Nestled on a quiet street in Paradise, California, the Butte County Firesafe Council (BCFSC) is a community-based nonprofit organization which focuses on wildfire safety through a variety of outreach programs on wildfire hazard education, wildfire mitigation, and wildfire recovery. Located at 5619 Black Olive Drive, kitty-corner from the Town of Paradise Community Park, the BCFSC relies on grants and community donations to run its many programs and projects. The organization is deeply involved in aiding the area's recovery from the 2018 Camp Fire (the deadliest wildfire in California history): it helps landowners remove dead and dying trees at cost, creates fire breaks along roadways, and operates a weed wrench lending program to aid in removing broom and other invasive plants.

Formed in 1988 and operating in cooperation with local, state, and federal fire agencies throughout Butte County, BCFSC is the “parent” organization to several local fire safe councils and FIREWISE communities including Forbestown Ridge, Feather Falls, Berry Creek, Yankee Hill / Concow, Paradise, Magalia, Oroville Foothills / Lake Wyndotte, and Forest Ranch. Its Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from these councils and communities, as well as public and private stakeholders throughout our county.  Board meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month and information regarding these meetings can be found at their website. Calli-Jane DeAnda, executive director (and Senate District 4's 2022 Woman of the Year), heads up a staff of twenty who implement the various projects and greet community members when they visit the office.

Paradise Grazing Festival Saturday, June 11^th (TOMORROW!): In the spirit of public education and community celebration, the first-ever Paradise Grazing Festival will be held Saturday, June 11, 2022. The festival will celebrate our very first fire fighters -- goats. While admission is free, there will be opportunities to support the Butte County Firesafe Council through donations at several events, including a pancake breakfast, which will be served from 8:00 to 11:00 am at the Town of Paradise Community Park; and the opportunity to walk with the goats up the Paradise Memorial Trailway. To get tickets for the pancake breakfast or to register for the goat walk click here. ” Live music, food and craft vendors, as well as BCFSC educational programs and resources will be found at Terry Ashe Recreation Center from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm. BCFSC mascot Wildfire Ready Raccoon will make a guest appearance and a goat petting zoo will be held from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.

A focus on youth education is a large part of the BCFSC's public outreach. Programs offered specifically for children include the following:

• Wildfire in the Foothills: Updated in 2021, the Wildfire in the Foothills curriculum is intended for sixth grade students living in fire-prone areas. The curriculum consists of seven lessons on topics such as geography and landscapes, cultural fire, fire physics and ignitions. The goal is to build fire-resilient communities through fire-wise education and community action.
• Redi Jedi Master Program (pyrosketchology): This curriculum focuses on nature journaling and place-based learning. Geared toward middle- and high school- age students, the lessons train students to see the signs and signals in nature that inform us of forces (both seen and unseen) that influence fire. Students develop a sense of place that includes fire and enhances situational and fire season awareness.Redi Master focuses on the following abilities and actions:
       R:  Recognize patterns, signals, and signs in nature and how they relate to fire.
       E:  Engage senses and elaborate on experiences and emotions that enhance fire
            awareness.
       D:  Direct attention to field observation skills and creative journaling techniques.
       I:   Illuminate fire readiness, response, and resilience efforts with place-based knowledge.

• Once Upon a Wildfire storybook: Written by Calli-Jane DeAnda and illustrated by Jim Burch, this storybook is aimed at children ages four to ten. It is a true story about a young girl who evacuates to her grandmother's house when the woods catch fire. The book is offered in both PDF and hard copy formats. The sales of the book help support Butte County Fire Safe Council programs and projects.  

Other BCFSC public outreach includes:

• Wildfire Ready Racoon: Wildfire Ready attends events like the Grazing Festival and is on social media (follow Wildfire Ready on Facebook and Instagram).
• Chipper Program: In its fourteenth year, the Chipper Program operates from the end of fire season until May, depending on funding. The program is free to the public. Chipped brush and small trees are broadcast back onto the property as wood chips providing an alternative to burning or hauling brush to a waste site.  
• Weed Wrench Loan Program:  As part of BCFSC's campaign to remove highly flammable Scotch broom from the area, weed wrenches are available for loan from the council.  Weed wrenches are helpful in removing broom and also other hard-to manage weeds. For additional information call the Fire Safe Council at 530-877-0984. 
  
  UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu (preferred) or call (530) 538-7201.