Belmont City Council recently announced wildfire management plans for National Fire Prevention Week; Belmont plans on using part of the roughly $500,000 grant given to San Mateo County in July of 2022 in order to promote their program.
National Fire Prevention Week is from Oct. 9 to Oct. 15, 2022. The Belmont City Council recognized this event by announcing enhanced plans to keep the city and surrounding community fire safe by focusing on mitigating wildfire risk as well as community education about planning for potential fires.
Belmont has actively begun wildfire prevention, hoping to reduce dry vegetation in high-risk areas. One of the methods of fire prevention being utilized is prescribed burns, or purposefully set and controlled fires to lower the risks of wildfires. Residents were warned not to call 911 if they see smoke during prescribed burns. Most recently, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection conducted a prescribed burn on Oct. 4 near the Crystal Springs Reservoir.
The city is able to initiate these new protection programs because of Rep. Jackie Speier, who, in July, secured $16.9 million of federal funding for community projects. This included $494,300 for both Belmont and San Bruno fire prevention, according to the press release following the announcement.
During the Belmont city council meeting on Oct. 11, councilmember Warren Lieberman thanked Speier and acknowledged the benefits wildfire prevention funding could provide.
“[The money] will provide immediate protection through targeted fuel reduction and medium to long-term protection through ongoing maintenance of treated areas and community participation education and outreach,” Lieberman said.
Deputy Fire Marshal Melinda Martin of the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department acknowledged the planning that went into the long-term protection of wildlife.
“We [the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department] are currently in the process of conducting an assessment of the Belmont-owned areas that are considered wild land. The areas we are focusing on are Water Dog park and Hidden Canyon park,” Martin said.
We [the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department] are currently in the process of conducting an assessment of the Belmont-owned areas that are considered wild land. The areas we are focusing on are Water Dog park and Hidden Canyon park
— Melinda Martin
According to Martin, they plan on using the grant money for vegetation removal projects, specifically focusing on the borders shared with private homeowners.
“We consider it necessary for homeowners to take weed abatement and vegetation management seriously, as every person’s property risk has an effect on the other properties within a community,” Martin said.
In addition to city-driven vegetation removal projects, council members also emphasized the 2022 theme of Fire Prevention Week, “Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape,” encouraging community members to take fire safety into their own hands.
“It’s important to educate your family on planned escape routes, and identifying a meeting place outside of your home where your family can meet is an easy way to be prepared for an emergency,” said Julia Mates, Belmont’s Mayor.
On the whole, the possibility of wildfires can be reduced if community members pitch in.
“Wildfire prevention is a community effort, and should be treated as such,” Martin said.
Abigail Sinarle • Oct 18, 2022 at 9:07 am
Great article!