Project Overview

The County of Mendocino has received a $2.4 million grant through FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program to advance wildfire mitigation and community resilience efforts in Brooktrails and the Sherwood Road Corridor.

This award, supported by matching funds through the Prepare California Match program, is one of 120 BRIC awards selected nationwide and represents the first phase of a multi-phase effort to reduce wildfire risk, protect homes and infrastructure, and improve community resilience.

The Brooktrails/Sherwood Corridor Wildfire Community Resilience Project is a long-term wildfire mitigation initiative designed to reduce hazardous fuels, improve defensible space, increase wildfire preparedness, and enhance the ability of homes and communities to withstand wildfire impacts.

Project Phases

The Brooktrails/Sherwood Corridor Wildfire Community Resilience Project is a multi-phase effort designed to reduce wildfire risk and strengthen community resilience. The County is currently implementing Phase 1, which focuses on the planning, analysis, and preparation needed to support future wildfire mitigation activities.

Phase 1: Planning and Project Development (2024–2026)

The first phase is funded through a $2.4 million FEMA BRIC grant with matching funds from the Prepare California Match program.

Phase 1 activities include:

• LiDAR mapping and wildfire risk analysis;
• Development of fuels treatment and mitigation plans;
• Community outreach and engagement;
• Environmental review and permitting activities;
• Identification and prioritization of future mitigation activities; and
• Preparation of future implementation phases.

This planning phase will provide the technical information, community input, and regulatory approvals needed to move forward with future wildfire mitigation projects.

Phase 2: Wildfire Mitigation Implementation (Future)

Future phases, funding dependent, will focus on implementing eligible wildfire mitigation projects identified during Phase 1.

Potential activities may include:

• Hazardous fuels reduction;
• Defensible space improvements;
• Ignition-resistant home retrofits;
• Community wildfire resilience improvements; and
• Other eligible wildfire mitigation activities.

Implementation of phases 2 will depend on completion of necessary planning requirements and FEMA approval.