Napa County approves $3.5 million agreement with Napa Communities Firewise Foundation

NAPA COUNTY - To continue Napa County's commitment to reduce future impacts from wildfires, the Napa County Board of Supervisors today approved a $3.5 million agreement with the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation. The funding will be used for community outreach, defensible space consulting, wildfire mitigation, fuel reduction and preparation for wildfires.

"This agreement represents Napa County's commitment to a wildfire-resilient future, and it supports important fuel-reduction projects," said Chair of the Napa County Board of Supervisors Anne Cottrell. "From expanding roadside clearing for emergency access to creating fuel breaks, we're doing impactful on-the-ground work, and making our county safer from the threat of wildfire."

This agreement continues the work of Napa County's Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and includes wildfire prevention efforts of planned vegetation treatment projects. As part of the CWPP, the funding will go towards community-based wildland fire education awareness programs for Napa County residents in high-risk communities, in addition to broader public outreach through workshops and newsletters and support for new communities interested in forming a Fire Safety Council to manage and protect a given geographic area within Napa County. As part of the agreement, Napa Communities Firewise Foundation will also perform planned vegetation treatment throughout the county, with projects including roadside clearance, the creation of more viable access routes in the event of a wildfire, fuel breaks in strategic locations, and grazing projects to reduce overall fuel load in specified locations.

"This agreement ensures continuity for essential wildfire mitigation efforts that have significantly advanced Napa County's fire resiliency over the past several years," said Joe Nordlinger, CEO of Napa Communities Firewise Foundation. "Sustained investment is critical not only to preserve the progress made, but to prevent the kind of catastrophic wildfire events that devastate communities far beyond the loss of homes. Continued support enables us to keep making meaningful strides in strategic fuel reduction and preparedness efforts that are vital to protecting the long-term safety and stability of Napa County."

Napa County's partnership with Napa Communities Firewise Foundation spans nearly two decades, rooted in a shared commitment to wildfire prevention, community resilience, and ecological health. Napa Firewise has successfully leveraged the county's investments to secure more than $26 million in additional grants from CAL FIRE, PG&E, state and federal agencies, and private donors to enhance resiliency countywide. Collectively, the County and Napa Firewise have treated over 3,500 acres of hazardous fuels and developed the Countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

To see an interactive database of fuel reduction projects, visit NCFF Fuel Reduction Project Database Dashboard