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About Us
The Butte County Fire Safe Council is a non-profit, public-benefit corporation formed in March of 1998.
Fires in Butte County cause irreparable damage and devastation to residents' lives and property and to wildlife habitat each year. Catastrophic wildfires throughout Butte County's history (such as the 1996 Raulson Fire, the 1999 Butte Complex of lightning fires, 2000 Concow Fire, the 2001 Poe and HWY 70 Fire, the 2003 Centerville Fire, and the 2004 Oregon Fire) have burned 51,437 acres, destroyed 74 structures, and resulted in two civilian fatalities.
Mission
We at the Butte County Fire Safe Council strive to reduce damage and devastation through our mission "to provide safety in Butte County through wildfire hazard education and mitigation."
The Butte County Fire Safe Council operates with a staff of two and a Board of Directors consisting of 16 residents representing community members from throughout the County as well as stakeholders from local, state, and federal agencies with a vested interest in wildfire preparedness and prevention.
Programs & Projects
Our mission is accomplished through a variety of free fire prevention programs, projects, educational materials, and community outreach which includes:
- The Chipper Program—A brush-chipping service available to residents throughout Butte County.
- Fire Safe Home Visit Program—A voluntary opportunity for residents of Butte County to receive one-on-one wildfire prevention and preparedness training tailored specifically to each home.
- Resident's Assistance Program—A program that provides defensible-space assistance for qualifying low income, senior, and physically disabled residents in Butte County.
- Fuels Reduction Projects—Assisting in or carrying out fuels reduction projects in which roads are made safer for evacuation and fire-fighting access.
- Sixth Grade Education Program—Provides wildfire education for sixth-grade students.
- Home Owners' Guide to Fire-Wise Landscaping—Brochures illustrating how defensible space can be created in grassland, brushland, and timberland environments.
- Community Evacuation Plans—Provide critical information to residents for emergency evacuation.
Accomplishments
- The Chipper Program—Has provided service to 1,114 residents and treated hazardous fuels on
 1,064 acres since the program began in 2003.
- Dooryard Education Program—80 home visits were conducted between 2004-2006.
- Residents' Assistance Program—Funding is available for future development of program.
- Fuels Reduction Projects—Since 2001 the Council has collaborated in nine roadside fuels-reduction projects, which total over 30 miles of roads throughout Butte County.
- 6th Grade Education Program—585 fifth-grade students have received life-saving wildfire education in the Paradise Union School District and the Golden Feather School District.
- Home Owners' Guide to Fire-Wise Landscaping—Brochures created by the Council have been adopted by the State Fire Safe Council and used throughout California.
- Community Evacuation Plans—Community evacuation plans have been created in four communities: Yankee Hill, Berry Creek, Upper Ridge, and the Town of Paradise.
Funding
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