Press release from the County of Humboldt:

The County of Humboldt, in its role as a member of the Humboldt County Fire Safe Council (HCFSC), is offering private landowners the opportunity to participate in the Fire-adapted Landscapes and Safe Homes (FLASH) cost-share program. Grant funding for this program is provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) as part of the California Climate Investments Program as well as the U.S. Forest Service through the California Fire Safe Council. Technical assistance and up to $4,500 in reimbursement is available to landowners seeking to create defensible space around their homes and reduce hazardous fuels (flammable vegetation) along access routes and in strategic locations on their property.

Interested landowners who are invited to participate in FLASH will receive a free site visit and a Home Risk Assessment from a trained FLASH Technician. During the site visit, the FLASH Technician will evaluate wildfire hazards and make risk reduction recommendations. Landowners are then provided with a vegetation management prescription and a reimbursement estimate. Cost-share rates and practices are determined by fuel loading, slope, ecosystem type, and accessibility, and are subject to approval by the landowner. Landowners choose how they want fuels on their property to be removed — they can hire a crew, complete the work themselves, or a combination of the two. Once the project is complete, landowners receive a reimbursement payment for a portion of the cost on a per acre basis (minimum 0.5- acre project required in most cases).

While the program is offered countywide (excluding municipalities), those who live in neighborhoods located within the wildland-urban interface, within the State Responsibility Area, and within a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones are at the highest risk to wildfire impacts and are the target audience for FLASH. Visit the FLASH webpage for more information and to fill out an interest form at this link. This multi-year, first-come-first-serve program will remain open until all available grant funds are committed.

Please direct questions to FLASH Program Manager Julia Cavalli at: 707-296-1498 or jcavalli1@co.humboldt.ca.us.