At its Tuesday nighty meeting, the Folsom City Council moved forward on a resolution to request a grant extension and budget increase from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the city’s Defensible Space and Vegetation Management Plan.
The City of Folsom oversees approximately 1,100 acres of open space across 70 sites, with 335 acres identified as containing ladder fuels—combustible materials that can escalate ground fires into more severe crown fires. Traditionally, the city has conducted annual weed abatement to manage seasonal grasses but has only recently implemented a program targeting these ladder fuels to establish defensible space near structures.
In June 2018, the city applied for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and was awarded $279,000 in June 2022, requiring a 25% city match of $93,000. The total project cost was initially estimated at $372,000. However, upon further assessment, the projected expenses exceeded the original estimate. Consequently, in April 2024, the city requested additional funds, and by September 2024, FEMA approved an extra $207,412.50, increasing the federal share to $486,412.50 and the total project cost to $648,550.
The city contracted Loggers Unlimited in June 2023 for shaded fuel break creation and ladder fuel removal. However, on February 14, 2025, the contractor withdrew, citing underbidding issues, after completing 60% of the hazard mitigation work.
To address the remaining sites, city staff plan to request a 25% budget increase of $49,036 from FEMA and Cal OES. Additionally, they will seek a one-year grant extension beyond the current expiration date of June 14, 2025, to allow sufficient time for rebidding and project completion. If approved, the federal portion will provide 75% reimbursement.
This initiative aims to systematically manage city-owned open spaces, reducing ladder fuels and establishing clear separations between developed and undeveloped areas. Once completed, the program will facilitate more routine annual maintenance focused on abating grasses and maintaining adequate fuel breaks, thereby enhancing wildfire prevention efforts in the community.
