The Lassen County Fire Safe Council (LCFSC) convened in regular session at 6:30 p.m. on November 7, 2011 at the Susan River Fire Protection District Office, 705-145 Highway 395, Susanville. Officers present were Chair Dorine Blankenship, Secretary/Treasurer Cathy Dirden, Managing Director Tom Esgate, and Education Coordinator Dan Douglas.
I. Opening and Welcome: Dorine welcomed all and asked for introductions around.
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Cathy Dirden gave the report.
II. Public Comment: None
III. Managing Director’s Report
Active Projects:
Lake Forest – The project is complete.
Susanville Fuel Reduction – The project work is complete.
CCPI/SGI – The Ash Valley Phase 1 is done; they are hauling chips. The second phase will begin after the 15th when BLM signs the Environmental Assessment for 5800 acres cleared. There were no protests from Western Watersheds. McClelland project is waiting for NRCS Cultural Resource clearance to start. Cal Fire crews have completed all that can be done this season in Ash Valley. Hayden Hill is paved so work will be able to start the Parks and Mapes areas. California Reforestation looks like it will not go forward.
New Funded Projects:
Clear Creek – The grant agreement was signed on October 31st. Tom and Cathy will attend the Clear Creek CSD meeting to give them an update. Work will begin on the property owner database and prep for mailings. The fuel plant closed down and hauling chips will now be challenging. Work will begin in the spring 2012. SPI wants to get going this winter but now that may not happen. Tom filed an SNC grant application for Clear Creek for $200,000.
SNC- Ash Valley Ranch – This is a companion to CCPI. Cutting will begin next month.
Janesville RAC – No report.
Applications/New Potential Projects:
CFSC/Janesville / CFSC/Milford / CFSC/Little Valley – CAFSC announced these were not selected for funding. However, they did fund the CFSC/Lookout grant.
Western Wildland Urban Interface (WWUI) Lookout – Nothing to report
National Forest Foundation (NFF)/Ash Valley Ranch – Not awarded.
Eagles Nest – The meeting with Tom Garayoa/ Eagles Nest, Dave Sandborg/USFS, and Mark Pustejovsky/SPI will happen in the spring.
Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project/Diamond Mountain – Nothing to report.
SNC Projects (Clear Creek, Little Valley, Kramer Ranch, Janesville, Milford) – Grant applications are due January 2012. Frank Stewart encouraged expanding what we do into watershed and collaborative reforestation, forest health and stewardship contracts.
CWPP – Tom stated the next CWPP meeting will be scheduled for the first Tuesday in February 7, 2012 at the Susanville Interagency Fire Council office on 5th Street in Susanville. The meeting will begin at 1:00 pm. The official notification will go out at a later date. Frank Stewart asked if the Council had a summary of all projects completed with total acres treated, and funding sources.
VI. Education Director’s Report. Dan Douglas gave the following report.
Monthly Meeting – Dan stated no meeting was held in October since he was preparing for the Firewise in the Classroom presentation to be given at the Conference in Denver.
Firewise in the Schools Program – Nothing new to report.
Newspaper Insert – The Education Committee will be discussing whether to go forward this next year with another insert or wait a year. He doesn’t want to saturate the public to the point they no longer listen. He would like the next one to be about Ready/Set/Go.
Projector Screen for Susan River FPD – The screen was purchased and installed. Glenn Hodgson stated he is getting a projector but needs assistance wiring it because of the dropped ceiling.
Firewise Conference – Dan stated the Firewise in the Schools presentation was well received. Mary Cottrell from Yankee Hill Fire Safe Council and Anna Stephens assisted with the presentation. The program was Mary’s idea and Anna and she worked on it together to bring it to the Butte County Schools. Dan stated 7 states want working files so they can customize the program for their particular areas. Dan met with J. Lopez/CFSC at the Conference and was asked to present to the CA FSC Board; the date to be determined. He will also be presenting to the NFPA Fire group for November 18th. Frank Stewart advised the CFSC has taken over the Firewise Program in California.
Tom’s presentation at the Conference was “Firewise on Steroids”. It too was well attended. He prepared and showed a video on doing Risk Assessments in the Home Ignition Zone. The video is also posted on the LCFSC website. He stated it still needs to be optimized since it is a large file and takes a while to download; but is well worth the effort.
V. Agency Updates.
BLM – No report
Cal Fire/Lassen – Paul Trenholm reported that a few debris burnings got out of control in the Janesville and Sunnyside areas. Frank Stewart asked if he knew what the EIS status was at Cal Fire in Sacramento. Paul did not.
NE CA Fire Prevention – Dave Sandborg stated they will have a meeting on the 17th to arrange the school schedules for the fire program.
NRCS – No report
USFS/Plumas – Sara Billings stated they had a prescribed burn of 188 acres.
USFS/Lassen – No report
Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) – No report
Susanville Fire Department – No report
Susan River FPD – The new screen is installed and volunteers provided a new floor covering with logo and are helping out in other areas to finish the hall.
Quincy Library Group – Frank Stewart stated they are in the 13th year of a 5 year project due to the many suits, etc. The Sierra Legacy lost their suit; Judge England ruled against them. There is a bill in the House to extend the Act to reduce deferred area, which means 70% of acres 77% biomass and 30% sawlogs. In Lassen, the Ebby and Cowbell projects won appeals. Frank wants to get the FSC grant situation resolved. Frank stated the Sierra/Cascade dialog is coming up regarding ecosystems management on December 15th; he encouraged participation. It will be on forest restoration and maintenance. There will also be a Stewardship tool to do large scale projects.
OES – Dave Junette stated they will be doing a nationwide FEMA Emergency Broadcast test on the 9th at 9:00 am. NOA EAS alert system is going live in 2 – 4 weeks. He stated NOA radios have the ability to go into alert mode and broadcast alerts whether or not the radio is on. It can be used for any type of emergency broadcast.
VI Other – Frank asked if Tom heard anything on the Secure Rural Schools. Tom stated there is a five year bill and funds are available. He stated the Senators and Congress don’t share where funding is, but he is hopeful as the two parties are working together. Cuts may not be as significant.
Frank stated a session with the Board of Supervisors would be good to be sure funding comes through for the FSC for administration.
Dan Douglas thanked all agencies for their continuing support.
Dave Sandborg stated they are under-burning in Black’s experimental forest. The first entry burn of 700 acres went well. He is glad to see fire getting back into the ecosystem. Dave stated that the Northeast Fire Prevention Council made over 10,000 contacts through the school prevention program; and the number of man-caused fires is going down.
Dave Junette asked if there were any grant funds available for maps. They want to have evacuation maps for Lake Forest, Susan Hills, and Janesville in the form of a tri-fold laminated map for agencies only. Dan Douglas said he may be able to incorporate into the Education Program under Firewise Education. Dan stated he will be applying for a FEMA grant and will look at the possibilities.
Mark Shaffer stated he was working as a fuel buyer at the biomass power plant.
Tom Esgate stated he is working on a hauling subsidy grant application for USFS funds to Cal Fire for hauling chips.
VII Next Meeting: There will not be a General Meeting in December. The next General Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 6:30 pm at the Susanville Fire Protection District Office at 705-145 Highway 395 in Johnstonville.
VIII Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.
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