Napa County officials have voiced their concerns after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently pulled the plug on a $35 million grant to bolster wildfire resilience. The terminated grant, part of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, had been aimed to help implement the Napa County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), which would include various fire mitigation efforts such as hazardous fuels reduction, ignition-resistant construction, and defensible space treatments.
Napa County CEO Ryan Alsop commented, "FEMA’s decision halts a program that was not only forward-thinking, but also fiscally responsible," as per Napa County's official website. The rejection of these funds is seen as a setback not only to public safety but also to the fiscal prudence that comes from investing to proactively reduce wildfire risk, which is typically more cost-effective than spending on disaster recovery.
Before the unexpected funding cancellation, Napa County had already begun strategically allocating resources, kicking off initial work that included environmental planning, public education, and groundwork for fire mitigation. These projects were set in motion following a competitive process. They were built on partnerships with Napa Firewise and Cal Fire/Napa County Fire, corroborating the county's commitment to collaboration and transparency.
Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Anne Cottrell, is set to visit Washington, D.C., with key local stakeholders, aiming to enlighten federal partners about the measure's significance. “This isn’t just about one program—it’s about smart, cost-efficient investments that protect lives, homes, and our local economy,” Cottrell told Napa County's website. There's an urgency to communicate that withdrawing the BRIC grant could undermine efforts that are already well underway and have an impact in reducing the long-term costs associated with disaster response.
