News release

Despite the widespread burning of the landscape and many homes during the 2015 Round Fire, residents of Swall Meadows and Paradise know that wildfire continues to be a constant threat.

Photo courtesy of Cat Connor

To help prepare for the inevitable next fire, the Wheeler Crest Fire Safe Council has partnered with the Paradise Fire Protection District and the Wheeler Crest Fire Protection District to develop a community wildfire protection plan (CWPP) that involves the residents of both mountain communities and the agencies that manage the surrounding lands.

Thanks to a grant from CalFire, Paradise and Swall Meadows residents will be working with an expert consultant, Deer Creek Resources from Chico, to assess the fire hazards on each residential parcel and develop a plan to minimize the risk of another devastating wildfire.

The goal is to better understand future fire behavior and risk, and to critically evaluate emergency access and evacuation procedures, typical construction practices, and local fire suppression capabilities. Once priorities are identified, funding to implement improvements will be pursued.

All Swall Meadows and Paradise residents are invited to the first meetings to begin developing the CWPP. The meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, November 14 at 7pm at the Paradise Fire House and Wednesday, November 15, at 7pm at the Wheeler Crest Fire House in Swall Meadows.

For more info, contact Karen at [email protected] or (760) 937-0620 or Ann at [email protected] or (760) 920-2568.