This week, CAL FIRE awarded $43.5 million to local organizations to reduce the risk of wildfires for homes and communities across California.
Fifty-five local fire prevention projects are receiving funding for hazardous fuel reductions, wildfire preparedness planning and fire prevention education.
These 55 local projects will play a "critical role" in augmenting fire prevention efforts, according to CAL FIRE Chief Thomas Porter.
One example of this year's grant awards includes a $1.9 million grant to the San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council for removing dead and dying trees and other hazardous fuels on 17 treatment areas throughout San Luis Obispo County.
That project alone is expected to reduce fire risk in nine communities and will include a 600-acre prescribed burn near Lopez Lake.
Forestry Educators Incorporated is receiving a public education grant of nearly $100,000 for its "2020 Forestry Challenge" in El Dorado County.
The challenge is an academic competition for high school students in technical forestry and current forestry topics.
CAL FIRE's Fire Prevention Grant Program is part of the California Climate Investments (CCI), a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work.
This reduces greenhouse gas emissions, strengthens the economy and improves public health and the environment.
Since 2014, CAL FIRE has addressed and reduced the risk of wildfire potential to communities in wildland urban interface areas by funding more than 430 local fire prevention grants totaling more than $150 million.
