Lower Mattole Fire Safe Council
When it comes to wildfire, no single person alone can protect a community. Residents throughout California are joining forces to create local Fire Safe Councils to effectively reduce and prevent wildfire losses.
The Working Lands & Human Communities Program Director, Ali Freedlund, serves on both the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council and coordinates the Lower Mattole Fire Safe Council. These Fire Safe Councils provide resources to landowners to build and maintain more fire-resilient homes and communities using tools such as a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan was completed in 2019 and the Lower Mattole Community Wildfire Protection Plan was completed in 2016.
In addition, the WLHC Program Director works in partnership with Humboldt County staff to build wildfire mitigation capacity throughout Humboldt County.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Lower Mattole Fire Safe Council is to reduce risks and minimize damage to life, property, and the environment from wildfire, by coordinating efforts to fund and implement fire-safe education and projects in the Lower Mattole.
Goals & Objectives
- Reduce wildland fuel loads in and around our neighborhoods, thus reducing the danger to life, property, and the environment
- Increase availability of water resources for wildland firefighting by strategic placement of water tanks and ponds
- Assist local firefighting agencies in creating, maintaining, and distributing a firefighters information atlas
- Promote healthy forest and rangeland ecosystems by reduction of hazardous fuels
- Promote creation of shaded fuel breaks in appropriate locations
- Educate and assist private landowners in prioritizing and implementing fire-safe practices
- Enhance communication between our community and firefighting agencies
- Implement the Lower Mattole fire plan with ongoing monitoring and evaluation
- Assist those in the community who need help fire-safing their homes and property
