Placer County awarded storm damage direct funding grant

The Placer County Fire Department has secured almost $1 million in a direct funded CAL FIRE grant with the purpose to mitigate the impacts from the damaging heavy storm event that began Dec. 27. More than 5,000 hours were needed to clear 450 miles of road in Placer County immediately after the storm, but more work is needed, according to a CAL FIRE news release. In late December, 60,000 customers were without power in PG&E's Sierra Division, including 9,800 in Placer County, following the final storm in a record-setting month for snowfall. Snow and wind in that storm combined to take down more than 10,000 trees in Placer County, CAL FIRE/Placer County Fire Chief Brian Estes said at the time in an interview with the Auburn Journal. The primary goal of the grant is to provide direct funding to Placer County and leverage state resources to focus on clearing debris from access and egress routes as well as prioritized evacuation routes across impacted parts of Placer County. "The mission of CAL FIRE/PCFD is the protection of life, property and the safety of our people here in Placer County," Estes said. "I am leveraging state and county resources, through this grant, to ensure that we are focusing on evacuation routes and mitigating the impacts from the December storm." The specific grant is for $950,000. CAL FIRE/PCFD will administer the grant through the Placer Resource Conservation District (PRCD) and implement through a cooperative effort with Placer County Public Works, the Placer County Sheriff's Office and Placer County OES. "I am so very grateful for our partnership between Placer County Fire and CAL FIRE," said Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. "It is absolutely invaluable for our residents. We have been working with Chief Estes for several months to secure this opportunity, which will help support and protect our communities throughout the foothills." Bill Poindexter contributed to this report.