Sandoval County adopts community wildfire protection plan after multi‑year community process

Sandoval County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan that county emergency management staff developed with funding from the state forestry department.

Dan (last name not specified), representing the county’s emergency management office, told commissioners the plan — produced with input from community meetings in Cuba, La Cueva, Corrales and Bernalillo — identifies and prioritizes fuel‑reduction projects and provides a publicly accessible “live” document for residents to review and comment on proposed projects. “This plan is to identify and prioritize fuel reduction projects within the county,” Dan said.

Commissioners asked about examples of fuel‑reduction work and implementation. In response, Dan cited mechanical thinning — cutting and hauling trees and brush — as the primary recommended approach for many community areas and said the plan and the state program help community groups apply for forestry funds to carry out projects on private and public land.

Commissioner Brook noted related community events and local approaches such as using goats for landscape cleanup, and several commissioners publicly thanked emergency management staff for extensive outreach and planning work.

The vote to adopt the resolution was recorded by the clerk as unanimous. No amendments or conditions were added during the meeting.

Why it matters: Adoption of the plan makes project areas eligible for state funding and gives local communities a prioritized list of potential fuel‑reduction projects; the plan is intended to reduce wildfire risk and support grant applications and community‑led mitigation efforts.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article are Dan (Emergency Management) and Commissioner Brook (Sandoval County Board of County Commissioners).