USDA Forest Service awards grants to 4 Big Island communities for mitigating wildfires

Four Hawai‘i Island communities and Kaua‘i County are receiving more than $400,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to plan for and mitigate wildfire risks.

The Community Wildfire Defense Grants are part of the Forest Service’s $197 million investment in 100 project proposals benefiting 22 states and seven tribes. Proposals underwent a competitive selection process.

The agency narrowed down the communities in greatest need by three priorities: impacted by severe disaster, with high or very high wildfire hazard potential, or classified as low income.

The funding for Hawai‘i will be used to update Community Wildfire Protection Plans by engaging community and agency partners to collaboratively complete a revised hazard assessment, identify shared wildfire concerns and begin prioritizing risk-reducing actions.