Grants! Grants! Grants!
They say that good things come to those who wait, and grant funding is no exception. Fire Safe Moraga-Orinda is now offering grants from three funding sources.
The first is the 2024 California Fire Safe Council grant and, after a delay in reimbursement, has been fully funded. This grant program is specifically designed to help residents working in groups of five or more property owners and has four finalized projects to date. The most recent project was completed in the Del Rey neighborhood, where approximately 40cu/yds of chipped material was removed by the contractor. The work ranged from simple tree limbing and brush removal to clearing out dead trees and hazardous species, such as Monterey Pines. FSMO matched the project with $10,000 in funds paid directly to the contractor.
Some of the 40cu/yds of material removed from the neighborhood
The second grant was awarded in 2025 and comes from the Contra Costa Community Impact Fund. This grant program targets our most vulnerable residents, such as older neighbors who cannot manage projects on their own. This grant covers 100% of the project cost (up to to $5000), so there is no requirement for the resident to match the funding. To date, this grant has been used to clear the hillside of a large parcel on Evans Place, Monterey Pines in el Toyonal, and defensible space around a home on Monte Vista.
“Before” image of a neglected hillside
“After” image after brush clearing
The third grant is for $100,00, which has been provided by PG&E. This grant specifically targets areas that are adjacent to PG&E property and will be overseen by FSMO with planning by MOFD. We are still awaiting a vegetation removal plan, but it will most likely consist of grazing (Yay goats!) and larger scale projects around transmission lines and substations.
Fire Safe Moraga-Orinda continues to pursue sources of funding, so that we can offer local grant opportunities to residents. Private donations are always welcome and help us to keep more grant funds going towards projects instead of administrative costs. If you would like to contribute, you can make a tax-deductible donation here.
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