Vallecito Firewise will hold a wildfire preparation day on May 2, focusing on reflective home address signs for $12, or $14 for a double-sided sign.
Call or email Ruth McKee at ruthmckee57@yahoo.com or (828) 713-4386 for sign information.
There will be a Vallecito Community Center spaghetti dinner on Saturday, May 16. Firewise volunteers will have information about the address signs, as well as information on fire mitigation on private property.
GRANTS
FireWise of Southwest Colorado received a Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Wildland-Urban Interface grant for wildfire mitigation work in Vallecito. The grant must be used to reduce hazardous fuels. The work can be hand thinning or mastication (using a brush hog or similar apparatus). If you would like a consultation on what work your property needs, FireWise and the Colorado State Forest Service are available for consultations.
You are required to get two bids for the work. A list of local contractors can be found at:
http://csfs.colostate.edu//media/sites/22/2014/02/CSFS-DD_ContractorDirectory030415.pdf and through the Wildfire Mitigation Professionals Association at www.theWMPA.org. While not required to use a particular contractor, it should be understood that work must be completed to CSFS standards and the project will be inspected before reimbursement is approved.
You must apply for the grant and be approved before any work begins.
The maximum grant award is $7,500. There is a 50-percent match required which can be hard cash or in-kind contributions (i.e. volunteer hours valued at $25.10/hour). You will be required to turn in a log of your volunteer hours. This grant cannot be used in conjunction with any other grant or rebate. Non-expenditure of awarded funds will decrease chances of future funding.
