Mariposa Fire Safe Council

09/23/2026

Fall is here, but that doesn't mean wildfire season is over.

Some of California's largest and most destructive wildfires have happened during the fall months. Cooler temperatures can give us a false sense of security, but dry vegetation, low humidity and strong winds can still create dangerous fire conditions.

The Mariposa Fire Safe Council is actively working on fuel reduction projects throughout the county. While this work is important for reducing wildfire risk, we also recognize the importance of preventing accidental ignitions during project implementation. We follow strict safety protocols with our contractors, including requiring water and fire suppression tools to be readily available within 10–25 feet of active operations.

We encourage our community to take similar precautions when working on their own properties.

A few reminders as we head into fall:

Be mindful when operating equipment. Mowers, chainsaws, vehicles and other equipment can create sparks. Keep water and fire tools nearby, and avoid operating equipment in dry vegetation during hot, dry or windy conditions.

Maintain your defensible space. Remove dead vegetation, clean your gutters, clear debris around structures and maintain vegetation along your driveway.

Pay attention to weather conditions. Just because temperatures are dropping doesn't mean vegetation is no longer dry enough to ignite. Know when to stop working and wait for safer conditions.

Follow burn restrictions. Always check current burn permits, restrictions and weather conditions before conducting any outdoor burning.

Keep evacuation routes clear. Make sure emergency vehicles can access your property and that your family knows more than one way out of your neighborhood when possible.

Have an evacuation plan for your family and animals. Keep go-bags ready, sign up for local emergency alerts and make arrangements for livestock and pets before an emergency occurs. Wildfire prevention starts with the work we do every day.

Whether you're clearing brush on your property, operating equipment, maintaining your driveway or working on a larger fuel reduction project, taking the proper precautions can prevent an accidental ignition.

Our contractors are expected to follow strict fire prevention protocols because the last thing we want is for work intended to reduce wildfire risk to become the cause of a wildfire.

We ask our community to take that same responsibility seriously. Keep your equipment maintained, have water and fire tools available, monitor weather conditions and know when it's time to stop working.

One spark can change everything. Let's continue working together to protect our homes, our firefighters and our communities.

Don’t fall for it.

Fall is here, but California’s wildfire threat doesn’t fall away with the temperatures. In fact, some of California’s most destructive wildfires have occurred during the fall months.

Wildfire doesn’t follow a calendar. It can happen any time of year, which is why wildfire preparedness needs to be a year-round priority.

Take time now to:
➡ Create and maintain defensible space around your home
➡ Know multiple evacuation routes from your home and community
➡ Build go-bags for you and your family
➡ Sign up for local emergency alerts

Don’t wait for the next wildfire to think about preparedness. Make wildfire readiness a year-round priority.

09/03/2026

09/01/2026

🔥 TODAY IS WHY WE DO THIS WORK.

Today, the Kemble Fire broke out in Mariposa County near the William Sell Bridge area, very close to the Ponderosa Basin Emergency Egress Project (PBEEP) that MFSC just completed.

Thankfully, this fire did not become the scenario we prepare for. But its location is an important reminder of exactly why projects like PBEEP matter.

Had this fire grown and pushed into the Chowchilla River drainage toward Ponderosa Basin, it would have been moving toward an area where MFSC recently completed nearly 20 acres of strategic fuel reduction along Harris Road, private parcels, and critical PG&E access routes.

Fuel reduction does not mean a wildfire cannot burn through an area. It means we are changing the conditions firefighters may face when it gets there.

By reducing brush, ladder fuels, dead material, and vegetation along important access and evacuation corridors, we can help reduce fire intensity, improve access for firefighters and equipment, and create a more defensible area for suppression operations.

That is the purpose of this work.

Sometimes these projects are completed and years go by before we truly understand their value. Today, just weeks after completing PBEEP, a fire started close enough to remind us how quickly that value can become very real.

Our goal isn’t to wait until smoke is in the air to prepare.

It is to do the work BEFORE the fire starts.

MFSC will continue working with our partners, landowners, contractors, utilities, and fire agencies to build and maintain projects that strengthen wildfire resilience throughout Mariposa County.

Today was a reminder: every acre matters.

If you have not taken a drive to check out Harris Rd, we highly recommend it.

08/20/2026

MFSC is officially a little more mobile!

We recently added a Can-Am Defender and trailer to our equipment lineup, giving our team a safer and more efficient way to access project sites throughout Mariposa County.

A lot of the work we do takes us well beyond the pavement. This equipment will help our staff navigate large and remote project areas, conduct site assessments, monitor work, and provide project tours for our funders, regional managers, partners, and collaborators so they can see firsthand what is happening on the ground.

Investing in the right equipment means spending less time figuring out how to get there and more time getting the work done.

A big thank you to California Customs in Merced for making the purchase process smooth, easy, and enjoyable. We appreciate the great service and are excited to put this new setup to work!

07/17/2026

We’re very thankful for movement on the horizon as collaborative groups continue to expand.

07/03/2026

Announcing Release of RFP for Stumpfield Fuel Break Maintenance.

Please do not reach out with questions over Facebook or telephone. Follow instructions on the announcement documentation provided to receive the full RFP release.

07/03/2026

Thank you to the Mariposa Gazette for the wonderful headlines featuring the Mariposa Fire Safe Council this week.

It has been a busy late spring and early summer season, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share the work our organization has been doing throughout the community.

We’re also incredibly honored to award the very first scholarship funded through the success of the Ember Stomp to Cody Poor. This scholarship supports students pursuing education and career pathways in fire and first responder services and was made possible by the generosity of everyone who attended, donated, sponsored, and supported the event.

Congratulations, Cody! We are proud to support your journey and thankful to everyone who helped make this milestone possible.

Thanks to grant funding, the Mariposa Fire Safe Council has been able to continue its efforts in supporting the next generation of first responders. For the first time, the Ember Stomp Scholarship worth $2,500 has been awarded to a graduating senior from Mariposa County High School. An aspiring fire...

06/18/2026

05/31/2026