The Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the San Jacinto Mountain communities of Poppet Flats, Twin Pines, Pine Cove, Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Garner Valley, Thomas Mountain, and Pinyon Pines.  

The goal of the MCFSC organization is to promote forest health and fire prevention efforts in our Wildland Urban Interface, surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. The MCFSC has currently over $5 million worth of local, state, and federal grant funding to assist local homeowners with forest health and fire prevention projects in our communities.  

CLICK HERE TO APPLY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMS

 

MCFSC Current Grant Programs  

CalFIRE FP 5GG20164 – Mountain Communities Defensible Space and DDD Tree Removal  

This program allocates $750,000 through March 15, 2025 to assist local homeowners with their Defensible Space and Abatement needs in accordance with PRC4291, as well as the removal of Dead, Dying, or Diseased Trees which have not been affected by the Gold Spotted Oak Borer beetle. Following a site visit by MCFSC Field Staff, an Invitation to Bid is sent to a number of local contractors and once pricing is received, the MCFSC presents the homeowner with the lowest bid. The cost share to the homeowner under this grant is 25%. Homeowners seeking abatement assistance under this program must meet eligibility criteria based on   

  • age (65+)  
  • income (household income qualified as “low income” by Riverside County Housing Authority), or  
  • ability (homeowner has disability as determined by the State of California)  

Homeowners seeking assistance with the removal of dead, dying, or diseased trees have no income, age, or ability criteria to meet; however, funding is limited to projects at primary residences, and homeowners may only avail themselves of either this or the 5GA22225 grant funding once every three years.  

 

CalFIRE FP 5GA22225 – San Jacinto Mountain D-space and DDD Tree Removal  (A4A) 

This program allocates $3.7 million through March 15, 2029 to assist local homeowners with their Defensible Space and Abatement needs in accordance with PRC4291, as well as the removal of Dead, Dying, or Diseased Trees which have not been affected by the Gold Spotted Oak Borer beetle. Following a site visit by MCFSC Field Staff, an Invitation to Bid is sent to a number of local contractors and once pricing is received, the MCFSC presents the homeowner with the lowest bid. The cost share to the homeowner under this grant is 25%. Homeowners seeking assistance have no income, age, or ability criteria to meet; however, and homeowners may only avail themselves of either this or the 5GG20164 grant funding once every three years. In the near future, this grant will be expanded to include projects on vacant and/or undeveloped parcels. The cost share for work on vacant parcels will be lowered to 15% as an incentive.  

 

CalFIRE FH 8GG20620 USDA/NFF Partnership, Large Landscape GSOB Program  

This program allocates nearly $800,000 through March 15, 2025 to assist local homeowners with the treatment or removal of oak trees affected by the Gold Spotted Oak Borer beetle. Following a site visit by MCFSC Field Staff, an Invitation to Bid on tree removal (if recommended) is sent to a number of local contractors and once pricing is received, the MCFSC presents the homeowner with the lowest bid. The cost share to the homeowner for tree removal under this grant is 25%. There is no cost share for chemical treatment, which is offered once annually in the spring. There is no income, age, or ability criteria to meet, and participation in our other grant programs does not preclude participation in this program. Schools, camps, community centers and parks are also welcome to apply.  

  

For more information, call 951-659-6208 or email info@mcfsc.org