Grants of up to $600 are now available to City of Ashland residents to remove and modify fire prone vegetation near homes. Fire prone landscaping such as juniper, cypress, and other conifers may pose a hazard to homes in a wildfire. To participate in the program, residents must first obtain a Wildfire Safety Home Assessment that will include site-specific recommendations for creating defensible space around a structure. This grant program is for city residents who have not previously participated in a fuel reduction grant program.
To be eligible for reimbursement, work has to follow the suggestions made during the Wildfire Safety Home assessment, and be within 30 feet of a home located within the city limits. A homeowner or a contractor can do the work. All debris must be removed from site before reimbursement. Work must be completed by December 2012 to be eligible for reimbursement. To schedule a Wildfire Safety Home assessment, call Ali True, Firewise Communities Coordinator at Ashland Fire & Rescue, at 541-552-2231.
How is this grant different than previous wildfire grants in Ashland? It is essentially the same as previous grants, with a higher maximum reimbursement of $600. It is available to residents within the City Limits, not just the Wildfire Hazard Zone. Last year’s similar grant program was very popular, and 100% of the funds were utilized.
All efforts made toward creating defensible space around homes in the City of Ashland support the goal of Ashland to be a Firewise Community, one that is prepared for a wildfire before it happens!
Grant money is made available to the City of Ashland as part of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s dispersal of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds. For more information, visit www.ashland.or.us/grants .
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