Climate Resiliency

Wildfire Preparedness Grant Program

With each passing year, fires are burning hotter, faster, more often and less predictably. Without mitigation efforts, there is higher potential for loss of life, decreases in community health, and depreciation of economic and natural resource assets. The Climate Resiliency grant program provides mitigation project resources of up to $4000 for property owners that face disproportionate harm from climate change-fueled wildfire. 

Please note this is a pilot program with dates and times subject to change. Applications are due January 15th, 2024. Projects that can be fully implemented by June 30th, 2025 will be given priority.

If you have difficulties with creating a design or questions on project specifics, please feel free to reach out to the Climate Resiliency Program Manager, James Moore at jamesm@piercecd.org

PXL_20240819_210111840.MP

Project Examples

  • Projects discussed during Wildfire Ready Neighbor Visits or described in Firewise USA Plans
  • Actions that increase ignition resistance and/or focus on the Home Ignition Zone 
  • Community events, workshops, educational materials or mitigation activities with a focus on wildfire
  • Mitigation activities such as fuel reduction, home hardening, chipping programs, plant replacement, tree maintenance

Eligible Services & Expenses

  • Equipment purchase, rental, and fuel
  • Fuel removal expenses such as landfill, refuse services, dumpsters
  • Guest speakers, pamphlets, community mailings, workshop space rental
  • Fire resistant plants
  • Hardscape materials such as gravel or river rock
  • Contracted labor costs

Ineligible Costs

  • Food/beverages for a workshop
  • Indirect administrative costs
  • Sprinkler/ irrigation systems
  • Viewshed improvement

Next Steps for Your Wildfire Preparedness Mini Grant

  1. Make sure your project falls under an NRCS or WRN standards. If your project affects trees, make sure to contact a licensed tree service provider. 
  2. Create your project design, a simplified site plan/map showing the general location of your project(s), its dimensions, and the dimensions of your property. Project designs may be hand drawn and do not need to be to scale.
  3. Estimate your budget by either filling out our budget estimate worksheet or getting a quote from a local landscaper/contractor.
  4. Take a few before photos of where your project will go.
  5. Fill out our online application before grants are due on January 15, 2025. Submit your budget estimate, project scope, before photos, and any other documents you want to include along with your application.


    Project Type

    Description

    Project Life

    Brush Management 314

    Control undesirable woody plants in a manner that creates the desired plant community, including the desired fuel load, to reduce the risk of wildfire.

    1 Year

    Firebreak 394

    Ground cleared to bare soil or planted with fire-resistant vegetation meant to stop the spread of fire.  

    5 Years

    Forest Stand Improvement 666

    Manage stocking rates and alter spatial arrangement of trees to reduce wildfire hazard.

    10 Years

    Fuel Break 383

    Cutting down and regular management of fuel sources

    10 Years

    TreeShrub Pruning 660

    Maintain the health and vigor of trees and shrubs by removing the minimum amount of living biomass required to achieve the pruning objective.

    10 Years

    Wood Chipper 384

    Chipping, masticating, crushing, compacting, lop and scatter, piling, burning, and offsite removal

    10 Years

    Wildfire Ready Neighbors BMPs

    Roof cleaning, gravel installation, fire-resistant planting, public outreach

    Varies

Cost Share

PCD will cover 75% of the total cost of the project up to $4,000. Projects can be funded in two ways: 

  1. Reimbursement. If you would like to hire your own licensed contractor or purchase your own materials, you are free to do so! Keep your receipts and submit them for reimbursement after the project is complete. 
  2. Direct Pay. If you aren't able to pay for things up front no problem! PCD is able to pay for contractors and project materials directly. After the project is complete, PCD will send you an invoice for your portion of the cost share.
cost share

Project Sheets & Overview

Click on a tab below to view Wildfire Preparedness Project Types. Printable copies are also available at the bottom of the page.

scoringScoring in Depth

Each Mini Grant application will be assessed on four different areas:

Equity (25%) As PCD works to be more of an inclusive, diverse, and equitable organization, we strive to address historical inequities by intentionally directing our time and resources to support projects that are in or serve historically marginalized communities and neighborhoods, particularly those in areas with low or very low equity indices (according to the Pierce County Equity Index). This section does not require applicant input other than the address of the project.

Community Impact (25%) Educational, demonstration, and community projects are great ways to amplify the importance of wildfire infrastructure, addressing both a tangible wildfire safety issue while educating and engaging others. Projects involving neighbors, schools, or community volunteers, are encouraged. This section is for a narrative regarding how your project works with others, community buy-in and how your project positively affects your community.

A best-case example would be 8 neighbors each applying and being awarded $4000 and referencing each other's applications in the PCD Wildfire Preparedness Grant.  This sets up that group of neighbors to also apply for a $4,000 annual DNR grant to continue efforts. 

Wildfire Impact (25%) Projects can show a comparison between money required and the area affected. This section is for applicants to show evidence of a proposal's impact on wildfire preparedness via numbers and project efficacy. Projects that leverage the grant funding to implement more actions will score higher.  In the project description share what you have already done to prepare for wildfire, how the funded project(s) will be maintained over time or what future projects are planned and when those will be completed. 

Personal Impact (25%) Applicant information for the personal equity section may include personal financial need, age, disability, and other demographics. Submitting demographic information is optional and will not have a negative impact. In the project description share your personal story of how your projects will impact you.

Instructions and Application

  1. Next Steps for Your Project

Project Sheets

  1. Brush Management
  2. Firebreak
  3. Forest Stand Improvement
  4. Fuelbreak
  5. Tree/Shrub Pruning
  6. Wood Chipper
  7. Widlfire Ready Neighbors BMP

Budget Sheet and Design Examples

  1. Example Project Designs_Page_1
  2. Example Project Designs_Page_2
  3. 2024_Climate Resiliency MG_Budget Worksheet.xlsx