FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Nash Gonzalez, Mendocino County Disaster Recovery Director
Phone: (707) 463-4441

DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED FIRE MITIGATION MEASURES FOR THE UKIAH VALLEY

Ukiah, CA. September 5, 2018. – The County of Mendocino and the City of Ukiah are actively engaged with CAL FIRE, and other stakeholder groups in the review and development of fire prevention and mitigation measures for the Ukiah Valley, including the western hills that border the city.

With support from the Cities of Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Willits, and Point Arena, Mendocino County has applied for a grant to update a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (MHMP). Once funding is awarded, this multi-jurisdictional mitigation planning process will seek public input and ultimately identify hazard mitigation strategies which could reduce the risk of future fires throughout the county.

Independent of the MHMP planning process, efforts are underway to engage experts from fire agencies, the University of California Cooperative Extension, and strategic landowners to identify and implement vegetation management practices that will more immediately reduce the risk of wildfires. County Supervisor John McCowen stated, “Recent fires have made clear that we need defensible space for communities, not just individual properties”. Mayor Kevin Doble commented that, “I welcome this opportunity to work cooperatively with the County and other agencies to better protect our community from the devastating impacts of uncontrolled wildfires.”

The County and the City have prioritized this important work and the protection of our community. Once potential resources have been identified and additional information obtained, there will be public meetings to provide opportunities for community and property owners’ input.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino County Executive Office at (707) 463-4441 or the City of Ukiah at (707) 463-6217.