Mendocino County Fire Safe Council Awards $122,000 for Local Wildfire Safety Projects

Press release from Mendocino Fire Safe Council:

Jennifer Smallwood with Point Arena community members [Photo by Lisa Riboli.]

The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council (MCFSC) has wrapped up its fifth year of Micro-Grants, awarding $122,000 to 14 Neighborhood Fire Safe Councils, Firewise Communities, and fire agencies working to make Mendocino County safer and more prepared for wildfire.

This year’s funded projects highlight the creativity and dedication of local groups across the county. They included increasing emergency water supplies for firefighting, upgrading communication equipment, reducing hazardous fuels, hosting hands-on community education events, and improving home-hardening and defensible space. In Point Arena, the work is already underway with their new tool-lending library: community members can now check out newly purchased weed wrenches to remove flammable invasive plants such as broom before fire season intensifies.

MCFSC’s 2026 Micro-Grant Program was made possible through generous support from Measure P tax dollars, and an additional $40,000 contribution from the Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association. Many of the Micro-Grants, which ranged from $2,000 to $12,500, included substantial in-kind contributions such as volunteer labor, donated materials, and local fundraising efforts, stretching each dollar even further.

Projects were selected based on community collaboration, wildfire-risk reduction, project impact, and clear and realistic budgets and timelines.

The 2026 Micro-Grant recipients and their funded projects are:

Albion Little River Fire Dept. – Water tank installation

Anderson Valley FD – Radios and Equipment for the AV Prescribed Burn Association 

Blue Rock Fire Safe Council – Fuel reduction along an ingress and egress route

Covelo FD – Equipment to stock their new fire engine

Leggett Fire Protection District – Purchase of radios to upgrade volunteer fire department communication

Long Valley FD – Defensible space assessments for residents 

Mariposa FSC – Community chainsaw workshop 

Mendocino FD – Water tank fittings for fire engine use

Pine Mountain Firewise – Harden the water-treatment center exterior against ember fires 

Point Arena FSC – Weed-wrench lending program and Firewise Community events 

Redwood Valley Calpella FD – Floating pump to increase water access 

Round Valley FSC – Evacuation magnets and education for residents

Tomki FSC – Zone 0 home-hardening demonstrations

Westport FSC – Defensible Space Assessments and reflective address signs 

Meanwhile, the 2025 Micro-Grant projects have recently wrapped up. To see how local communities turned ideas into action and view their accomplishments, visit firesafemendocino.org/micro-grants and check out the 2025 Story Map linked at the bottom of the page. Their stories brilliantly showcase how grassroots organizing, volunteerism, and local partnerships can make a real difference in wildfire preparedness.

Residents are encouraged to connect with their local Fire Safe Council or fire department to learn more about these or future projects and get involved. To find or start a Neighborhood Fire Safe Council in your area, visit firesafemendocino.org/nfsc. For Micro-Grant program guidelines, history, and updates, visit firesafemendocino.org/micro-grants. or contact MCFSC at [email protected].