American Community Media has announced the opening of the Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program grant, offering $1 million in funding to support wildfire safety initiatives across California.
On June 11, American Community Media, in collaboration with PG&E, the California Fire Foundation, and the Monterey Fire Department, hosted an information session regarding the annual Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program (WSPP) grant. Now in its ninth year, the WSPP grant has supported over 431 grantees, with approximately $1 million available for the current grant cycle, which closes on July 8.
Ross Pounds, a board member of the California Fire Foundation and a firefighter with the Monterey Fire Department, emphasized the diverse applications for the grant. “This funding is available for firefighters, fire department associations, unions, and non-profits,” he stated.
The Monterey Fire Department initiated the briefing by showcasing their previous work funded by the WSPP grant. They established fuel breaks in Don Dahvee Park, an oak-wooded preserve in Monterey, by clearing flammable vegetation behind homes surrounding the park. This fuel reduction is a crucial aspect of wildfire safety, as the strategic removal of dry grass and deadwood helps to minimize fire spread and intensity.
In 2025, WSPP grantees collectively reduced 33 million square feet of hazardous trees and removed nearly 3 million pounds of tree limbs, branches, and other combustible materials.
Chief Patrick Moore of the Monterey Fire Department discussed additional initiatives supported by the WSPP grant. “We are conducting inspections to educate homeowners on how to keep their homes fire-safe and training our firefighters to manage small fires effectively, preventing them from escalating into larger incidents,” he explained.
Moore noted the importance of the grant in light of budget constraints faced by many cities. “There’s a lot of essential fuel mitigation and vegetation management that we need to implement within our city. Those funds are available through the California Fire Foundation, so we felt it was a really good way to direct those resources towards fuel mitigation and vegetation management,” he said.
Angie Carmignani, Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation, and Jeremy Howard, regional senior manager at PG&E, highlighted the community awareness programs funded by the grant. These programs include preparedness tips available in multiple languages, accessible on the California Fire Foundation’s website under the “Firefighters on Your Side” tab.
“We want people to feel comfortable discussing safety and preparedness,” Carmignani stated. “Worst case, you never use the information. Best case, you use it and are now ready to go.”
For those interested in applying for the WSPP grant, further information can be found on the California Fire Foundation’s website.
The announcement of the Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program grant reflects a continued commitment to enhancing wildfire safety and community preparedness across California, according to India Currents.