Santa Clara County FireSafe Council
New FireSafe Councils in Santa Clara County
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New FireSafe Councils in Santa Clara County

Are you concerned about the potential for wildfires in your community?
Become Part of the Solution!

The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council (SCFSC) is joining forces with concerned community members and organizations to coordinate local FireSafe councils to help protect homes, communities and the environment from wildfires.

Organizing a new FireSafe Council is an important cause and a rewarding experience. Your time and dedication can help bring more federal funding to Santa Clara County for much needed wildfire prevention projects such as chipping and outreach and education. Starting a FireSafe Council in your area does require a commitment of effort and time. To help new councils get started, SCFSC will provide support to assist your group take the lead in creating this valuable community resource.

Santa Clara County FireSafe Council Support/Coordination:

  

Smokey Bear in the SCFSC booth at
the Celebrate Milpitas Art and Wine
Festival. Click here for more photos.

  1. Provide education materials for meetings and community events, including wildfire prevention for children and seniors and creating Defensible Space around your home.

  2. Help organize your council and community events and, if funds are available, provide a part-time contract coordinator for your area.

  3. Provide speakers for your meetings.

  4. Fund chipping programs or other projects in your community (if funds are available for this purpose).

  5. Provide one or more Web pages on our Web site for your council.

  6. Accept tax-deductible donations on your behalf and disburse the funds as needed.

  7. Act as your fiscal sponsor for federal grant applications for your programs and projects so you can apply for federal grants without becoming a separate non-profit organization.

  8. Help raise funds from local organizations and companies for your programs and projects and provide assistance and examples of federal grant applications for your programs and projects.

  9. Provide initial bookkeeping and accounting support.

  10. Help you incorporate and register as a separate non-profit organization if needed.

Community Group Role/Responsibilities:

  1. Engage friends and neighbors who share your interest in preventing wildfires to become involved in the council.

  2. Send one or more representatives to our monthly meetings and report on your plans and progress.

  3. With our guidance, lead the effort to organize your own wildfire prevention events and projects.

  4. Write grant applications and funding requests for projects in your community.

  5. Keep attendance lists and summaries of your meetings.

  6. Provide information needed for grant reports.

  7. Once you receive funding, begin to pay your own expenses and SCFSC expenses for your group and manage your own bookkeeping and accounting.

  8. Follow the SCFSC ByLaws and Policies and Procedures and the California Fire Safe Council guidelines and requirements.

Next Steps:

To get started, e-mail Jan Cokely or Jenn Viane Riese or phone (408) 564-6201. Talk with your friends and neighbors to find others who share your interest in preventing wildfires and protecting your community.

If you live in the East Foothills east of Milpitas and San Jose, click here for an East Foothills FireSafe Council Flyer! (PDF File)

For more information on the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council: SCFSC Brochure (PDF File), FAQs, About Us, Photos from our Community Events and Chipping Programs.
Updated 8/25/07

Funding provided by National Fire Plan grants from the Bureau of Land Management through the California Fire Safe Council. Our Community Outreach, Education and Youth programs and other council activities are also funded by grants and donations from local agencies, companies, foundations, organizations and individual donors. Please see our Thank You! and About Us pages for a list of donors and contributors.

The views and conclusions on this Web site are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the California Fire Safe Council, the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council or the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement by the California Fire Safe Council, the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council or the U.S. Government.