SACRAMENTO
$5 million available to promote tribal wildfire resilience
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is announcing the availability of up to $5 million for Tribal Wildfire Resilience projects. CAL FIRE is soliciting applications for projects that work to support California Native American tribes in managing ancestral lands, implementing and promoting Traditional Ecological Knowledges in wildfire resilience, and creating wildfire safety for tribal communities.
Applications will be accepted from now, via the Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants webpage and will be due by no later than 12 P.M. on Friday, March 28, 2025. Eligible applicants are California Native American tribes, and tribal-led non-profit organizations with documentation.
“Supporting California tribes through Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants demonstrates CAL FIRE’s commitment to protecting communities, restoring ecosystems, revitalizing traditional land stewardship, and building a resilient future for people and our state,” said Matthew Reischman, CAL FIRE Deputy Director of Resource Management.
Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants fund projects in cultural and prescribed fire, fuels reduction, forest resilience, restoration of culturally important ecosystems, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, training, and planning projects that include mapping, environmental compliance, and developing forest/fire management plans. These actions foster the future wellbeing of resilient ecosystems and tribal communities while also helping to mitigate climate change, protect communities from fire risk, strengthen rural economies, revitalize traditional land management practices, and improve California’s water resources and air quality.
CAL FIRE is committed to offering grant funding specifically for Tribal Wildfire Resiliency projects. Since 2023, $24 million has been awarded to eligible applicants. The first 12 projects awarded can be found on our webpage. An additional five projects were funded in partnership with California Natural Resource Agency’s Tribal Nature-Based Solutions program.
Online office hours will be available throughout the application period. CAL FIRE’s Tribal Wildfire Resilience staff will also be available to answer questions about the grant process and requirements. Please check the Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants webpage for details. Any questions can be directed to TribalWildfireResilienceGrants@fire.ca.gov.
Projects that receive funding from the Tribal Wildfire Resilience grant program are designed to complement California’s Wildfire & Forest Resilience Action Plan and California’s Strategic Plan for Expanding the Use of Beneficial Fire.
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LAKE COUNTY
Friday Night Live Youth Empowerment Program takes stand against underage drinking in Lake County
This fall, young people in Lower Lake High School’s Friday Night Live (FNL) club launched a campaign to tackle underage drinking in Lake County in partnership with Lake County Behavioral Health Services (LCBHS). FNL is a youth-led program facilitated by LCBHS that builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development, engages youth as active community leaders, and generates resources to create positive changes on issues that matter to them.
Although underage drinking rates continue to decline, the 2023 California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) found young people in 7th, 9th, and 11th grades had engaged in alcohol use at least once in the past month at rates of 4%, 10%, and 14%, respectively.
Research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has shown underage alcohol consumption can lead to a variety of risks and dangerous consequences for consumers, including impaired judgment, risky behaviors, interference with brain development, and increased risk of developing substance use disorders in adulthood (NIAAA, 2024). California youth in Lower Lake High School are taking a stand with retail partners to promote healthy alternatives to underage drinking and support in creating safer communities.
As part of this year-long prevention campaign, Lower Lake High School’s FNL chapter members will drive initiatives to engage alcohol retailers to conduct store assessments and provide merchant education on preventative safety measures to reduce youth access to alcohol products. Youth leaders will also work with retailers to inform customers of the consequences of providing alcohol products to minors. Throughout the campaign, young people will receive training on data collection, public speaking, creating public service announcements, and leadership and advocacy skills.
Friday Night Live (FNL) is a statewide initiative and includes forty-five FNL chapters from across California. Each receive support from the California Friday Night Live Partnership (CFNLP), with funding provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). FNL’s efforts will utilize environmental prevention strategies through youth-led initiatives to educate their peers, neighbors, and local leaders on ways to reduce underage drinking access and mitigate damage to communities resulting from underage drinking.
Locally, Lake County Behavioral Health Services plays a key role in facilitating these efforts, ensuring young people have the resources and support needed to drive meaningful change.
For more information about FNL, visit fridaynightlive.org. Instagram (llhs_fridaynightlive).
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