By the San Benito County Fire Safe Council
The San Benito County Community Wildfire Protection Plan was
developed by the San Benito Fire Safe Council with guidance and
support from the California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection, the Bureau of Land Management, San Benito County,
community members, interested parties, forest and rangeland
property owners, and wildfire protection planning consultants from
Dudek.
As a key component of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of
2003, a Community Wildfire Protection Plan serves as a mechanism
for community input and identification of areas presenting high
fire hazard risk as well as identification of potential projects
intended to mitigate such risk.
By the San Benito County Fire Safe Council
The San Benito County Community Wildfire Protection Plan was developed by the San Benito Fire Safe Council with guidance and support from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Bureau of Land Management, San Benito County, community members, interested parties, forest and rangeland property owners, and wildfire protection planning consultants from Dudek.
As a key component of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, a Community Wildfire Protection Plan serves as a mechanism for community input and identification of areas presenting high fire hazard risk as well as identification of potential projects intended to mitigate such risk.
Further, the plan process is intended to provide the community a forum for identifying values at risk from wildfire, which may include people, property, natural resources, cultural values, economic interests, and infrastructure. The identification of these values at risk by the community strongly influences the potential wildfire hazard mitigation projects identified in the county’s wildfire protection plan.
The purpose of this collaboratively prepared report is to serve as a fire protection planning document that presents the county’s physical characteristics, landscape-scale fire hazard, rated fire hazard risk areas, the wildland urban interface, and designated fuel reduction projects and specifications for the area.
The goal of the plan is to provide a planning-level framework for hazardous fuel assessment and reduction within county areas so that structures and assets are provided additional protection, reducing the potential for wildfire-originated ignitions. The plan is intended to be a living document managed by the Fire Safe Council and supported by long-term community involvement.
Public review and support of plan
Community meetings were held during the preparation of the plan in order to provide community members an opportunity to contribute to the process. Specifically, community input was sought to better understand the vulnerability of San Benito County residents, businesses, and resources to wildfire and to promote awareness of the county-wide wildland fire hazard and propose workable solutions to reduce the risk of wildfire. The meetings provided a forum for the community to discuss how to best mitigate wildfire risk in San Benito County.
Final review and approval
The Community Wildfire Protection Plan can be found on the Fire Safe Council Web site at www.sbfsc.org along with other information on the council, fire prevention and fire safety tips. Final approval of the plan will be at the Board of Supervisors meeting April 27 at 9 a.m.
For more information or to become a member of the Fire Safe Council call 623-1677.
Council members are available to come and talk to homeowners’ associations meetings and provide residents with fire safety information and handouts.
About San Benito Fire Safe Council
The San Benito Fire Safe Council is a nonprofit organization coordinated by a coalition of public and private sector organizations that share a common, vested interest in reducing losses from wildfire.
