For many in the North State, summer has unfortunately become synonymous with wildfire season. Baking heat and dry conditions have meant more awareness around weather patterns and fuels reductions. For the Tehama County Resource Conservation District (RCDTC) forest management is a key priority — a sentiment that has only been heightened in the wake of the recent Park Fire, which has burned 339,481 acres to date in Tehama County.
RCDTC, also known as the Tehama Conservation Fund, operates multiple mitigation programs throughout the year including TinderSmart Tehama, which helps with community chipping, defensible space assistance, roadside fuel reduction to support evacuation routes, and hazardous tree removal projects. With support from a McConnell Fund grant in 2023, the Tehama Conservation Fund was able to purchase a 300-gallon FYRBOX or Fyrebox, which is a water propulsion system used regularly in prescribed burns.
“The Fyrebox was instrumental in ensuring the safety of operations and protection of nearby natural resources, personnel, and community safety,” said Jonathan Barrett, RCDTC District Manager. “It’s been used in four separate projects already and has contributed to over 250 acres of fuel reduction work.”
A 2024 McConnell Fund grant was recently awarded to RCDTC to purchase a mini track loader to continue their defensible space work. Over the past year, the organization helped support fuels reduction for 134 residents, perform defensible space work for 93 properties covering 84 acres, and assist in wildfire preparedness for 43 acres of Samson Slough (near Red Bluff).
Stewardship and safety go hand in hand when looking through a land management lens. Year-round mitigation work is vital in protecting North State communities from devastating wildfires. RCDTC is committed in their mission to restore healthy forests and support fire-adapted communities. For more information, visit here. For more on The McConnell Foundation Fund, visit here.
To contribute to the Community Foundation’s North State Wildfire Recovery Fund, which supports short-term and long-term needs in the wake of large wildfires, visit here.
