From left, Yosemite Sequoia RC&D’s Alisa Vance and Erin Capuchino
It’s going to be easier for those who live, work and play in Eastern Madera County to access county services locally going forward.
That’s because the Oakhurst Government Center is now home to Fire Adapted Madera County (FAM Co), a regional initiative led by the Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council (EMCFSC).
FAM Co and the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce, along with other area stakeholders, held a ribbon cutting and open house on June 2 following the Madera County Board of Supervisors’ regular meeting held in the same location.
The FAM Co office is now officially open weekdays and ready to provide assistance.
“We’re here to showcase available resources, connect with residents and stand together as regional partners in this effort,” said Ashley Nebeker, EMCFSC executive director.
“The purpose of the event was to introduce the public to the growing network of organizations, agencies and programs working to strengthen wildfire resilience and community adaptation across the foothill communities.”
Pictured from left are David Konno with Coarsegold Resource Conservation District’s Whitney Lecat, Julie Konno and Kyle Gaede.
Nebeker was on site along with senior program manager Kevin Kirk and grant specialist Mimi Stal with new baby Ellie.
She explained FAM Co brings together diverse partners to support proactive, community driven wildfire adaptation strategies and provide accessible education and resources to empower residents, landowners and organizations.
The FAM Co schedule varies according to which organization is in the office on a given day.
EMC Fire Safe Council personnel will be at the government center on Mondays and Wednesdays. Coarsegold Resource Conservation District will be available on Tuesdays while Yosemite Sequoia RC&DC reps plan to be present on Thursdays.
Fridays are currently to be determined.
For details and information, email fireadaptedmaderacounty@gmail.com or stop by the Oakhurst Government Center located at 40232 Junction Drive.
Resource coordination
Stakeholders are shown at the Oakhurst Government Center on June 2 for the FAM Co ribbon cutting including, front row from left, Laura Wisdom, Ashley Nebeker, Bobby Macaulay, Erin Capuchino and Rachael Snedecor.
FAM Co acts as a resource coordination hub, operating in partnership with local agencies, organizations and leaders.
Partners include EMCFSC, Coarsegold Resource Conservation District, Yosemite Gateway Prescribed Burn Cooperat ive, Yosemite Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council, Madera County, CAL FIRE and the University of California Cooperative
Extension.
The FAM Co alliance will coordinate planning and mitigation efforts to reduce wildfire risk across landscapes and neighborhoods and support responsive and equitable recovery following wildfire events.
Services offered can include wildfire preparedness education with guidance on defensible space, home hardening and evacuation readiness along with printed materials and educational workshops for residents and neighborhoods.
Educational programs are planned to include hosting of workshops, forums and seasonal preparedness events along with displays, fliers and media showcasing local efforts.
One-on-one assistance may be available for in-person consultations on property risk assessment and mitigation strategies and to offer help navigating online applications for assistance or permitting.
They can also offer help navigating local, state and federal wildfire-related resources. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, just ask.
FAM Co can also provide support for fuel reduction and vegetation management, Community Wildfire Protection Planning (CWPP) including Firewise USA certification, grant navigation support, mapping and risk visualization tools.
Additional assistance may be found in the areas of prescribed fire and land stewardship resources and post-fire recovery guidance.
Not just for fires
“The idea is to provide greater access to county and other resources for people,” said Erin Capuchino, executive director of Yosemite Sequoia Resource Conservation & Development Council (YSRCDC), who attended the event along with project manager Alisa Vance.
YSRCDC personnel will be available at the Oakhurst Government Center on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and available for anyone seeking assistance in a handful of different ways.
“We were originally operating as a fire resource and now, as a regional organization, we have greater capacity to fill in what gaps we see in the community and get you the resources you need to promote resilience in a variety of situations, not just fire.”
Working with companies and agencies like PG&E and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, YSRCDC provides access to information and help with water conservation, energy savings and drought survival.
Some of what they offer has not been easily found in the foothills before whereas now there are people available to guide residents through county programs.
Representatives of the Coarsegold Resource Conservation District were also on hand for the ribbon cutting and open house, including Kyle Gaede, Julie Konno and Whitney Lecat.
CRCD is a locally governed special district of the state and, in Eastern Madera County, is currently the agency to contact for the development and execution of Firewise Communities.
They provide landowners with assistance, funding and information on a variety of conservation practice along with technical, scientific legal and professional advice to partners and public agencies.
Representatives of FAM Co will be in their office inside the government building and hope the community takes further advantage of what they have to offer.
We’re fostering a culture of shared responsibility and long-term resilience in the face of growing wildfire challenges,” Nebeker said. “We’re building a safer, more prepared and connected Madera County.”
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