While fire service professionals gear up for Fire Prevention Week October 5-11, two new opportunities for mitigating fires are being made available, according to the Firewise Communities Program.
The first will be offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is soliciting proposals for programs that use woody biomass residue from forest restoration. At least $4 million in grants will be available, with individual grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000, according to a Firewise statement. Proposals should promote using or creating markets for low-value trees and other hazardous fuel, handling insect and diseased conditions, or treating forestlands impacted by severe weather. Pre-applications must be postmarked by November 7. For more information, contact Jesse Caputo by e-mail or at (202) 262-1882.
Money will be made available by a new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) policy, as well, according to Firewise. The policy will support grants for mitigation activities, including creating defensible space by reducing vegetation, using ignition-resistant materials and retrofitting structures, and reducing hazardous fuels through vegetation management. More information is available about the FEMA programs—the post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program (PDM)—from FEMA Regional Mitigation staff.
Jolie Breeden is the lead editor and science communicator for Natural Hazards Center publications. She writes and edits for Research Counts; the Quick Response, Mitigation Matters, Public Health, and Weather Ready Research Award report series; as well as for special projects and publications. Breeden graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.