The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council (MCFSC) has wrapped up its fifth year of Micro-Grants, awarding $122,000 to 14 Neighborhood Fire Safe Councils, Firewise Communities, and fire agencies working to make Mendocino County safer and more prepared for wildfire.
This year’s funded projects highlight the creativity and dedication of local groups across the county. They included increasing emergency water supplies for firefighting, upgrading communication equipment, reducing hazardous fuels, hosting hands-on community education events, and improving home-hardening and defensible space.
MCFSC’s 2026 Micro-Grants Program was made possible through support from Measure P tax dollars, and an additional $40,000 contribution from the Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association.
Many of the Micro-Grants, which ranged from $2,000 to $12,500, were said to include substantial in-kind contributions such as volunteer labor, donated materials, and local fundraising efforts.
Projects were selected based on community collaboration, wildfire-risk reduction, project impact, and clear and realistic budgets and timelines.
The 2026 Micro-Grant recipients and their funded projects are:
Albion Little River Fire Dept. – Water tank installation
Anderson Valley FD – Radios and Equipment for the AV Prescribed Burn Association
Blue Rock Fire Safe Council – Fuel reduction along an ingress and egress route
Covelo FD – Equipment to stock their new fire engine
Leggett Fire Protection District – Purchase of radios to upgrade volunteer fire department communication
Long Valley FD – Defensible space assessments for residents
Mariposa FSC – Community chainsaw workshop
Mendocino FD – Water tank fittings for fire engine use
Pine Mountain Firewise – Harden the water-treatment center exterior against ember fires
Point Arena FSC – Weed-wrench lending program and Firewise Community events
Redwood Valley Calpella FD – Floating pump to increase water access
Round Valley FSC – Evacuation magnets and education for residents
Tomki FSC – Zone 0 home-hardening demonstrations
Westport FSC – Defensible Space Assessments and reflective address signs
