Fire Safe Councils

When it comes to wildfire, no single person alone can protect a community. The EDC Fire Safe Councils are made up of neighborhoods who join forces to effectively reduce and prevent wildfire losses by mobilizing residents to protect their homes, communities and environments from wildfire. Our Fire Safe Councils are often sparked by a catalyst – perhaps a recent fire or a group of neighbors eager to spread a fire safe message – then embraced by the community, which turns that initial interest into a committed group that finds ways to empower the residents to do their part to make the community safer.

As stated in our Bylaws, the EDC Fire Safe Council’s mission is “to protect the people of El Dorado County and their property from the effects of catastrophic wildfire through education, cooperation, innovation, and action.”

The EDC Fire Safe Council was organized in September 2001 and currently has over 150 individuals from the public and private sectors on our Council Communication Network who are committed to making El Dorado County more fire safe. Education and community outreach is a top priority: making the residents of the County aware of the risks of living within a Wildland Urban Interface and what they can do to protect their home and property from wildfire.

Creating defensible space is their responsibility.

Over the past Decades people have moved into the forest and wildland environment because of the natural resources and rural atmosphere. It is a beautiful place to live. However, many people build homes in this environment with little or no knowledge of what it means to live with the threat of catastrophic wildfires.

Our goal is to make residents aware of their responsibilities for their property and to their community. We are all in this together because wildfire recognizes no property lines or boundaries. Nationally, over the past four years, millions of acres of forest and private land, thousands of homes, and many lives have been lost due to catastrophic wildfires. When you live in the Wildland Urban Interface, wildfires are a fact of life: it is not IF, but WHEN, you will be involved in a wildfire.

Many of our Fire Safe Councils have successfully implemented such projects as hazardous fuel reduction projects, community wildfire protection planning, and homeowner training.

The Sierrama Firewise Community is part of the Greater Cameron Park Fire Safe Council.

For more information, please visit: El Dorado County Fire Safe Council (edcfiresafe.org)

Cal Fire has summarized the process for becoming a Firewise community (readyforwildfire.org) which is also available on the National Fire Protection Association website.