Fire Safe Council hosting wildfire preparedness workday Friday 

WILLITS, CA., 9/16/24 – In this day of climate change and extreme fire danger, wildfire preparedness is a year–round task for many Mendocino County residents. To support preparedness efforts, the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council is hosting a workday on Friday to maintain a fuel break in the Pine Mountain neighborhood east of Willits. 

The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council is a nonprofit with the mission “to inform, empower and mobilize county residents to survive and thrive in a wildfire-prone environment.” 

On Saturday, volunteers will work to clear vegetation from a fuel break located on the property of Tom Varney, who lives on Ridgewood Road. “During the 2017 Redwood Complex Fire, Cal Fire cut a wide and long fuel break on Tom Varney’s property at 6920 Ridgewood Rd.,” the council shared in a social media post. “[Cal Fire] left a gigantic mess, which Tom has spent years and thousands of dollars cleaning up. The fuel break is not maintained by Cal Fire. If maintained, this is an important fuel break for a fire coming from the east into the Pine Mt. neighborhood.” 

According to CalMatters, fuel breaks play an important role in helping to suppress wildfires. “Fuel breaks have emerged as an effective approach to wildfire suppression, and it’s vital these projects move forward expeditiously on private and public lands,” writes John Hawkins, a retired forestry worker and Butte County volunteer firefighter. “If strategically placed, these areas of reduced vegetation can slow the spread of wildfires, buying wildland firefighters more time to get ahead of rapidly developing wildfires.”  

Volunteers of all skill levels are invited to attend “whether to work, socialize, see new sights, or meet your neighbors,” the council shares. Those who choose to work are asked to bring hand saws, chainsaws, weeders, clippers, gloves and hearing protection. The council will also have some equipment.  

The council will offer snacks and information on home-hardening and defensible space.  

The workday takes place on Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 6920 Ridgewood Rd., Willits. Contact Angie Herman (707) 459-3265) or Lauren Robertson (707 841-7796 for more information about the event and firesafemendocino.org for more information on the council.