This project taught more than 200 ranchers methods for mitigating risks associated with wildfire on their livestock operations. The project was particularly pressing given the "new normal" of catastrophic wildfire seasons in California.
A workshop focused on prescribed fire and other vegetation treatment projects educated ranchers regarding proactive measures for removing fire fuels, which can reduce the incidence and spread of wildfires. A majority of respondents indicated that they were more likely to undertake such vegetation treatments after the workshop. Other workshops detailed other key elements of pre-fire planning: defensible space planning, insurance coverage, and having an escape plan, for instance.
Workshops also informed ranchers how to manage during a fire, including evacuation planning, packing checklists, and participation in county Livestock Pass programs which permit access to ranches during fire incidents to treat and evacuate livestock. Numerous participants expressed interest in developing - or participating in existing - Livestock Pass programs subsequent to the workshop.
Finally, workshops educated ranchers regarding ranch management after a wildfire, including post-fire grazing and post-fire recovery resources from FSA, NRCS, FEMA, and SBA. Subsequent to these workshops, the Project Team assisted several ranchers in obtaining such federal assistance.
All workshops were recorded to ensure their continued value.