The PG&E Corp. Foundation, California Fire Foundation Grant Reduces Fire Risk in El Dorado County

GARDEN VALLEY — Golden Sierra High School in El Dorado County serves as an evacuation center for residents and large animals during a wildland fire. Now, the school itself also is safer from wildfire.

That’s thanks to a grant from The PG&E Corporation Foundation (PG&E Foundation) and the California Fire Foundation (CFF). 

The PG&E Foundation, PG&E and CFF have partnered for eight years on CFF’s Wildfire Safety and Preparedness program. The grants are part of that larger program.

Since 2018, the PG&E Foundation through CFF has provided $5.5 million in grants to more than 430 fire departments and community organizations.  

The Garden Valley Fire Protection District used its $15,000 grant to complete fuel reduction projects at the high school and nearby Georgetown Elementary School.

“We’re always looking in the community for projects that will benefit multiple areas. One of the big needs that we saw was defensible space work around local schools. Black Oak Mine Unified School District had limited resources, so we assisted them with clearing their properties,” said Garden Valley Fire Protection District’s Chris Schwegler.

The fire district cleared brush around campus buildings including the football announcer’s booth. Crews also cleared large, downed trees and chipped limbs. The total project was about 2.5 acres.

Mark Koontz is the director of operations at Black Oak Mine Unified School District. 

“It’s been a fantastic help to our grounds crews who take good care of the baseball and football fields, but this program really helped us get to the outlying areas of campus and around portable classrooms in the woods,” Koontz said. 

The school is an evacuation hub during wildfires and a base camp for fire crews. The  campus has generators, internet and phone services during emergencies to support community members and fire crews.

“So having the ground here clear and ready for fire is an absolute necessity,” said Koontz.

Other fire departments used the grants to purchase personal protective and specialized equipment, complete defensible space projects and conduct fire safety public education. See the full list of grant recipients (PDF). 

“Imagine the amount of good that we can do in our communities. We can’t do it alone. Public private partnerships are important to continue doing this level of work in our communities,” said Alison Feliz-Wukasinovich, PG&E regional senior manager.

In addition to this grant funded by the PG&E Foundation, PG&E has partnered with the Garden Valley Fire Protection District on other fuel reduction and vegetation management work.

“They’ve been a key partner of ours and our mission to provide effective and innovative public safety services,” said fire Chief Wes Norman. 

Chief Norman said the recent work at the high school has been a hot topic on football game days. 

“I’ve been approached multiple times from community members who are very happy with the work they’re seeing around the school district. It’s a good ex how public agencies can partner with the private sector to provide good work out in our community.”