FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What are Fire Safe Councils?
Fire Safe Councils are grassroots community organizations that have been established throughout California. Their goals are:
2. Why has the Grove Street Fire Safe Council (GSFSC) been created?
The residents of homes in Diamond ‘A’, in the George Ranch, and of properties along Grove Street down to Carriger Road share a common concern regarding wildfire threats: they all must use Grove Street as the single public access road for both entry to and exit from their properties.
Since wildfire risks are more likely to be reduced and mitigated through a comprehensive plan at the community level, risks for this area can be efficiently assessed, prioritized, and managed through the GSFSC. Short-term, small-scale efforts, while helpful, may not be as effective as prioritized community-wide projects that can be supported by grant funding. Evacuation planning, fire-prone vegetation management, preservation of habitat diversity, wildlife preservation, defensible space initiatives, and public education initiatives are examples of such projects.
3. What is the difference between the GSFSC and existing Emergency Preparedness Committees?
Emergency Preparedness Committees provide information for individuals and their families to prepare and plan for many types of natural disasters, including fire, earthquakes, and storms. They focus on the individual and household, whereas the Fire Safe Council is primarily focused on fire risks at the community level. The community’s two Emergency Preparedness Committees and the GSFSC will collaborate in many aspects of readiness planning. Community meetings, public education, fundraising, evacuation planning, and coordination with neighborhood associations are examples of such joint efforts.
4. Is the GSFSC a tax-exempt organization? Can anyone make tax-deductible charitable contributions to help fund its efforts to make its community safer?
The GSFSC is incorporated and has been afforded tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status by the I.R.S.. Contributions to further the efforts of the Grove Street Fire Safe Council are eligible charitable contributions for tax purposes.
5. How many properties are included in the GSFSC?
366
6. Is the GSFSC part of a statewide organization?
The California Fire Safe Council, a statewide tax-exempt organization, helps establish local Fire Safe Councils. Importantly, it obtains funding for professional community risk assessments, assists with preparation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans, provides publications, and manages grant funding.
7. Are property owners required to participate in the GSFSC’s risk-reduction effort?
Property owners in the GSFSC area are not required to participate, but we hope that property owners will join the GSFSC’s campaign to make the community safer. In general, vegetation management, fire break creation, fuel load reduction, evacuation planning, and other projects envisioned by the GSFSC will be conducted primarily on public land. Property owners’ consent will be obtained in advance if the successful execution of a project might be enhanced by using private land. The defensible space initiatives we hope to conduct will be intended to enhance a property’s survival chances and benefit the entire community. Participation and input by property owners will be important.
Fire Safe Councils are grassroots community organizations that have been established throughout California. Their goals are:
- To collaborate with state, county, and local agencies to assess wildfire risks.
- Prioritize community wildfire risk mitigation projects.
- Develop an approved Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
- Seek and obtain grants to conduct wildfire risk mitigation projects.
- Educate and motivate residents to understand and prepare for wildfire.
2. Why has the Grove Street Fire Safe Council (GSFSC) been created?
The residents of homes in Diamond ‘A’, in the George Ranch, and of properties along Grove Street down to Carriger Road share a common concern regarding wildfire threats: they all must use Grove Street as the single public access road for both entry to and exit from their properties.
Since wildfire risks are more likely to be reduced and mitigated through a comprehensive plan at the community level, risks for this area can be efficiently assessed, prioritized, and managed through the GSFSC. Short-term, small-scale efforts, while helpful, may not be as effective as prioritized community-wide projects that can be supported by grant funding. Evacuation planning, fire-prone vegetation management, preservation of habitat diversity, wildlife preservation, defensible space initiatives, and public education initiatives are examples of such projects.
3. What is the difference between the GSFSC and existing Emergency Preparedness Committees?
Emergency Preparedness Committees provide information for individuals and their families to prepare and plan for many types of natural disasters, including fire, earthquakes, and storms. They focus on the individual and household, whereas the Fire Safe Council is primarily focused on fire risks at the community level. The community’s two Emergency Preparedness Committees and the GSFSC will collaborate in many aspects of readiness planning. Community meetings, public education, fundraising, evacuation planning, and coordination with neighborhood associations are examples of such joint efforts.
4. Is the GSFSC a tax-exempt organization? Can anyone make tax-deductible charitable contributions to help fund its efforts to make its community safer?
The GSFSC is incorporated and has been afforded tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status by the I.R.S.. Contributions to further the efforts of the Grove Street Fire Safe Council are eligible charitable contributions for tax purposes.
5. How many properties are included in the GSFSC?
366
6. Is the GSFSC part of a statewide organization?
The California Fire Safe Council, a statewide tax-exempt organization, helps establish local Fire Safe Councils. Importantly, it obtains funding for professional community risk assessments, assists with preparation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans, provides publications, and manages grant funding.
7. Are property owners required to participate in the GSFSC’s risk-reduction effort?
Property owners in the GSFSC area are not required to participate, but we hope that property owners will join the GSFSC’s campaign to make the community safer. In general, vegetation management, fire break creation, fuel load reduction, evacuation planning, and other projects envisioned by the GSFSC will be conducted primarily on public land. Property owners’ consent will be obtained in advance if the successful execution of a project might be enhanced by using private land. The defensible space initiatives we hope to conduct will be intended to enhance a property’s survival chances and benefit the entire community. Participation and input by property owners will be important.