The Mendocino Voice has reported that a federal grant intended for home-hardening and fuels reduction in Brooktrails, California has been canceled following a broader termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
According to the California Office of Emergency Services, the BRIC fund was designed to support climate adaptation and resilience projects in response to increasing climate-related hazards.
Brooktrails, a residential neighborhood west of Willits, was expecting approximately $50 million to retrofit 750 homes, reduce fuels on 1,500 acres, control invasive plants, and use grazing animals on an additional 300 acres.
Mendocino County leaders said the cancellation disrupts long-planned fire safety improvements and economic opportunities.
Scot Cratty, executive director of the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council, said: “It was a key grant that was finally orienting money the way we think is most important.”
Cratty added: “The most vulnerable thing in a wildfire is our homes. So if we make them resilient to wildfire, that’s the most effective way to save lives and structures.”
Third District Supervisor John Haschak explained that the county had spent years preparing the grant application, receiving $3.5 million for initial project planning.
Haschak said: “Since we received the first phase, we expected to receive the second and third phases, because that’s how these programs work.”
FEMA issued a press release earlier this month stating that the BRIC program had ended as part of an effort to return the agency to its primary mission of assisting Americans after natural disasters.
According to FEMA’s update on April 21, all Fiscal Year 2024 BRIC applications were canceled, and no new funds would be awarded.
FEMA said that undispersed funds would either return to the Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury.
Only grant recipients whose projects had already started construction would be able to spend their awarded funds, FEMA stated.
Haschak said the county had already spent some anticipated funding and invested about $50,000 on consultants for the grant writing process.
The Mendocino Voice reported that residents are focusing on maintaining safety initiatives despite the funding loss.
Brian Ferri-Taylor, a Brooktrails resident since 1981, highlighted the longstanding evacuation challenges facing the community.
Ferri-Taylor said: “There’s only one way out.”
He noted that recent efforts include maintaining private emergency routes and expanding an emergency alert system.
The Brooktrails Fire Department is also holding a flea market on June 28 to distribute fire safety education materials.
Cratty said the canceled grant would have supported workforce development by training local workers in home-hardening techniques.
Cratty explained: “A lot of little things: just changing out the vents we have, enclosing decks and steps, creating a five-feet clearance around the homes. Caulking and flashing, and replacing wooden fence segments that are right next to the home.”
He added: “Those things are all fairly inexpensive and doable and increase our safety a lot, and we don’t have a workforce that knows how to do them, currently.”
Haschak said that Mendocino County has received funding for the research phase of a state grant to construct a paved evacuation route connecting Brooktrails to Highway 101.
The Mendocino Voice has reported that FEMA has canceled the BRIC program, affecting Brooktrails’ home-hardening plans.
Brooktrails had anticipated nearly $50 million to retrofit homes and conduct wildfire resilience work.
The BRIC fund was designed to promote climate adaptation and resilience, according to the California Office of Emergency Services.
Scot Cratty, executive director of the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council, said the grant was crucial for making homes more resilient to wildfire.
Third District Supervisor John Haschak explained that Mendocino County had already received $3.5 million for project planning.
FEMA said all BRIC applications for Fiscal Year 2024 were canceled and funds would be returned to the federal treasury.
Brian Ferri-Taylor, a Brooktrails resident, emphasized the need for improved evacuation routes.
The Brooktrails Fire Department is continuing small-scale safety projects, including public education efforts.
Mendocino County is seeking alternative funding to continue fire safety improvements.
