The Santa Barbara County Fire Department has received a grant from CAL FIRE for a fuel reduction project in the Lompoc area.
The $2.5 million Lompoc Valley Fuel Reduction Project will reportedly take place over four years.
The plan includes:
- Treatments for community defensible space around Vandenberg Village and Mission Hills
- 15.1 miles of roadside fuel reduction along Harris Grade, Rucker and Burton Mesa roads
- Various fuel reduction efforts with California State Parks, including the removal of over 150 dead trees within the La Purisma Mission
- 18-mile fuel treatment area spanning from Vandenberg Air Force Base to the outskirts of Buellton
Fire officials say these actions will reduce the impacts of wildfires on the area and benefit the environment.
Protecting the public is also a major goal. There are approximately 14,300 homes included in the project area.
The CAL FIRE grant is $2,229,818. An additional $222,230 is coming from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Work is expected to begin in early 2020.
