Modoc Fire Safe Council

10/10/2026

Fire Prevention Week 2026

The Modoc Fire Prevention and Education Committee (MPEC) brought Fire Prevention Week to schools across the county, giving kids the tools to stay safe at home and outdoors, and to share what they learn with their families. This year's national theme, Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower, reminds us that everyday habits like charging devices safely make a real difference.

Thank you to every student, teacher, and school who welcomed us: Head Start, Surprise Valley Elementary, Alturas Elementary, Modoc Vineyard Academy, the Mennonite School, Tulelake Elementary, and Big Valley Elementary.

Depending on the school, students rotated through stations like:

🚒 Fire Safety Trailer
🏃 Evacuation training
📞 911 – Know Your Address
🔎 Search & Rescue
🦌 Wildlife and wildfire
🔥 Campfire safety
💪 Firefighter fitness
📖 Story time for our youngest learners

Some schools also got special visits from Smokey Bear, Captain Cal, and Chipper! 🐻

A huge thank you to the MPEC partners who made it all possible: CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit, U.S. Forest Service-Modoc National Forest, Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, Modoc County Sheriff's Office Posse, Fremont-Winema National Forest, CHP - Alturas, Angel Lake - State Farm Agent for the NFPA take-home safety bags.

Keep an eye out for our poster contest winners, coming soon!

10/07/2026

We have good news to share! 🎉

The Modoc Fire Safe Council has been awarded a $12,000 Wildfire Safety Grant from the California Fire Foundation, with support from The PG&E Corporation Foundation.

This funding will help us continue our defensible space work in Modoc County, clearing hazardous vegetation around homes in high fire-risk areas, with a focus on seniors, disabled, and low-income households, and others who need a hand getting the work done.

We are one of 75 fire departments, agencies, and nonprofits across Northern and Central California selected this year, out of more than 200 applicants. We're grateful to the California Fire Foundation and The PG&E Corporation Foundation for investing in rural communities like ours.

Want to know if your home qualifies for defensible space assistance? Call us at 530-233-5516 or email [email protected].

Read the full announcement: https://www.cafirefoundation.org/news/press-releases/the-pge-corporation-foundation-and-california-fire-foundation-award-1-million-in-wildfire-safety-grants

We are proud to announce the recipients of our 2026 Statewide Wildfire Safety and Preparedness grants in partnership with . California Fire Foundation is honored to support these organizations and the important work they do to keep our communities and firefighters safe! Learn more at cafirefoundation.org/grants

09/29/2026

Thank you, Lake City!

This morning, partners gathered in Lake City for a site visit with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to tour the Lake City Fuel Reduction and Watershed Restoration Project area. A big thank you to the Lake City Volunteer Fire Department for hosting us, and to everyone who came out: Sierra Nevada Conservancy, CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit, the Bureau of Land Management Applegate Field Office, Modoc Resource Conservation District, Jefferson Resource Company, and the local landowners who are making this project possible.

Phase I focuses on 280 acres in and around Lake City, reducing hazardous fuels close to homes to help protect the community. The full project spans 1,641 acres, extending into the surrounding landscape to restore the Mill Creek watershed and improve wildlife habitat. Partners are now working to secure funding to get work on the ground.

Want to learn more? Contact the Modoc Fire Safe Council office at 114 E. North St., Alturas, or call (530) 233-5516.

Planning and environmental review for this project are funded through the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program, administered by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. The work upon which this publication is based was funded in whole or in part through a grant awarded by the California Department of Conservation.

09/28/2026

🏡 Worried about your home insurance? You're not alone.

If you've been non-renewed, pushed onto the CA FAIR Plan, or watched your premium climb, this free webinar is worth an hour of your time.

United Policyholders is hosting a Home Insurance Shopping Help Webinar on Tuesday, October 6 at 12:00 PM PT with a panel of California agents and brokers. They'll cover:

✅ What to do if you've been dropped by your insurer
✅ Whether the FAIR Plan or an unfamiliar insurer is a safe bet
✅ Ways to make coverage more affordable
✅ How much coverage is enough
✅ The latest rules and laws in California's insurance market

You can submit your questions ahead of time when you register at uphelp.org/oct6.

The work you do to protect your home also matters to insurers. Defensible space and home hardening can help with coverage, and our team can help with both. Call us at 530-233-5516 to learn about chipping, defensible space assistance, and home hardening assessments.

09/22/2026

A HUGE thank you to Angel Lake - State Farm Agent for once again providing Fire Prevention Week materials for students across Modoc County!

This year's national theme is "Charge Into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower," focused on safe habits around charging our everyday devices. Some of our amazing Fire Prevention Week partners stopped by to pick up this year's supplies and say thank you in person. Thanks to State Farm's generous support, students at our participating schools will go home with fire safety materials, activities, and information.

We can't wait to bring these activities to Modoc County schools October 5–9!

08/26/2026

🔥 New Statewide Defensible Space Rules Are Coming 🔥

The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has approved new defensible space regulations aimed at reducing the risk of wildfire spreading to homes.

Here's what homeowners in wildfire-prone areas need to know:

✅ A nonflammable 5-foot buffer (Zone 0) will be required immediately around structures
✅ The new rules will be phased in over 5 years for existing homes
✅ The focus right now is on education, not enforcement — giving homeowners time to prepare

Creating defensible space is one of the most effective things you can do to protect your home and community from wildfire. 🏡🌲

Modoc Fire Safe Council is here to help! We offer defensible space assessments and assistance, residential chipping, and home hardening assessments for our communities across Modoc County — with special support for seniors and low-income households.

📞 Questions or want an assessment? Call us at 530-233-5516 or email [email protected]

The new policy reflects extensive public input and provides a balanced, phased approach to wildfire safety and local needs to better protect homes, neighborhoods, and California communities.

07/27/2026

Defensible Space Program Update

Wildfire season is here, and we're committed to helping keep our community safe.

This year, the Defensible Space Program will focus on clearing and maintaining vegetation within 30 feet of homes and all structures on the property. Our crew will be providing:
- W**d eating
- Tree Trimming
- Tree Removal

By creating and maintaining defensible space, homeowners can help reduce wildfire hazards and improve the safety of their property and our community as a whole.

Together, we're taking proactive steps to make our homes and neighborhoods more resilient against wildfire threats.

Safety starts at home. Let's make our community fire-safe, one property at a time.

07/11/2026

A HUGE thank you to the Cal Pines community for coming out to today's Firewise Workshop at the Deer Springs Fire Station!

And a big thanks to our partners who made it happen: CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit, California Pines Lodge, and the American Red Cross.

The Firewise USA program is all about taking feasible, practical steps to prevent wildfire losses and be prepared before an emergency. Today's presentations covered how to do just that:

Sign up for Genasys Protect. Visit the Modoc County Sheriff's Office website or stop by their office to fill out a paper form so you're notified in an emergency.

Have your go bag ready. Pack at least 72 hours of supplies for every member of your household.

Know two ways out. Drive your evacuation routes before an emergency, not during one.

Create defensible space around your home and if you're eligible, the Modoc Fire Safe Council's Defensible Space Program can provide services to create clearance in the first 30 feet. Give us a call at (530) 233-5516 to learn more.

Thank you to everyone who donated giveaway items: Landis Nursery and Produce for the flower baskets, Four Seasons Supply Center for yard tools, Red Cross for emergency supplies, and the Cal Pines POA for the gift certificates. And thank you to Cal Pines for providing lunch and to CAL FIRE and our own Kaira for cooking up a delicious meal!

This is what community preparedness looks like: neighbors showing up, learning together, and taking action.

Interested in making your community a Firewise USA site? Give us a call at (530) 233-5516 or visit modocfiresafecouncil.org.

07/09/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to today's Defensible Space Workshop at the Alturas Garden Club!

CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit shared how to create defensible space and how it helps crews when they respond to a wildfire. Modoc County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services covered emergency preparedness and signing up for Genasys Protect alerts. MFSC staff presented our Defensible Space Program, helping eligible residents create defensible space, along with tips on home hardening. Over a taco lunch, the crew demonstrated yard tool maintenance.

Special thanks to the California Fire Safe Council, whose support of the County Coordinator Program makes events like this possible, and to our raffle sponsors: Landis Nursery and Produce (hanging flower baskets) and Four Seasons Supply Center (yard tools). Raffle prizes also included an emergency go bag stocked with a battery pack, flashlights, and a first aid kit.

Missed it? Join us this Saturday, July 11 for the Cal Pines Firewise Workshop at the Cal Pines Deer Springs Fire Department!

07/07/2026

Prizes are ready!

Join us this week and you could take home one of these beautiful hanging flower baskets from Landis Nursey and Produce, yard tools from Four Seasons Supply Center or a go-bag stocked with emergency essentials like a power pack and first aid kit.

🔥 Defensible Space Workshop
Thursday, July 9 | 11:30 AM
Alturas Garden Club
With CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit and Modoc County Sheriff's Office

🔥 Cal Pines Firewise Workshop
Saturday, July 11 | 11 AM
Deer Springs Fire Station
With CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc Unit and California Pines POA

Learn how to protect your home and property this fire season and maybe win something to help you get started. Free and open to all!

Questions? Call us at (530) 233-5516.