Grants Are Offered for Fire Prevention

In an effort to prevent a repeat of last year’s devastating firestorms, federal and state officials are making available more than $10 million in fire prevention grants for cities, nonprofit groups and special districts.

Frank Kishton, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the grants can be used to develop fire prevention education programs and uniform fire prevention laws. He said the grant program is being partly funded through the California Office of Emergency Services.

Applicants must be able to match 25% of a grant with their own funds.

Kishton said any fire prevention proposal will be considered, but those programs dealing with vegetation and brush management, fire prevention education and programs to identify high hazard fire zones will be given priority.