PG&E and California Fire Foundation Open Applications for Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Grants

Rhea-AI Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the California Fire Foundation (CFF) have opened applications for the Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program (WSPP) grants. Applications are accepted from May 30 to June 30, 2024. The program, funded with $1.4 million, targets California-based fire departments and community groups in high fire-risk areas. Last year, the program awarded $730,000 to 48 local entities, supporting the purchase of personal protective equipment, hazardous brush removal, and prescribed burns. Since 2018, PG&E and the PG&E Foundation have contributed $8.8 million to wildfire safety initiatives through the WSPP.

Positive

• PG&E and CFF are funding $1.4 million for wildfire safety in 2023.
• Since 2018, $8.8 million has been provided in support for fire safety.
• Last year, $730,000 funded 48 local fire departments and community groups.
• WSPP supported the purchase of 2,800 pieces of personal protective equipment.
• The program helped remove 176 acres of hazardous trees and brush in 2023.
• 380,500 pounds of tree limbs and branches were chipped and hauled.
• 25 prescribed fires or pile burns were conducted for forest management in 2023.
• WSPP has awarded 313 grants since 2018.

Negative

• The application window is to one month, potentially restricting participation.
• The total funding of $1.4 million might not suffice for widespread needs in high fire-risk areas.

More than $1 million in grants, public education, and outreach funded in 2023; Applications Accepted May 30 through June 30

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the California Fire Foundation (CFF) are accepting grant applications this week from California-based fire departments and community-based organizations focused on wildfire safety and preparedness. The grant program continues a seven-year successful partnership between PG&E and CFF. Applications will be accepted beginning May 30 and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2024, through the CFF website. Award notification will begin July 31, 2024.

PG&E and The PG&E Corporation Foundation (PG&E Foundation) are providing a total of $1.4 million to CFF's Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program (WSPP). The WSPP continues to raise public awareness about wildfire safety and deliver resources to underserved communities in high fire-risk areas. It includes a competitive grant program that last year awarded 48 local fire departments and community groups $730,000 in funding.

Funding in 2023 supported:

• Purchasing approximately 2,800 pieces of personal protection equipment (PPE) including helmets, boots, gloves, goggles and fire shelters
• Removing over 176 acres of hazardous tree and brush
• Chipping and hauling of 380,500 pounds of tree limbs, branches and other combustibles
• Conducting 25 prescribed fires or pile burns for forest management

Since 2018, CFF, which administers and manages the WSPP, has awarded 313 grants to fire departments and community organizations statewide, focusing its efforts in Northern and Central California. Funding targets communities identified as having extreme or elevated fire risk as identified by the California Public Utilities Commission.

"California weather conditions remain unpredictable and residents must be prepared in the event of wildfire and disasters. It has only been three years since the largest and most destructive wildfires raged across California and conditions can quickly change again with new growth in vegetation and fuel due to recent storms," said Rick Martinez, Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation. "The Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program is a partnership with PG&E that was created to give residents the best chances at staying prepared to keep their families safe."

"Local fire departments, agencies and community groups play a vital role in prioritizing and executing the projects that help protect our friends, neighbors and communities — critical to raising awareness about wildfire safety. We're grateful for our ongoing partnership with CFF and our shared goal to ensure that our hometowns are doing everything possible to prevent wildfires from starting. Thanks to CFF for providing much-needed benefits through the Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program such as defensible space and fuel-reduction programs as well as fire safety outreach campaigns to customers in underserved communities," said Mark Quinlan, PG&E's Senior Vice President of Wildfire, Emergency & Operations.

How the Grants Help Communities

From 2018 to the present, PG&E and the PG&E Foundation have provided $8.8 million in total support for fire safety awareness through the WSPP. The charitable contribution is shareholder-funded, not paid for by PG&E customers.

Since 2018, WSPP has funded:

• Specialized fire equipment and personal protective equipment
• Defensible space and vegetation management efforts
• Fuel/hazard reduction programs
• Fire prevention and emergency preparedness education, including senior citizen wildfire preparedness programs
• Partnerships with community groups in high fire-risk areas to distribute fire-safety information
• Fire safety outreach campaigns, including 12,000 multi-lingual brochures targeting under-resourced communities in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hmong, and Vietnamese

The WSPP develops and distributes in-language fire-safety messaging targeting Spanish, Chinese, Hmong, and Vietnamese communities. These efforts include a comprehensive media campaign consisting of outdoor billboards and in-language television, radio, and digital ads.

The California Fire Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, aids firefighters, their families, and the communities they protect. CFF's Firefighters on Your Side program, also supported by PG&E, provides multi-lingual, culturally relevant fire safety messaging in both digital and print forms to assist the public in staying safe.

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

About The PG&E Corporation Foundation
The PG&E Corporation Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, separate from PG&E and sponsored by PG&E Corporation.

About California Fire Foundation
The California Fire Foundation, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they protect. Formed in 1987 by California Professional Firefighters, the California Fire Foundation's mandate includes an array of survivor and victim assistance projects and community initiatives. cafirefoundation.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pge-and-california-fire-foundation-open-applications-for-wildfire-safety-and-preparedness-grants-302157017.html

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

What is the deadline for the PG&E Wildfire Safety Grant applications?

The deadline for the PG&E Wildfire Safety Grant applications is June 30, 2024.

How much funding is PG&E providing for wildfire safety in 2023?

PG&E is providing $1.4 million for wildfire safety and preparedness in 2023.

When will the award notifications for the PG&E Wildfire Safety Grants be given?

The award notifications for the PG&E Wildfire Safety Grants will begin on July 31, 2024.

How much funding did PG&E provide for wildfire safety since 2018?

Since 2018, PG&E and the PG&E Foundation have provided $8.8 million for wildfire safety.

What was the total funding awarded for wildfire safety grants in 2022?

In 2022, the total funding awarded for wildfire safety grants was $730,000.