Dec 18, 2018 -- At a recent presentation in Ukiah's City Council chambers, local firefighting leaders laid out a plan to create several layers of defensible space along the western edge of Ukiah, starting next month. Ukiah Valley Fire Authority fire marshall Kevin Jennings has about 130 property owners in his sights for this demonstration project, which includes vegetation management by CalFire crews at no direct cost to the owner. The city, the county, and CalFire are taking on the cost.
For those who are not covered under the program, which is due to start up mid-January, there are also 14 new fire safe councils in the Western Hills. The councils are composed of citizens whose goals include informing their neighbors about evacuation routes and landscape hardening, as well as seeking out funding to keep vegetation under control and create safe routes for firefighters.
We'll include our newscast, as well as the presentation by Jennings and Brandon Gunn, a Battalion Chief at CalFire's Mendocino Unit.