400,000 will be spent to acquire equipment for the creation of a fuels reduction program. This includes the future purchase of a dozer for completing fuel breaks, as well as enhance our current inventory for fuel reduction and chipping.
As a member of the Board’s Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Fire, I’ve spent a lot of time meeting with or rural fire districts and city fire chiefs. One area of concern is radio interoperability, a problem that has plagued our law enforcement and fire fighters for decades. Bringing all emergency response agencies onto the same radio system has been a long-time goal. As part of the Board’s action this week, $1,170,000 will be used to acquire radio equipment that will allow fire protection districts to communicate with their city fire agencies during a multiagency response.
In addition, the Board’s action this week also included: $200,000 for design work at the former falls elementary school site, which contains a Cordelia Fire Protection District station; $10,000 for a pilot signage program; and $120,000 for the acquisition of a used water tender to be made available for use by our rural fire protection districts. To read a report in the Daily Republic about the wildfire spending, click here.
While not part of the Board’s action this week to identify needs and allocate the $1.9 million in state funds for wildfire prevention, is the county’s ongoing work with the Solano Resource Conservation District to create a countywide Fire Safe Council. Aided by a CAL FIRE grant, the creation of a countywide Fire Safe Council will help serve all of the county’s fire safe councils, such as the Pleasants Valley Fire Safe Council, to consolidate grant requests and create a Community Wildfire Prevention Plan (CWPP). A completed CWPP will help prioritize future wildfire prevention projects such as chipping and defensible space programs.
I will continue to work with our partners at the state and federal level pull down funding for wildfire prevention and preparedness. I look forward to continuing the conversation with residents and fire professionals as we work toward making our communities more resilient in the face of an ever present wildfire threat.
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Since 2003, Supervisor John M. Vasquez has had the privilege to represent the 4th Supervisorial District covering Northern Solano County. The district includes portions of Vacaville and Dixon. |
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