Residential Direct Assistance Program for Defensible Space Fuel Reduction in the Ross Town Limits

The Residential Direct Assistance and Voluntary Abatement program sponsored by the Ross Valley Fire Department in coordination with the Town of Ross, using MWPA funds will benefit residents within the Ross town limits who are unable to carry out fuel reduction activities to create defensible space in compliance with Federal, State and Local Regulations due to limited financial resources or other physically limiting factors. Residents in need will be identified during defensible space evaluations and invited to apply for direct assistance. Residents can also request assistance from the Ross Valley Fire Department if necessary. Work to be conducted will be identified and prescribed by the Fire Code Official or their designated representative and carried out by the Ross Valley Fire Department in coordination with the Town of Ross. All vegetative debris management will be carried out by contracted crews. All work will be conducted a minimum of 100' up to 200' of structures when topographic conditions or combustible vegetation necessitate removal and follow environmental best practices. The goal of this program is to make the Town of Ross and surrounding communities more fire safe by assisting residences who cannot either physically or financially complete the work needed to remove hazardous fuels from around their homes. There is a need to provide positive stimulus to the residents to make their homes and neighboring communities more fire safe, and help to reduce the risk of a catastrophic fire damaging the community and its neighbors.