Grants

While our ongoing operating costs (insurance, etc.) is funded by supporters like yourself, Safer West County also works to identify and secure funds for our area from state, county, and federal governments and other organizations to reduce our risks (fire and other) and improve our emergency preparedness for disasters. We partner with local fire departments and other organizations to create resilient communities. If this is an area you would like to get involved with, please reach out.

Together, let’s make our communities safer!

Current Grants

Safer West County Calfire Grant Award

Safer West County and Fire Safe Sonoma received a 2022 CALFIRE grant to support four West County communities in creating and maintaining defensible space and to build the capacity of our local Fire Safe organizations! This three-year grant will be unfolding in the communities of Forestville, Monte Rio, Camp Meeker, and Occidental. We plan to apply for similar grants for each of our other communities in West County who have an active Fire Safe organization ready to ensure its success. Two key elements of this award are offering free chipping and providing rebates for defensible space work, described in more detail below.

Use our interactive Safer West County Defensible Space Project Area map to see if your location is within the project area.

Please read these full terms of program before applying.

Key Points

• There is no cost for this program.
• The Fire Department crew will transport the chippers and handle all the chipping.
• All chips will be left on site unless you arrange to haul
• Volunteers are welcome and can speed the work and get more done by hauling debris closer to the fire crew when piles are not directly next to a street.
• Work Parties: You can also create work parties along neighborhood roadsides doing limbing and trimming while fire crews chip the debris to improve evacuation routes. If you would like to partner with your fire department to host a Work Party, please contact @chippers@saferwestcounty.org for help arranging an event.
• Priority will be given to neighborhoods that have. multiple property owners participating—so gather your neighbors together! (Each property needs to apply separately.)
• Other than prearranged work parties with chippers, all piles must be assembled prior to application for chipping.

Your Fire Safe group will be your contact for this program, NOT the fire department. If you need information, beyond what is provided here and on your application form, please email us at Chippers@SaferWestCounty.org.

Because the fire department crews are chipping in between their other important responsibilities, we cannot give you exact dates when chipping will occur in your area; however, your local Fire Safe group will coordinate your area’s work and try to give you approximate dates when possible.

Please read these full terms of the program before applying. 

Key Points

• Homes require an assessment to qualify. This can be a Calfire or local fire department, or other qualified assessment or Safer West County and your local Fire Safe organization can help you get a free assessment.
• Once approved, homeowners can hire the contractor of their choice to do the work.
• Once the work is complete, applicants will submit their receipts to Fire Safe Sonoma for payment of 66% of the invoice, up to $1000.
• We realize that $1000 will not go far, so we recommend you start with the first 5 feet around your home or the highest risk area identified in the assessment of your defensible space.
• Priorites and ranking of applications: This grant is on a first come, first serve basis and will be available until funds run out. Priority is given to low income applicants. For those individuals who want to do the work and take advantage of the grant, but do not have the resources to pay their 33% share of the cost share, SWC has received a matching grant from Sonoma County’s 5th District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins. Up to $500 scholarships are available for a limited number of applicants.
• Priority will also be given to neighborhoods that have multiple property owners participating—so gather your neighbors together! (Each property needs to apply separately.)

If you need information, beyond what is provided here and on your application form, please email us at Incentives@SaferWestCounty.org.

We will be adding a list of contractors soon although you are also welcome to use your own.

Chipping Outside Calfire Grant – County Wide 

Sonoma County offers a Curbside Chipper Program and accepts residential applications here. The service supports residents of unincorporated Sonoma County in creating defensible space around their homes and neighboring roadsides and reduces vegetation along access routes.

To learn more about the program guidelines and how to apply, property owners in the unincorporated Sonoma County may visit Permit Sonoma’s Curbside Chipper Program webpage.

Listos Grant

Safer West County received a Listos grant provided material to hand out at events, table cloths, shade tent, and signage. This grant also includes a set of tools for fuels reduction work.  The event supplies and tools are available for any Safer West County community organization to borrow. Contact info@SaferWestCounty.org for details.

Past Grants

Green Signs

In 2018 Fire Safe Occidental received funding to provide all residents with green reflective address signs to place at the intersection of their driveway and the street to make it easier for first responders to find their location in an emergency.