FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Erin Capuchino
Yosemite/Sequoia RC&DC
(559) 308-1767
ecapuchino@ysrcandd.org
Mariposa County, CA – The Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council (Y/S RC&DC) is thrilled to unveil the latest initiative in our ongoing commitment to wildfire prevention and community safety: the Mariposa Strategic Wildfire Mitigation Project. Spanning an area of approximately 70 acres or 1.5 miles along Boyer and Homestead Road, this project will involve a comprehensive approach to wildfire mitigation, aiming to significantly enhance the protection of our communities against the threat of wildfires.
Central to the project is the establishment of a 300-foot shaded fuel break on either side of Boyer and Homestead Road. This strategy will involve the careful thinning and management of vegetation and fuels, designed to dramatically reduce the potential intensity of wildfires and prevent the spread of fires across the landscape.
The Mariposa Strategic Wildfire Mitigation Project is not just a local initiative; it’s a critical component of a broader effort to enhance wildfire resilience throughout the Sierra Region. By protecting the areas surrounding Boyer and Homestead Road, we are also bolstering the wider network of fire treatment strategies across the region. This project will safeguard our communities, including residents, businesses, schools, and vital infrastructure, particularly those in the high-risk zones of Mariposa, Eastern Madera County, and the Southern reaches of Yosemite National Park.
The funding for this project is made possible by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) Wildfire Prevention Grants Program, a key component of the California Climate Investments Program. The project, proposed by the Y/S RC&DC, will strategically implement fuel breaks and defensible landscape projects in the Yosemite-Mariposa Watershed, addressing fuel loading and providing defensible lines in the event of a fast-moving wildfire. These treatments will effectively achieve public safety and fuel reduction goals.
The significance of the Homestead/Boyer treatment area, fortunately spared by the recent 2018 Ferguson Fire and 2022 Oak Fire, cannot be overstated. Had either fire breached the ridge of Boyer/ Homestead, both could have rapidly spread into additional communities, leading to significant property loss and potential loss of life.
The Homestead/Boyer area treatments will be tailored to the specific fuel types and conditions, such as slope and elevation, and consider the landowner needs. These treatments may include tree felling, mechanical or hand crew thinning, chipping, and pile burning. The aim is to ensure public safety and reduce fuel, with the management of woody biomass being a key consideration. This biomass may be left in place to promote carbon sequestration or removed and utilized at regional bioenergy facilities.
A 300 ft. shaded fuel break on Homestead Road will connect and extend the existing Boyer Road and Lush Meadows fuel breaks. The expansion/connection of the fuel breaks will create safer ingress and egress, saving precious time in gaining access to a fire’s perimeter, specifically for fire suppression responders.
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About Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation & Development Council: Y/S RC&DC serves the foothill and forest rural communities of Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Northern Kern counties. We aim to conserve natural resources and promote resource-based economic development that improves communities for current and future generations by working collaboratively with Council partners to advance projects to benefit the Southern Sierra Nevada Region.
About Mariposa County Fire Safe Council: MCFSC was created in January 1998 as a grassroots community effort to inform Mariposa County residents about the dangers of wildfire in the wildland- urban interface and teach people how to maintain defensible space around their homes. The MFSC is a 501c3, non-profit, non-governmental, non-regulatory community partnership of Mariposa County residents, land/property owners, businesses, organizations, and agencies working together to reduce the vulnerability to the threat of wildland fire.
Read the Press Release on the Y/S RC&DC website.
