Chipper Program for Wildfire Safety!

Press Release 1-9-13

Do you have fallen branches, overgrown brush and other vegetation that needs Chipping? The Chipper Program is once again offering service to residents who are working on their wildfire safety clearance. The program provides an alternative to burning or hauling fire hazardous brush.

The Chipper program is in its eleventh year and anticipates offering service this season until May 15^th but don’t wait to get your fire prevention work done!

To prepare brush and limbs for the Chipper Program:

1. Stack cut brush and limbs in a row within 5 feet of the road edge with the ends facing towards the road.

2. Rows should be stacked no more that 4 feet high.

3. Keep mud, rocks and roots out of the rows.

4. Locate the rows so the truck and chipper can easily access them, no off-road locations allowed.

To participate in the Chipper Program please call 530-877-0984. The Program is a service of the Butte County Fire Safe Council, a non-profit organization.

Funding provided by a National Fire Plan grant from the Cooperative Fire Program of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Pacific Southwest Region, through the California Fire Safe Council. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

 KHSL Coverage

2013 Chipper Post Card

Paradise Post Article

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PRESS RELEASE

Forbestown Fire Safe Project to Start this Winter

Contact: Calli-Jane Burch, Executive Director 530/877-0984

The Butte Fire Safe Council was awarded grants for three fuel reduction projects in the Forbestown area that will provide fire fighters with more tools if a fire occurs.   The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Yuba and Butte Fire Safe Councils, have worked together to develop a comprehensive network of Defensible Fuel Profile Zones (DFPZ's) to protect the at fire risk communities of Forbestown and Brownsville.

Work is anticipated to begin on the project in November of this year and continue through May of 2013.  Project work will occur along Forbestown and Lower Forbestown roads and on private lands.  The Sierra Nevada Conservancy has provided grant funds to treat 90 acres and Forest Service Stevens funds will treat 302 acres.

The reduction of understory fuel will change fire behavior on the lower flank of Forbestown and to assist in preventing a north wind driven fire from going over the ridge into the Brownsville community.  Also, by treating on the down slope side of the Forbestown Road leading to Oroville, there will be an improvement in evacuation and fire fighter access safety during a fire.

The process brought together private landowners, community members and agencies to create and coordinate DFPZ's spanning properties under multiple ownerships. The overall fuels reduction project on these strategically located properties has been organized to achieve optimum defense of the at risk communities.

Work will reduce the fuels in seven phases on the total 556 acres of the two mile long Forbestown Fuel break project.   The Butte County Public Works Department has secured funding from the Forest Service to treat fuels along six miles of Forbestown Road.  To build on that the Butte Fire Safe Council will work with landowners to treat 70 acres along Forbestown area roads designated by the Forbestown Fire Safe Council to reduce fuels on their property to connect to some of the work done by Public Works.

For more information call the BCFSC at 877-0984 or visit www.thenet411.net.

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Ready Raccoon is an emblem of Wildfire Safety.  Like Smokey Bear, Ready is a friendly icon for the serious problem of wildland fires. Ready was created by the Paradise Fire Safe Council after the 2008 wildfires to teach residents about Wildfire Safety Preparedness!

The Book: Wildfire Ready Raccoon

Ready’s book was written by Phil John and illustrated by Dave Thompson.  The books printing was made possible by generous donations from Rabobank, Adventist Health Feather River Hospital, Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression, Inc and About Trees.Ready has created a fun book to familiarize Butte County residents to wildfire preparedness.  It is a charming book for all ages. Wonderfully illustrated, it follows Ready through the streets of Paradise, California. He watches some of his neighbors lose their homes in a devastating fire. Wanting to help the community, he works with Firefighter Jim to make his home firesafe!

Where to get the book: 
Meet Ready and get a copy of his book at these community locations:

Paradise Adventist Academy, 5699 Academy Drive, Paradise CA.September 30, 2012 -  Feather River Hospital Health and Safety Fair. 12-4 pm.

October 10, 2012 -  Walmart Health and Safety Fair. 3:30-6 pm. Chico Walmart. Chico CA.

October 11, 2012 -  Rabobank Customer Appreciation Day. 12-2pm.  Paradise branch at Clark and Pearson. Paradise, CA.

Paradise Methodist Church, 6722 Clark Rd., Paradise CA (across from Paradise Cinema 7).October 18, 2012 -  Doom  the Broom Event.  8:30am -12 noon.

The Wildfire Ready Raccoon book is also available at the Butte County Fire Safe Council (BCFSC) office located at 5619 Black Olive Dr. Open M-F 9:30-5:00pm.

For more information about Ready or have him participate in an event call the BCFSC at 877-0984.

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Butte County Fire Safe Council and Paradise Irrigation District have successfully partnered on three grant applications which were recently awarded to improve watershed and forest health in Magalia on Paradise Irrigation District Lands (PID).

The three grant projects will reduce wildfire threat by thinning small overstocked trees and brush.  These projects link to four existing shaded fuel break/forest health projects.  Partners have included US Forest Service Plumas National Forest, Bureau of Land Management and Cal-Fire.

 “It has taken at least 5 years of planning to design and apply for these project grants.” Says Calli-Jane Burch, Executive Director.

 The three grants awarded come from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy funding $84,000, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection funding $23,950 and US Forest Service $75,000 for a total of $182,950.

 “These grants will protect water quality for Paradise residents for years to come, we want residents to understand that PID is committed to being an active and good steward of our drinking water and the forest it comes from” Says George Barber, Manager of Paradise Irrigation District.

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