$3M Grant Will Fund New Fire Break In Walnut Creek

WALNUT CREEK, CA — The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District announced Friday that it received a $3 million California Climate Investments Wildfire Prevention grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The grant will be used to create a shaded fuel break across southern Lafayette and Walnut Creek, that will provide significant protection from wildfires for residents of Rossmoor and southern Lafayette.

The project is expected to begin in September and be completed in 2024.

It will encompass 194 acres along some 11 miles of open space. The break is designed to help protect residents from a wildfire approaching from open space to the south.

“We’re pleased to announce receipt of this grant, which will contribute immensely to our ability to protect communities we serve,” said Lewis Broschard, fire chief, Contra Costa County Fire
Protection District. “The construction of this fire break across southern Contra Costa County will
allow us to immediately reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in Rossmoor and Lafayette
communities such as we have seen around the state in recent years.”

The grant supports Con Fire’s efforts to quickly suppress fires in the densely-populated wildland-urban interface and hard-to-access grassland areas before they are able to threaten homes, businesses and other property.

“This grant will greatly benefit our Lafayette and Rossmoor communities,” said Candace
Anderson, Supervisor, District 2, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “Both are
vulnerable to wildfires, have limited evacuation routes, and this grant will provide one added
measure of safety.”

The fuels targeted for removal are understory vegetation, dead and dying trees, and highly combustible brush. This will lower the intensity and speed of a wildfire, allowing more time for firefighters to respond. The tree canopy formed by healthy mature trees will remain largely intact to reduce the future growth of brush and understory vegetation.

“The Rossmoor Community is extremely grateful to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District for obtaining this grant to make Rossmoor even safer,” said Tom Cashion, Public Safety Manager, Golden Rain Foundation - Rossmoor. “We truly value our ongoing combined efforts to make Rossmoor one of the safest communities in California.”

The ultimate goal is to restore fuel loading to more natural levels that can be maintained by the
periodic introduction of prescribed fires.