The Kern County Fire Department was awarded three CAL FIRE grants on Friday, December 2.

Two of these grants, for $200,000 each, are tree mortality grants funded by the State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund.

One will be used to remove dead trees within 300 feet of homes in the Bear Valley Springs community. The other is for dead trees within 300 feet of homes and roads in the community of Alta Sierra.  Work is expected to begin on these projects in the Spring.

Home owners who wish to participate will be required to fill out and return a Right of Entry permit, which is available on the Kern County Fire Department’s website.

The third grant is for a state-of-the-art, remote controlled, tracked chipper and transport trailer. This machine is able to get off the road and up into the forest to treat fuels. This will be used throughout the County on tree mortality projects, fuel breaks, and other fuel reduction projects.