Fire Safe Council outlines Smith-to-Klamath landscape approach; board invited to support shared stewardship
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Summary
Del Norte Fire Safe Council presented a ‘Smith-to-Klamath’ proposal for large-scale fuel breaks (approx. 30,000 acres) and 100,000 acres of prescribed fire, estimating roughly $135 million over 10 years and seeking county coordination and letters of support.
Aaron Babcock, coordinator of the Del Norte Fire Safe Council, briefed the Board on a regional initiative to expand wildfire mitigation across a broad landscape corridor from the Oregon border down to the Klamath River.
Babcock described a plan combining shaded fuel breaks (about 30,000 acres), a 3,000-acre ridge-top strategic fuel break and up to 100,000 acres of prescribed burns, with an overall rough cost estimate in the neighborhood of $135 million spread over about 10 years. He said the proposal seeks to coordinate federal, state, tribal and private partners through shared stewardship agreements, MOUs and potential federal/state grant mechanisms.
Why it matters: Supervisors and local partners said the initiative would protect communities and critical infrastructure, create local jobs through mitigation and biomass opportunities, and take advantage of newly available federal/state funding streams. Members of the public and board members expressed broad support and asked staff to identify funding and workforce partnerships to advance projects.
Outcome: The item was presented as informational; Supervisor Howard had circulated a letter of support and the board later indicated willingness to act quickly when concrete proposals and funding mechanisms are defined.