The Amador Fire Safe Council is reminding citizens to take advantage of funding still available for defensible space grants. The grants are available for qualified full time county residents who are low to moderate income seniors age 65 and older, or disabled full time residents. Defensible space is considered to be the area around a structure that has been landscaped to reduce fire danger. This space reduces the risk that fire will spread to the structure, and also provides firefighters a relatively safe area in which to work while protecting the structure. Cathy Koos Breazeal, Executive Director of the Fire Safe Council, says the recent wildfires that swept Southern California are a perfect example of defensible space at work. Homes cleared for defensible space had a far higher success rate in surviving the fires. The Council was originally granted 150,000 dollars in grants last fall with the commitment that they would raise matching funds of 75,000 dollars. The funding was predicted to cover some 140 homes. Breazeal says there is still funding available for 35 to 40 homes. Fund availability will expire in August or when funding is no longer available. If you think you qualify and would like to apply, contact Cathy Koos Breazeal at 296-6220.
Tuesday, 12 February 2008 10:21