While very new, the SSFSC (South Skyline Fire Safe Council) has big plans for 2009 helping the community become more resistant to wildland fires.  However, IT WILL TAKE YOUR HELP with donations of time and dollars.  Please return the donation request form.  The SSA Board has agreed to match your money donations!

We are going to take two very large steps this year, hopefully going a long way towards catching up with the other Fire Safe Councils  around California.  The first step is to write a Grant Request for funds to help South Skyline homeowners achieve their defensible space.  We are still formulating our Request, but we expect it to be mainly for chipping service and some for brush mastication (see article, ‘Creating your Defensible Space’.) If we receive the grant those funds will become available at roughly the end of the year.  Even without that grant we expect to offer some free and reduced cost chipping from sources in each of our three counties this summer.  Also, we hope to set up some expert sources of advice on what you should clear for your defensible space.  See updates in future issues of the Skylines, or visit our website, <http://www.southskylinefiresafe.org>

The Grant Request is made to the California Fire Safe Council (a nonprofit, not part of state government).  They administer the federal funds that they receive.  Writing the grant request, due Feb 20, is a very large job.  It must comply with their detailed, rigid standards.  Our chances being awarded a grant are maybe 50 - 50.  You grant writers out there, we can use help!  We must show cost sharing in the grant, money and labor.  The higher the percentage the better the chances of winning a grant.

The second large step is to start working toward our CWPP, ‘Community Wildfire Protection Plan’.  We need researchers to dig out information relevant to wildfire protection planning, coordinating with Fire Departments, MROSD, etc, and fund raising.  With the help of the information and coordination we provide, the plan is developed by a professional team.  With this plan, approved by the coordinating organizations, our grant success greatly increases and we can be much more ambitious in our efforts.  We already have big future plans, but need all the  help the South Skyline  community can muster!  Call/email Dick Schwind now or indicate on the enclosed donation form.

  Dick Schwind, V.P.: 408-867-9422, schwindr@yahoo.com
  Patrick Congdon, President: 650-941-9832, pcongdon@mfire.com