Fire Safe Santa Cruz County

Education program:this program maintains the organization's website which is used as an education tool for the public and to share information from what the previous board members learned through subscription and education events.

Chipping program:it can be challenging for residents to maintain the legally required 100 feet of defensible space around your home. Removing hazardous vegetation can leave piles of dry brush and tree limbs that can create their own fire concerns. With the limits, dangers, and air quality concerns that can come with pile burning, chipping the stockpiled materials is a great alternative.to assist homeowners with achieving their fire safe goals, no-cost chipping services are available to residents in high-fire risk areas in santa cruz county the fire safe council of santa cruz county works closely with local fire safe councils, the resource conservation district of santa cruz county (rcd), cal fire and other local agencies to connect residents with program resources.

Firewise communities:firewise usa is a framework that helps neighbors work together in a community to reduce wildfire risk, through education and collaboration. Local fire safe councils in the south bay area promote the firewise usa recognition process as a way for communities in the wui (wildland-urban interface) to reduce their wildlfire risk. This includes education pieces for helping neighbors to work together on defensible space, home hardening, evacuation planning and more. Home ignition zone (hiz) program:provided free of charge by fire safe council of santa cruz county (fscscc). Upon request, a volunteer hiz assessor will visit the site and conduct a guided walk through with the resident in order to provide real-time feedback and address any questions or concerns specific to the property. The assessment provides educational information related to home hardening and defensible space to the resident.the goal of this assessment is to:-improve awareness of existing conditions/and or hazards in and around my home that may be susceptible to wildfire-receive modification recommendations from the assessor to lessen home's (and its occupants') risk from wildfire-prevent injuries and loss of life-prevent property damage and loss