Forest Service grant funds wildfire planning
The U.S. Forest Service will invest nearly $1.4 million in wildfire protection projects across the state as part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program.
The program will provide $649,000 to update 27 community wildfire protection plans in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Mitchell and Yancey counties as well as the Lansing community in Ashe County, plus $744,000 to create or update 38 community wildfire protection plans in Anson, Avery, Burke and Richmond counties.
The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and aims to help communities plan for and mitigate wildfire risks on tribal, state and privately managed land.
The Forest Service will announce another round of funding later in 2023, and additional communities will be able to apply. The number of selected proposals in future rounds will depend on available funding.
