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CAL FIRE Reinstates Burn Ban in San Mateo and Other Counties

CAL FIRE Declares Burn Ban in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, portions of Stanislaus, and Western San Joaquin Counties

Felton – On December 30, 2013, CAL FIRE will suspend all open burning within the State Responsibility Area and Local Responsibility Areas under contract to CAL FIRE in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, portions of Stanislaus, and Western San Joaquin Counties.

Experience has shown that open burning suspensions effectively aid in preventing fire escapes and significantly reduces the risk and occurrence of large fires. This is especially important as these counties are currently experiencing record breaking low cumulative rainfall, low humidity, dry fuel moisture levels and increased fire activity. So far in November and December this year in Santa Cruz County alone, out of 31 vegetation fires, we have experienced 15 escaped debris fires. Normal for the same period would be an estimated 5 to 7 vegetation fires alone.

Download the pdfpress release and additional information, here.

Fire Safe San Mateo Awarded Grant for Fuel Reduction and Education

Today the California Fire Safe Council announced grants for 38 projects spanning 30 counties in California and Nevada that support CFSC’s efforts to support fire risk reduction activities by landowners and residents in at-risk communities. CFSC received 84 applications, and awarded 38 grants.

Fire Safe San Mateo County was awarded $58,580 with a match of $65,200 for education and fuel reduction. The grant will help fund and expand an existing chipper program, providing additional vegetation removal and chipping county wide, and will fund a variety of related print and web based communication tools. No other proposals in San Mateo County were funded

California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) is pleased to announce its 2014 Grants Clearinghouse Awards. Executive Director Margaret Grayson announced grants for 38 projects spanning 30 counties in California that support CFSC’s efforts to support fire risk reduction activities by landowners and residents in at-risk communities in California and Nevada. The decisions that have been made are preliminary funding decisions at this time based on funding and the next steps in the Clearinghouse. CFSC received 84 applications totaling $8 million in grant requests and over $10 million in matching dollars. The projects are being funded by grants from the Cooperative Fire Program of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Pacific Southwest Region, through the California Fire Safe Council.

Click here to view the grant summary report on the 2014 Grant Awards and the list of preliminary funded projects.

Cal Fire Measures Record Low Live Fuel Moistures in San Mateo County

December live fuel moisture for the Unit is posted at http://www.wfas.net/index.php/national-fuel-moisture-database-moisture-drought-103  and summarized below:

Location Current (%) 12/16 Previous (%) 11/18 Change
Hwy 35 & 92 - coyote brush 101 110 -9
Pulgas - coyote brush 97 104 -7
Saratoga Summit - chamise 64 65 -1
new growth /a /a /a
old growth /a /a /a
Corralitos - manzanita 80 82 -2
new growth /a /a /a
old growth /a /a /a

The small amount of recent rainfall did not influence live fuel moisture in the Unit.  Moisture levels continue at records lows for this time of year, in fact, this month’s reading at HWY 35/92 is the lowest ever measured.  Live fuel moisture is still considered at or near “critical.”

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