Sacramento – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has awarded over $9.5 million in grants throughout the state for a variety of projects aimed at reducing the elevated threat of wildfires due to the ongoing drought. A total of 83 grant applicants will receive funding for projects that contribute to fire prevention efforts around homes. The project will reinforce CAL FIRE’s ongoing efforts to address the risk and potential impacts of large, damaging wildfires. “The high number of grant applications we received underscores just how vested the citizens of California are in preparing for our state’s inevitable wildfires,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director and state forester. “We are looking forward to seeing ‘on the ground’ results these projects will yield.” The Fire Prevention Fund Grants, created in the 2014-15 budget, are aimed at supplementing CAL FIRE’s ongoing activities by funding local entities’ efforts to help counteract the effects of the drought. Grant criteria weighted projects that addressed fire risk and potential impact of wildfire to habitable structures in the State Responsibility Area, as well as community support and project feasibility. Among winning projects were: Sierra County: Residential Chipping Program $53,200 and Sierra City SC1 SC3 Fuels reduction $53,725; Nevada County: Truckee Fire Protection District Community Wildfire Protection Plan $27,000, Nevada County Chipping Program $159,478, Bear River Pines Fuels Reduction $294,578, Nevada County Landfill Site Fuel Modification $31,020. Plumas County: American Valley Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project $317,856.