Board authorizes application for Cal Fire County Coordinators Grant to continue wildfire preparedness work

Inyo County supervisors voted April 15 to authorize staff to apply for the 2025 Cal Fire County Coordinators Grant Program, which would provide up to $151,000 over 15 months to support wildfire preparedness coordination and related regional activities.

County Administrator Nick (Nate) Greenberg presented the item, noting the county previously received funding under the program in 2022 to create the county wildfire preparedness coordinator position and complete the county—s Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Greenberg said the new NOFO had a short application window with proposals due April 25 and described an intent to blend Cal Fire funds with complementary grants administered through the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (SCOG), including USDA Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife allocations that fund related liaison and capacity-building work.

Kristen Feiler, the county—s wildfire preparedness coordinator, joined the discussion and described coordination with Mono County and SCOG to pursue regional, holistic wildfire work. Greenberg said the Cal Fire award would be accepted into county treasury because the California Fire Safe Council (the proposed partner/subrecipient) is a 501(c)(3) public charity acceptable to the county auditor and treasurer.

Board members praised Feiler—s work on the CWPP and regional collaboration. The board voted to authorize staff to submit the Cal Fire grant application; the transcript records unanimous approval by voice vote (specific roll-call tallies were not included in the meeting record).

If awarded, the grant would fund coordinator activities, regional liaison, GIS and PMO support and other work identified in the CWPP and associated scopes through roughly August 2026.