Del Norte Fire Safe Council
PO Box 1135, Crescent City, CA 95531
Del Norte Fire Safe Council
Our Monthly Newsletter
Welcome to the Del Norte Fire Safe Council's Newsletter Archive! Here, you can explore our monthly newsletters, each packed with valuable insights, updates, and resources on wildfire resilience, forest health, and community safety. Stay informed about our latest projects, community events, and important announcements. Whether you're a homeowner looking for tips to protect your property or a community member eager to stay connected, our newsletters are your go-to source for all things fire safety in Del Norte County. Dive in and stay up-to-date with our ongoing efforts to create a safer, fire-resilient community!
December 2024 Edition
This month's newsletter emphasizes combining fuel reduction strategies to create wildfire-resilient landscapes, with prescribed burning as the ultimate goal. Mechanical thinning and pile burning offer immediate hazard reduction, while prescribed fire provides long-term benefits like improved soil health, biodiversity, and reduced wildfire intensity by addressing fuels and restoring ecosystem balance.
The Del Norte Wildfire Resilience Project has made significant progress, creating defensible space for over 50 homes in Del Norte County. These efforts prepare the landscape for prescribed burns, essential for maintaining treated areas and scaling up fuel management. The newly established Del Norte Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) is a vital part of this plan. With leadership training, equipment acquisition, and burn planning underway, the PBA aims to conduct its first burn in February 2025, weather permitting.
This month’s chore focuses on conducting fire risk home assessments. Free home fire risk assessments are also available from the DNFSC to help residents prioritize these measures.
Community members are invited to the Winter PBA Meeting on December 16th at Hiouchi Community Fellowship. This meeting will provide insights into prescribed fire’s benefits, permitting processes, and opportunities for involvement in local burn efforts. Presentations will highlight how prescribed burns enhance wildfire resilience and community safety while offering practical guidance for participants.
The Del Norte Fire Safe Council is committed to integrating immediate and long-term strategies for healthier forests and safer communities. Together, we can protect lives, property, and landscapes.
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November 2024 Edition
This months newsletter highlights the increasing destructiveness of modern wildfires due to 150 years of suppression and underscores the importance of proactive fire management. It explores opportunities for ecological renewal and community resilience following wildfires. Key points include the ecological benefits of fire, such as nutrient recycling, biodiversity enhancement, and natural regeneration of fire-adapted species like Ponderosa Pines and Sequoias. The newsletter also emphasizes the role of prescribed burn associations (PBAs) in fostering safe and effective fire use for wildfire resilience.
The newsletter outlines the Gordon Hill Project, a collaborative effort involving the USFS, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Smith River Alliance, and DNFSC, which focuses on fuel reduction and prescribed fire to enhance landscape resilience and community safety. Residents are encouraged to begin defensible space preparation, such as clearing vegetation and stacking debris, to reduce wildfire risks.
The upcoming Prescribed Burn Association Meeting on December 16th aims to engage landowners and the community in planning future burns and building PBA leadership. The newsletter advocates for policy changes supporting controlled burns and strategic fuel reduction to prevent catastrophic wildfires, urging a shift in perspective to embrace fire as a natural and beneficial process.
Through education, collaboration, and proactive management, the DNFSC continues to lead efforts to build fire-resilient landscapes and communities in Del Norte County.
October 2024 Edition
This month's newsletter emphasizes the critical role of trails in both fire management and recreation in Del Norte County. Trails serve as vital access routes for fire crews during wildfire suppression and provide essential boundaries for prescribed and cultural burns.
In addition, these pathways offer recreational opportunities for hunters, hikers, off-roaders, and nature enthusiasts. The dual purpose of trails, as both fire control lines and recreational assets, highlights the importance of maintaining them.
The newsletter also reports on the successful formation of the Del Norte County Prescribed Burn Association (PBA), established on September 28, 2024. The PBA will help local communities safely utilize prescribed fire to reduce hazardous fuels and restore ecosystems. Ongoing community engagement is crucial, with the next PBA meeting scheduled for October 28th at the Hiouchi Community Church.
In the "Chore of the Month" section, residents are encouraged to start preparing their defensible space by cutting and stacking vegetation in anticipation of the burning season.
Upcoming events include a Fire Expo on October 12 and the next PBA meeting on October 28.
Click Below for the October Edition
September 2024 Edition
The Del Norte Fire Safe Council (DNFSC) is working to reintroduce "Good Fire"—prescribed burns and cultural burning—as essential tools for restoring landscapes and reducing wildfire risks. Historically, indigenous peoples used fire to manage the land and maintain biodiversity, but European settlers introduced fire suppression, resulting in dense, overgrown forests prone to catastrophic wildfires. To address this, DNFSC is establishing a community-led Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) that empowers residents with the knowledge and tools to conduct safe, controlled burns, protecting homes and managing forests. A key initiative, the Gordon Hill Project, is a collaborative effort aimed at reducing wildfire risks and revitalizing the landscape by treating 2,750 acres by March 2025. Community engagement is also a priority, with wildfire planning meetings scheduled throughout Del Norte County to gather local input and shape future fire resilience projects. Your involvement is crucial in creating a fire-safe future for our communities.
Click Below for the September Edition
August 2024 Edition
In our first edition, the DNFSC shares personal insights on wildfire challenges, highlighting recent community evacuations and the ongoing efforts to build wildfire resilience. The newsletter details the importance of understanding and adapting to the role of wildfires in our landscape. It discusses projects in Gasquet, Hiouchi, and Rock Creek aimed at preparing for controlled burns and enhancing community safety. It also introduces the DNFSC team, their dedication to the mission, and how you can help our first responders. Upcoming public input sessions are announced to engage the community in planning future wildfire mitigation projects.
Click Below for the August Edition