As most of us remember, the 2005 Manton Fire was widely publicized & the American Red Cross received substantial contributions earmarked for the Manton recovery effort. Approximately $13,000 was spent in immediate assistance by the Red Cross; an additional $40,000 was raised and spent by local community volunteers (under the management of the Manton Community Church). In addition to the funds raised and spent, there were large and important contributions of time and materials by both local community members and people from near and far. All these efforts were of immense value to the community. After the completion of their local disaster recovery efforts, the Red Cross was left with a balance of $39,327.

Since the disaster there have been several meetings between Red Cross representatives and the Manton Fire Safe Council, to discuss the most effective ways to use this fund of $39,327 to help the community. During this process the Fire Safe Council has gradually come to understand the constraints imposed upon the use of this money by the bylaws of the American Red Cross.

	Training and supplies for disaster recovery (includes a 20-foot shipping container to hold shelter supplies, located at Manton School, and an emergency generator for the school)
	Education & workshops for fire prevention
	Community chipper program with PG&E (funds will pay for publicity & education about chipping process; PG&E is providing chipper & crew for free)

This is just a brief outline of the projects the MFSC will be implementing with Red Cross funds. For more information, please review the complete proposal.

	Northern California Fire Behavior Assessment Prepared 07/07/2008
	ONCC Map of the June 2008 Lightning Siege Prepared 07/16/2008

The Manton Fire Safe Council is a group of Manton residents, representatives from resources agencies and other organizations, who are working towards creating a fire safe zone in the Manton area. By "fire safe" we do not mean "fire free," as we know that fire has always been a part of this area and will continue to be a natural phenomenon that we will have to deal with. Our focus will be on how to avoid or prevent fires caused by human error, and how to respond to fires when they do occur naturally or otherwise.

The Manton Fire Safe Council is sponsored by the Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy. The Council is fortunate to be working with the Tehama-Glenn Fire Safe Council and the Shasta Fire Safe Council and is supported and informed by their work. We are also fortunate to be working directly with representatives from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), whose expertise will guide us as we decide what our priorities and projects should be. We would like to invite all interested people to contact us and share your ideas, and your time, if possible. Remember, the purpose of this council is to make our community a safer community. Our work on the Fire Safe Council will benefit all of us. So please get involved - we need your help.

MANTON FIRE SAFE COUNCIL Subcommittees Education (community and school) Aerial Photos/Maps and Fuel Breaks Manton Welcome Sign Grants Research/Writing Fuels Reduction:       1. Brush clearing methods/plans       2. Chipper Days Forestry Workshop Emergency Communications/Cell phone reception Emergency Preparedness (generator, siren, water sources)

Aftermath of the 2005 Manton Fire

Sunflower CRMP
Bill Burrows mentioned that lambing and kidding operations on his herbivore fuels reduction project have begun and that at the present time the kid production rate appears to be higher than the rate for lambs. Bill estimated that approximately 1000 tons of wildland biomass has been utilized by the sheep and goats. Issues surrounding the herbivore project include the impact of grazing. Bill mentioned that he had planned to fence the sheep and goats out of riparian areas. After one season of grazing, he indicated that riparian vegetation look better that he had ever seen it. Currently Bill is in the process of researching the benefits of planned herbivore grazing in order to restore and improve other riparian areas without fencing. In addition to the herbivore project, Bill mentioned that the Sunflower CRMP attempted to conduct prescribed burning on approximately 200 acres of chaparral however; weather conditions made this effort less than successful. Tom McCubbins announced that a new Tehama County Air District Manager was being selected now that Gary Bovee has retired. It was recommended that the Tehama Glenn Fire Safe Council actively recruit the new manager to become a member of the local Fire Safe Council. Tom suggested that the TGFSC in conjunction with the Tehama County RCD attempt to affect public’s perception of the smoke issues that surround the use of wildland fire. The message would be “a little more smoke now or a lot of smoke later when catastrophic wildfires occur”. Tom indicated that a successful outreach program would require the cooperation and resources of various federal agencies and that at the present time; he was discussing his proposal with agencies and seeking grant funding.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Kim Desena, the Tehama-Glenn CDF Unit Pre Fire Engineer mentioned that work was progress rapidly on the Interstate 5 Corridor project which consists of limbing oaks and other trees along interstate 5 between Red Bluff and the Shasta County line. This fuels reduction project was described as a means of reducing the risk of a crown fires in oak woodland areas when fire grass fire start along the freeway corridor. Several more miles remain to be treated. Project work was conducted though a collaboration of the California Department of Corrections, Cal Trans and the CDF. Kim mentioned that not only would the project reduce wildfire hazards, it would also promote highway safety through increase visibility as well as oak health through the elimination of diseased and dead woody material. It was recommended that a letter of thanks be sent by the Tehama- Glenn Fire Safe Council to Cal Trans representative John Dobson who contributed considerable time and expertise to the project. Kim also discussed the opportunity to increase the public education potential of this project through the construction of a sign along I-5 within the project area. Kim’s idea was to install signs that would highlight the work that had been completed and describe how this work impacts fire safety related to motorists as well as landowners who live adjacent to I-5. The observation was made that such signage could also be used to promote and educate the public regarding PRC 4290 (hazardous fire area designation). Finally Kim mentioned that she was in the process of updating the CDF Tehama-Glenn Unit Fire Plan for 2007. This includes sending out requests for fire and fuels management project updates.

Greg Gutierrez discussed his outreach efforts to promote defensible space. He described his idea of placing the California Fire-Safe Council logo and a fire safety message on the side of his bass boat. That way, the message would be seen by motorists he passes on his way to tournaments as well as individuals attending these events. Since many of these tournaments are televised, the potential exists for a huge number of viewers to see his fire safety message. Greg is attempting to find sponsorship funding among fire safety organizations that could help finance development of his fire safety message campaign. Greg also mentioned that this effort could be a great help to the CDF’s efforts in educating the public on the clearance requirements of PRC 4291.

Steve Sherman mentioned that it was official, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection organization has formally changed its name to Cal-Fire and that the agency was in the process of repainting engines and other equipment in order to better identify itself with the new name. He also mentioned that the Tehama County General Plan update would be discussed in a community meeting to be held on February 8 and that those who have issues pertaining to wildfire and County development would be advised to attend. Specifically, Steve suggested that the plan’s circulation section be reviewed for its tone and specific language related to wildfire. He also mentioned that it would be really helpful and certainly cost effective if urban development within the County’s wildland areas occurred where fire service was already provided.

Tehama County Resource Conservation District
Tom McCubbins mentioned that a grant application had been submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in connection with the Smokey Fire Safe Village project. As proposed, the village would be constructed at the entrance to the Tehama County Fairgrounds and would contain various demonstration facilities including a home constructed utilizing fire safe building techniques along with another structure that would be landscaped in fire safe manner. A demonstration dispatch center, fire lookout, law enforcement center and first aid facility would be included in the village as well. The ultimate goal of these facilities is to educate the public on fire safety as well as the appropriate use of fire within wildland areas. Of significance is the fact that almost 50% or roughly $118,000 of project costs would be provided in the form of financial or labor match from an array of public and privet entities. Kim mentioned that the project was presented to the fair board for discussion and that they would formally vote on project approval during the February 20th board meeting.

Lassen National Forest
Ken Larson mentioned that a thinning and hand piling project was underway in the Mill Creek area near State Route 172. Partial funding was said to have been provided by the Tehama County RAC. Other project work to be conducted during 2007 includes the Battle Project which consists of 35 to 40 acres of under burning on the south side of McGowan Lake. Project work will also get underway in connection with the Grays Peak DFPZ which will include thinning in a pine plantation that is currently overgrown and at risk from wildfire. NEPA work has almost been completed on the planned Panther Springs & Hogsback projects. 40 acres will be treated in the Cold Springs area of eastern Tehama County related to another RAC funded project. Finally, Ken mentioned that the Battle DFPZ project has been completed.

Lassen Volcanic National Park
Scott Isaacson mentioned that his agency was in the process of reviewing its fire and aviation plan. He also said that as of year end, approximately 900 acres of fuels had been treated in the Prospect Peak area of Lassen Park. Work to be completed during 2007 includes the Stonehenge project which would treat 800 acres within the park’s boundaries and another 1100 acres within the Lassen National Forest. It was also mentioned that Eric Hensil was replacing Mike Lewelling as the parks Fuels Management Officer.

Crane Mills
Mark mentioned that fuels reduction projects were being completed on a number of sites throughout Crane Mills' properties within Western Tehama County and that the company would continue its collaborative projects with the Mendocino National Forest and the Sunflower CRMP.

Bureau of Reclamation
Basia mentioned that the BOR just completed its first Fire Management Plan (final draft) and EA for East Park Reservoir, which is being finalized for public review. The fire management plan is focused on fire suppression and fuels reduction. It was also mentioned that because the Bureau has no wildland suppression authority, they rely on agreements with CDF, Forest Service or the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service for wild land fire work including prescribed burns. The agency was also said to be working on a programmatic Burn Plan for the area office's burn piles.

Mendocino National Forest
Steve Millert is currently replacing Dale Shippelhoute who transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Steve mentioned that at the present time, pile burning is being conducted throughout the forest. In addition the agency was in the process of hiring a new District Ranger to replace the recently retired Jim Giachino. About 120 acres of stand conversions are expected to be treated this year.

CAP provides start-up grants in the range of $5,000 to $15,000 each, as well as basic tools and guidance, to enable newly forming grassroots community groups to resolve differences and play a more active role in the sustainable management of nearby national forests and surrounding communities. The program will support the organizational and technical assistance needs of newly forming multi-party groups that act as problem-solvers, bringing diverse members of the community together to address specific issues related to community-based forest stewardship, recreation, watershed restoration, and wildlife habitat through constructive dialogue and hands-on involvement.

CAP funds can be used for a wide range of tools, including technical assistance, training, consultants, community outreach, obtaining 501(c)(3) status, group facilitation, basic start-up and operating costs, materials and equipment, program development, nonprofit management skill-building, and communications. Complete program guidelines and application materials are available at the NFF Web site. Deadline April 6, 2006

Who Can Apply:
Applications will be accepted from newly-forming community-based nonprofit organizations in need of capacity-building and start-up organizational and technical assistance that wish to proactively engage in natural resource issues on and around National Forests and Grasslands. Applicants must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, or use a nonprofit fiscal sponsor organization with that designation until they have obtained it themselves. Established organizations, fire safe councils, federal agencies, state or local governmental entities are not eligible to apply.

Certified Fire Safe Council Membership Program (Pilot)