Amador County – Amador County Board of Supervisors last week allocated $43,000 for fire safety planning in the county, with about $5,000 possibly going to education about a new Fire Wise Communities program.

County natural resources consultant John Hofmann recommended the Fire Wise Community Program, which puts the onus of labor and cost on the homeowner. A discussion by Supervisors ensued, and Supervisor Richard Forster asked if the county is required to follow the Fire Wise recommendation. Forster said he saw it as creating an extra layer of government, with the requirement to create a “Fire Wise” executive board.

Forster said he would rather see the funds put into community work, and asked if it was “too late to back out of the Fire Wise.” It was later suggested to use the Amador Fire Safe Council board as the Fire Wise board.

Hofmann said they could present the Fire Wise program, and find that no community wants to pursue it. He said the question was “how much do you want to spend to convince the community.”

Kathy Coos Breazeal of the Amador Fire Safe Council said she had eight community presentations planned for Fire Wise, but had not spent any money because she did not have any money. The board suggested consolidating the meetings to save money. Supervisor Brian Oneto said some people will not take the advice in the Fire Wise program. He said he told his father-in-law that he should clear some trees for safety. Oneto even offered to do it for free, but his father-in-law declined, because that is his “screen.”

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said there is often a fire risk difference of “night and day” depending on location, such as comparing Running Gold to Sherwood Forest.

The board re-allocated $23,000 to front the cost for a Pine Grove Community Wildfire Protection Plan, to be paid with a $50,000 Sierra Nevada Conservancy grant. As it is reimbursed or if it is not needed for up front expenses, Fire Safe Council will develop the next priority Wildfire Plan, in the Fiddletown area.

The board also allocated $20,000 in 2009 funds to develop an Upcountry Wildfire Protection Plan, in the area of Dew Drop and eastward. Its cost was estimated at $15,000, and any left-over funding was allocated to be used for public outreach in connection with the Fire Wise Community program development.

Forster said they should help the communities develop their wildfire protection plans, and then try to get grants to do the work. Supervisor Louis Boitano suggested rolling the plan into a water analysis, and Plasse said a hydrant study is already included in the template.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.