CCC Fire Prevention Gets Boost from Utility Foundation Grant
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Conservation Corps and Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison (SCE), are partnering to reduce the threat of wildfire in and around communities they serve.
Edison International Foundation awarded the CCC Foundation $500,000 to support existing CCC fire fuel reduction projects and wildfire response with both equipment and Corpsmember hours.
“This is a tremendous boost not only to our ability to do this much needed work, but to keeping Californians in the Central Valley and Southern California regions safer,” said California Conservation Corps Director Bruce Saito.
From chainsaws to hand tools, the grant allows the CCC Foundation – a nonprofit established to support the California Conservation Corps – to fund the purchase of equipment needed for more than 200 CCC Corpsmembers tasked with creating
defensible space by cutting down dead and dying trees and thinning out dense brush that could fuel wildfires in SCE’s service area.
“Edison is helping to strengthen our region’s disaster response capacity by equipping Corpsmembers with essential tools and resources while providing job opportunities for young people,” said Caroline Choi, Edison International and Southern California Edison senior vice president of Corporate Affairs. “It represents a forward-thinking solution to protect vulnerable communities from the growing threat of wildfires.”
The California Conservation Corps Foundation is one of six organizations receiving a $500,000 Edison International Foundation grant targeting wildfire prevention and mitigation.
Director Saito projected the number of acres of wildland mitigation will be in the thousands. During all phases of the project, CCC will collaborate with California’s Fire Safe Councils, the National Forest Foundation, the California Fire Foundation along with local, state and federal organizations and agencies to identify highest priority locations.
“The California Conservation Corps is committed to making the most impact possible with these funds and reduce the threat of wildfire where communities believe the risk is most severe,” Saito said.