Fire prevention is the focus at Career Lunch

More than 20 Mariposa County High School students sat attentively and asked good questions during a Career Lunch last week.

The high school regularly hosts career lunch events during which the students can learn about various topics and possible choices that lie ahead.

Last week, Lacey Sharp, director of the Mariposa County Fire Safe Council, made a presentation along with Mary Self, co-owner of Greener Tree Solutions.

The topic was wildfires and, more importantly, prevention. That is the main focus for the Fire Safe Council.

Sharp opened the discussion by explaining the work of the fire council, noting they have various funding sources and are a nonprofit organization.

She said funding is a major issue and the council works hard to find various resources. A lot of their funding comes from CAL FIRE, she said, but there are other sources, including federal and more.

Sharp said the council is currently working on a project in the Hunters Valley area, where the intent is to install a critically needed fire break near Lake McClure. She said they first look at the topography to determine points where to establish the breaks.

Because there is rocky terrain in that region, Sharp said that is a major consideration.

“All of that comes into play with grants,” said Sharp.

She then emphasized to the students the reason they were there.

“There are opportunities for careers,” she said.

That could be heavy equipment operators, environmental-focused careers and even business ownership.

She added that foresters are in great demand. In fact, she said that is the “number one” career need now in this area of work. Sharp noted that one recent MCHS graduate is now coming back to this area to work as a forester.

Sharp explained the grant writing process and the many hoops required and said, in general, they work with grants around $1 million.

One student said it seemed like the Fire Safe Council does similar work at the Sierra Foothill Conservancy.

Sharp said they work with the conservancy, but the big difference is the council doesn’t buy land, rather, they get rights of entry in order to build fire breaks and do other fire prevention work.

Another big project, she said, is doing maintenance on the Stumpfield Mountain fire break, which involves 192 acres. That break was completed a few years ago, she said, but all breaks require ongoing maintenance and upkeep.

Next up was Self, who spoke to the students about the company she and her husband formed about 10 years ago.

Self said she has been involved in forestry-related work her entire life and that is now paying off in running a company. Her “real job,” she said, is accounting and that also works well in running a business.

Working with the Fire Safe Council, she said, allows the company “to help people who may not be able to afford” doing work like defensible space, and more. They also work with elderly people who are no longer able to do the work.

One student asked a pretty simple, yet important, question: What is a fuel break?

Sharp explained it is an area where the land is cleared with the hope a fire will stop there and not burn further.

The one in Hunters Valley will be 11 miles long, she said.

One of the issues now facing the Fire Safe Council is the implementation of prevailing wages in California

She said it now roughly costs about $4,000 an acre to do a fuel break but with the new rules, that will be nearly $6,000 an acre, or more.

The result is the Hunters Valley break will be 110 feet wide and not the standard 200 feet. Even with that, she said that’s a good distance and will help prevent fires from spreading into the mountains. Projects are targeted to take 18 months, she said, but they are usually completed in about half that time.

One student said he was possibly interested in being part of a hand crew for a fire department.

“Learn to sharpen a chain,” said Self.

Sharp and Self both encouraged interested students to attend events and seminars about the subject and “meet the funders.” It was also noted the Yosemite Adult School in Oakhurst has various programs geared for people interested in careers involving fire prevention.

A final question was about why places like Oregon, Utah and Colorado have been so severely hit by fire this year while California has not had as many large fires.

Sharp said there are various reasons, including the fact the “climate is warming” and larger fires are sparking east and north of California. She added that “luck” always plays a role in which areas burn.

But Sharp did note that locally, when a small fire starts, dispatchers “send everyone” immediately, a practice not always in place in the past. They send helicopters, planes with retardant and a lot of ground equipment.

In many cases, the fires are quickly quashed, and she thinks sending as many emergency responders and equipment as possible helps in that area.

Also, she said, many states, like Texas and Oklahoma, which have been ravaged by large fires, “are not as equipped as California” to fight those fires.

“We have the knowledge because we have been doing it for so long,” she said.

To learn more about the Mariposa County Fire Safe Council, visit www.mariposafiresafecouncil.org