With the Walker Fire still burning, and the recent evacuation in Milford, fire safety is on the minds of a lot of residents in the valley this week. A special group has been formed called the Thompson Peak Initiative whose goal is to follow the success of the Diamond Mountain Initiative, implementing fuel treatments from Janesville through Milford that will improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk.
“The primary focus of the initiative at this point in time is to develop support and acquire funds for the implementation,” explains Lassen County Fire Safe Council Managing Director Tom Esgate.
“We are asking community members to attend to help us identify willing landowners who might agree to implement treatments on their property.”
The Lassen County Fire Safe Council and their partners started the Thompson Peak Initiative 2-months ago, modeled after the successful Diamond Mountain Initiative that, according to Esgate, has acquired over $6,000,000 for treatments in the Diamond Mountain area over the last five years.
“This work is critical for the grant requests that we are currently developing to acquire funds for project activities.”
The principle partners in TPI include LCFSC, Plumas National Forest, Bureau of Land Management Eagle Lake Field Office, CAL FIRE, Honey Lake Valley RCD, Janesville and Milford Fire Protection Districts, Lassen County and a host of private landowners.
The group will be holding their second meeting this Thursday, September 12th, 6:30p.m., at the Janesville Fire Department, 463-390 Main Street in Janesville.
