California Sustainability Group
Orange County Firesafe Council CAR Community Hardening
Phase 1 Project
GRANT 5GG23239
August 2024: Awarded $1,938,704.32 Grant
The Orange County Fire Safe Council CAR Community Hardening Phase 1 Project is a multi-phased project aiming to stay up to date with meeting the new standards set by CAL FIRE and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) for defensible space and real estate disclosure. The project will focus on removing hazardous fuels, creating vertical and horizontal spacing, hardening perimeter slopes with fuel mod maintenance, and removal of 953 eucalyptus species on interior slopes to safeguard 1,228 single family homes in the LRA Very High and LRA High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
The grant's primary objective is to eliminate dangerous fuel from approximately 42.74 acres within the two communities of Robinson Ranch Homeowners Association and Trabuco Highlands Homeowners Association, two community participants of The Communities of Rancho (CAR) and the newly forming Orange County Fire Safe Council. A total of 42.74 acres of hazardous fuel will be removed, focusing on removal of fuel and vegetation no longer meeting OCFA Vegetation Management Guidelines from 100 feet of structures and along Robinson Ranch Road, the only access road to these communities surrounded by the Wildland Urban Interface.
Two years of fuel mod maintenance will be completed with grant funds along the perimeter of Trabuco Highlands. Acacia redolens, a ground cover species no longer able to be maintained below 24", will be removed from two slopes of Robinson Ranch and two slopes of Trabuco Highlands.
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PROJECT FUNDING
CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Prevention Grants Program provides funding for wildfire prevention projects and activities in and near wildfire threatened communities that focus on increasing the protection of people, structures, and communities. Funded activities include Hazardous Fuels Reduction, Wildfire Prevention Planning, and Wildfire Prevention Education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Wildfire Prevention Grants are funded in whole or part by Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds appropriated by the California Legislature to CAL FIRE, who is responsible for administering funds allocated from the CCI Program.
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The Fire Adapted Portola Hills Project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.
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The Orange County Firesafe Council CAR Community Hardening Phase 1 Project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.
PLANTING PLANS
COMING SOON
Home Hardening Links
The area within 5 feet of your home is crucial for wildfire protection. Learn how to keep your home and family safe with these tips and articles.
BE FIRE SAFE is all about providing you with information on what steps you can take to save your Home, your Family, and your Community. Please click on the menu tabs to get started.
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Are You Wildfire Ready? Ready, Set, Go! gives you the tools to protect you, your family, property and community from wildfires.
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In California, wildfires are not a matter of “if” but “when”. Stay safe with this 3-step wildfire preparation plan.
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Fire demonstration shows survivability of structures with at least 5 feet of absolute clearance
