About Us

The Butte County Fire Safe Council, is a non-profit, public benefit corporation formed in March of 1998.

Fires in Butte County cause irreplaceable damage and devastation to residents' lives, property and wildlife habitat each year. Catastrophic wildfires throughout Butte County's history such as the 1996 Raulson Fire, 1999 Butte Complex of lightning fires, 2000 Concow Fire, 2001 Poe and HWY 70 Fire, 2003 Centerville Fire and 2004 Oregon Fire have burned 51,437 acres, destroyed 74 structures and resulted in 2 civilian fatalities.

Mission

We at the Butte County Fire Safe Council strive to reduce damage and devastation through our mission "to provide education, exchange information, foster fire prevention and fire safety within the County of Butte".

The Butte County Fire Safe Council operates with a staff of two and a Board of Directors consisting of 16 residents representing community members from throughout the County as well as stakeholders from local, state and federal agencies with a vested interest in wildfire preparedness and prevention.

Programs & Projects

Our mission is accomplished through a variety of free fire prevention programs, projects, educational materials and community outreach which includes:

• The Chipper Program - A brush chipping service available to residents throughout Butte County.
• Fire Safe Home Visit Program - Voluntary opportunity for residents of Butte County to receive one-on-one wild fire prevention and preparedness training tailored specifically to each home.
• Resident's Assistance Program - Provides defensible space assistance for qualifying low income, senior and physically disabled residents in Butte County.
• Fuels Reduction Projects — Assisting in or carrying out fuels reduction projects which create roads made safer for evacuation and fire-fighting access.
• Sixth Grade Education Program - Provides wildfire education for Sixth grade students.
• Home Owners Guide to Fire Wise Landscaping — Brochures that illustrate how defensible space can be created in grassland, brushland and timberland environments.
• Community Evacuation Plans - Provide critical information to residents for emergency evacuation.

Accomplishments

• The Chipper Program - Provided service to 1,114 residents and treated hazardous fuels on 1,064 acres since the program began in 2003.
• Dooryard Education Program - 80 home visits have been conducted between 2004-2006.
• Residents' Assistance Program - Funding is available for future development of program.
• Fuels Reduction Projects - Since 2001 the Council collaborated in 9 roadside fuels reduction projects which total over 30 miles of roads throughout Butte County.
• 6th Grade Education Program - 585 Fifth grade students have received life-saving wildfire education in the Paradise Union School District and Golden Feather School District.
• Home Owners Guide to Fire Wise Landscaping — Brochures created by the Council were adopted by the State Fire Safe Council and used throughout California.
• Community Evacuation Plans - Community evacuation plans have been created in four communities: Yankee Hill, Berry Creek, Upper Ridge and Town of Paradise.

Funding

Grants and donations provide all funding for Butte County Fire Safe Council programs, projects, educational materials and community outreach. Any monetary contribution is tax deductible and is greatly appreciated. If you would like to make a donation, please see our donations page.

2006 Annual Report Available

Our 2006 Annual Report is now available. You can download it in PDF format here! You'll need Adobe Reader software to open this file. If you don't have Reader, you can download it here.