While our ongoing operating costs are 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.

Current Grants

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. 

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.

Safer West County, Fire Safe Sonoma and local fire departments provide a free chipper service to residents  who are engaged in making their property more wildfire safe: creating defensible space around the home,   structures, and access routes.

WHO: This grant-funded project supports residents, landowners or land managers in Camp Meeker,      Forestville, Occidental and Monte Rio.

COST: Free!

LEARN MORE: Click here for more information          including eligibility, application guidelines and FAQ.

Receive a $1000 rebate for defensible space work. 

Another aspect of Safer West County’s Calfire grant is to help residents of these same four communities (Camp Meeker, Forestville, Monte Rio, and Occidental) pay for defensible space work around their homes.

This rebate reimburses recipients for up to $1000 spent on a defensible space project!

To learn how defensible space can improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire, go here. Projects could include limbing and trimming trees, removing plants up against your home, removing ladder fuel, and other projects within 100 feet of your home.

WHO: primarily low-income households across     Occidental, Camp Meeker, Monte Rio, and Forestville.

COST: Spend $1500, get $1000 back! **If the balance of $500 is cost-prohibitive, scholarships are available.**

STEPS:

1. Take before pictures of the area you want to work on (see examples of what you can work on to the left!)
2. Submit your application (If you haven’t had a recent home assessment by another agency, request a free one from Safer West County on the application)
3. Once approved, have the work completed
4. Submit an invoice from your contractor 
5. Get a check for up to $1000 (or 2/3s of the invoice if less than $1500)
   

TERMS: Click here for more information including    eligibility, application guidelines and FAQ.

Use this curbside chipper resource to create defensible space around your home, as well as reducing vegetation along access routes and neighboring roadsides. A great way to contribute to a more fire safe landscape and keep our roads accessible!

WHO: Property owners and residents in the unincorporated Sonoma County

COST: Free

TERMS: Click here for more information including    eligibility, application guidelines and FAQ.

The Listos Grant provides supplies and tools to hand out at events, table cloths, shade tent, and signage.

WHO: Any Safer West County community organization

COST: Free!

TERMS: Contact us to learn more!

The Listos Grant provides tools to help you with defensible space projects and neighborhood work days! This grant includes a set of tools for fuels reduction work.

WHO: Any Safer West County community organization

COST: Free!

TERMS: Contact us to learn more!

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.