PG&E is providing $2 million to fund local fire safe council projects to reduce the threat of wildfires and help keep communities safe.

PG&E has awarded $80,000 to the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council to work on evacuation safety enhancements for single access communities.

“During the devastating October 2017 Redwood Fire, the Mendocino County community unfortunately learned first-hand that escape routes during a fire must be clear of fuel to keep flames further from roadways and allow more time for residents to evacuate safely. Current fuel loading also limits line of sight and emergency vehicle passage along the main subdivision road. This grant will help us reduce hazardous fuel adjacent to roads to provide safer evacuation of residents and access for emergency vehicles in the case of an emergency,” said Mary Mayeda, project manager for the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council.

Since 2014, and including this year, PG&E will have provided $13 million to local Fire Safe Councils and 501(c)(3) organizations to fund more than 200 projects in Northern and Central California. Projects have included fuel reduction, shaded fuel breaks, emergency access and wood-chipping programs.

“Years of drought, extreme heat and 129 million dead trees are creating a ‘new normal’ in our state and we must continue to adapt to these challenges. We appreciate our continuing partnership with local Fire Safe Councils to complete this important safety work. These projects create fuel breaks to protect communities, clear vegetation from evacuation routes, and help underserved customers create critical defensible space to protect their homes from fire,” said Kevin Dasso, PG&E vice president of Electric Asset Management.

“We appreciate PG&E for being a vital partner in getting work done on the ground to reduce vegetation along critical access routes and engaging landowners and residents to think more critically about fire preparedness and fuel reduction in three separate rural communities within Mendocino County,” added Mayeda.

This year, PG&E is providing funding to local councils and nonprofits to complete approximately 30 projects in 24 counties. Projects must be completed by October of this year.

In addition to partnering with local Fire Safe Councils, PG&E is preparing for wildfires through its new Community Wildfire Safety Program. The company launched the program in March as an additional precautionary measure intended to reduce wildfire threats and strengthen communities for the future.

Through the program, PG&E is bolstering wildfire prevention and emergency response efforts, putting in place new and enhanced safety measures, and doing more over the long term to harden its electric system to help reduce wildfire risks and to keep its customers safe.