PG&E, CFF renew partnership to tackle wildfire risk

By Santa Ynez Valley Star Staff · Tue Mar 17 2020

Staff Report

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has renewed its partnership with the California Fire Foundation (CFF) by providing $1.2 million for a Wildfire Safety and Preparedness grant.

The partnership creates grant funding opportunities for fire and community organizations to address the ongoing risk of wildfire. Applications were received in July and awardee notification has begun.

“PG&E is proud to continue our support for the California Fire Foundation in its work to help make California more resilient to fire risk,” said Michael Lewis, senior vice president of Electric Operations, PG&E. “We all play a role in reducing the fire threat in our communities. We are committed to bolstering wildfire prevention and response by helping to ensure firefighters and residents have the necessary resources to prevent catastrophic wildfires.” 

PG&E’s contribution is a continuation of a three-year collaboration between PG&E and CFF to support fire safety awareness. In 2018 and 2019, CFF provided funding from the annual grant to 95 fire departments and fire agencies throughout California. Funding targets specific communities identified as extreme or elevated fire risk as identified by the California Public Utilities Commission High Fire-Threat District map.

“The California Fire Foundation’s partnership with PG&E helps expand resources to, not only fire agencies, but community-based organizations around the state to educate and prepare for the wildfires we know are coming,” said Rick Martinez, Executive Director of the CFF. “This joint effort enables agencies to be better equipped and communities to have the resources to plan ahead, ultimately ensuring the lives and property of all Californians are protected.”

Specifically, the grant program has funded: