Wildfire Resilience Week: Empowering Communities to Take Preventative Action

Our communities in the Eastern Sierra reside in the Wildland-Urban Interface, meaning that our homes share  borders with undeveloped land where high potential for wildland fire exists. With wildfires posing an ever present threat throughout California and wildfire insurance becoming increasingly difficult to obtain,  taking pre-emptive actions to protect your family, home and property is more important than ever.

In a coordinated effort to equip residents with the knowledge and tools necessary to take preventive  measures, the Whitebark Institute, Mono County, and Inyo County will be hosting our first annual,  Wildfire Resilience Week with workshops June 11-16 throughout the Eastern Sierra from June Lake  to Lone Pine. Multiple event opportunities will be tailored for a variety of audiences including homeowners,  renters, and HOAs; contractors, building suppliers, and landscapers; tribal leaders, realtors, potential home  buyers, and any business or property owners looking to reduce wildfire insurance rates by creating FireWise  neighborhoods.

For each of these events, we will learn from instructor Yana Valachovic, a scientist and professional forester  with the University of California who is passionate about helping communities learn to adapt to living with  wildfire. Known for her expertise in fire safety and community resiliency, she will bring key insights into  building and landscaping design strategies to improve wildfire adaptation. Her workshops will attempt to  dispel myths about products and materials; offer science-based solutions for construction, design, and  maintenance; and provide an opportunity for shared, experiential learning.

“Hardening your home and managing vegetation and fire risk can be MUCH SIMPLER and LESS EXPENSIVE than  you think. Yana has amazing science-backed tips for things that you can do now that will dramatically increase  the survivability of your home before this fire season.” -Jeff Griffiths, Inyo County Supervisor

Fire does not need to be something to fear when we are informed and proactive in our mitigation. The  idea of a Fire-Adapted Community recognizes our need to take action to help protect our families,  communities, and homes to safely co-exist with wildland fire.

Event schedule and location details at https://www.whitebarkinstitute.org/copy-of-calender

These events are made possible through our generous grant funding agencies:

Community Wildfire Preparedness Project, is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions  of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and  the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial  incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate  Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles,  environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these  investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and  low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investment website at:  www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov

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(From Inyo County)

News Staff