LAKE COUNTY>> The California Fire Foundation (CFF), with support from the PG&E Corporation Foundation, has awarded wildfire safety grants to 19 local fire departments, fire agencies and community groups in PG&E’s North Coast Region, including two in Lake County. This is the sixth year these grants have been awarded to help communities bolster their disaster preparedness and response programs. Totaling $730,000 this year, the grants have been distributed to agencies in high wildfire-risk areas.
“Our primary objective is to utilize the granted funds to implement a comprehensive fuel reduction and fire prevention strategy. We plan to conduct a thorough assessment of the Elem Tribal Community’s potential fire hazards and take necessary steps to mitigate them,” said Kyle Bill, Executive Director at Kno’Qoti Native Wellness. “Our proposed measures will include removing combustible materials, pruning trees and creating defensible space around homes.”
According to the Vice President of PG&E’s North Coast Region, Dave Canny, the support aims to help with readiness and more resilience towards natural disasters. The Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation, Rick Martinez, said the grants are helping to implement projects such as community education and acquisition of new equipment for the firefighters.
“As a member of the Lake County Area community, we understand the importance of being prepared for any emergency or disaster. We recognize that resources can be scarce, especially within tribal communities, and that we may have to rely on services off the reservation”, added Bill. “Given the already stretched resources, we have taken proactive steps to leverage existing tribal resources. To enhance our readiness, we have strengthened communication with community members, tribal community leaders and surrounding tribal organizations. This ensures that we can bring in additional resources in the event of a disaster or wildfire and better serve our community’s needs.”
Wildfire season can be a dangerous time for communities, causing devastating damage and putting lives at risk. “To mitigate these hazards, it is important to adopt effective strategies that help prevent or minimize the impact of wildfires. One such approach is to restore traditional practices that have been used by Indigenous communities for generations, designed to maintain and care for homelands in a way that contributes to a healthy and thriving ecosystem,” said the Kno’Qoti Native Wellness Executive Director.
By adopting these methods, “we can create safer communities while also supporting the long-term environmental health of the region. For instance, some traditional practices involve controlled burns, which can help prevent the buildup of dead vegetation and other fuels that can contribute to more severe wildfires. Other practices may include selective harvesting of plants and trees, which can help maintain a healthy balance in the ecosystem,” Bill said.
In addition to these benefits, “restoring traditional practices can also help preserve the cultural heritage of Indigenous communities and promote a greater understanding and appreciation of their way of life,” Bill added. “Overall, adopting these methods is a win-win solution that can help protect communities and safeguard the environment for future generations.”
Bill stated “obtaining funding is crucial for tribal organizations, but it can be a highly competitive process. As a first-time applicant, we understand the importance of securing funding that meets the unique needs of Indian Country. We believe it would be beneficial for organizations like PG&E to create specific funding sources that are tailored to tribal communities. This would help to ensure that the programs and initiatives implemented are better suited to the community’s needs and approaches.”
The Executive Director called attention to the Indigenous communities in Lake County, which are among the most vulnerable groups in the area: “They often lack basic infrastructure and services, such as access to clean drinking water, healthcare and emergency services. In some cases, they are located in remote areas, making it difficult for emergency responders to reach them in the event of a disaster.”
In addition to the Indigenous communities, “there are many homes and communities in Lake County that have dilapidated or non-existent infrastructure. For instance, many roads are unpaved and have many potholes, which can make it unsafe and difficult for people to evacuate during a disaster. This can be especially challenging for people with disabilities or those who do not have access to a vehicle,” he said. “Furthermore, internet access is crucial for community members to stay informed during disasters. In an age where many people no longer have cable or satellite TV, the internet has become the primary source of information. However, during disasters, the higher volume of use can cause internet service to become inadequate or unreliable, putting community members at risk. This is especially true for low-income households, which are less likely to have access to high-speed internet connections.”
