$3.3 million to Fund Fire Fuels Reduction on West Slope
Eric Jaramishian / Mountain Democrat
(PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA) July 1, 2022 — The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council will receive more than $3.3 million to reduce fire fuels along roads and remove bark beetle killed trees.
The grants are part of a nearly $118 million Cal Fire grant package, which will fund 144 wildfire prevention projects across California, according to a press release from Cal Fire.
The fire safe council will receive more than $2 million for a south county fuel reduction project to create four shaded fuel breaks on 447 acres and hazardous fuel reduction along nearly 33 miles of priority county roads — portions of Outingdale, Fairplay, Omo Ranch, Mt. Aukum, Pleasant Valley, Oak Hill and Big Oak roads and a portion of Fowler Lane.
The project is designed to increase wildfire resiliency, improve access for first responders during a wildfire, improve emergency egress for more than 27,000 residents and reduce roadway-related wildfire ignitions, the press release states.
The treatment zone encompasses 845 acres, where 4,813 residences at or in the vicinity of the project are expected to benefit. Communities within the project area include Diamond Springs, […]