Area residents invited to Burney meeting on how to reduce wildfire risks
BURNEY — With the next fire season quickly approaching, residents from throughout the Intermountain area are invited to attend an upcoming public meeting that will be focusing on reducing fire danger risks.
The meeting, scheduled for May 13, at Burney’s Veteran’s Memorial Hall from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., is being hosted by Burney Basin Fire Safe Council, Burney Chamber of Commerce, and Fall River Resource Conservation District. Although the Burney Basin Fire Safe Council has been in operation since 2009, this will be their first public meeting covering such topics for the public.
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With the meeting’s date just over a week away, area resident Garrett Costello, told SCNS the purpose of the meeting is to inform local residents about how to increase resilience to wildfire throughout the Intermountain area. Costello is BBFSC’s Outreach Coordinator and is also FRRCD Watershed’s Recreation and Outreach Coordinator.
“Attendees will learn how to increase the survivability of their property, learn about insurance concerns in fire prone areas, as well as get general information about the Burney Basin Fire Safe Council and its many upcoming fire safe projects,” explained Garrett.
“Living in the Intermountain Area, residents should be aware of the reality of catastrophic wildfire, and what they can do to prevent loss of life or property,” Garrett continued.
The event will feature a number of guest speakers covering a variety of topics relevant to fire safety, protection, and preparation; as well as maintaining defensible space around your property, insurance considerations, and upcoming local projects.
Among other participants, Cal Fire representative Nick Wallingford, will be discussing maintaining defensible space; Haley Insurance owner and representative Kari Haley will talk about what to consider when thinking about fire insurance throughout the fire prone area; and Shasta/Trinity/Siskiyou UCCE Forester Rick Satomi will share ideas about how to give your residence a better chance of surviving wildfire.
Later, FRRCD Watershed Coordinator Todd Sloat and Costello will discuss local, ongoing projects and activities.
Shasta County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chair Mary Rickert will also be on hand to answer questions and offer suggestions.
“Please join us to learn how you can take steps to protect both yourself and your property ,” Costello said of the meeting. “Making our town more resilient to wildfire takes all of us working together.”
Snacks and refreshments will be provided and there will be giveaways at the meeting. Burney’s VFW Hall is located at 37392 Main St./299E and offers ample parking for attendees. For more information about this meeting, visit Facebook Events, or contact Garrett Costello at (801) 599-9992 or by email.
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Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.