Free Chipping Program Offered by Shasta County Fire Safe Council –Along With Other Wildfire Risk Mitigation Programs
- Elisa Ballard
- Nov 30, 2025
- 3 min read
One of the ways wildfire risks can be reduced is by making our neighborhoods more fire resistant by trimming brush and vegetation to make a defensible space around our homes. Rather than burn the vegetation, a free chipping program is available through the Shasta County Fire Safe Council (SCFSC/The Council). The nonprofit Council was formed in 2020 to mitigate wildfire risks in Shasta County and gets a majority of its funding through grants (Listed on their website are grants from The Sierra Nevada Conservancy and The United Way of Northern California). Using the chipping program allows residents to safely dispose of cuttings without the need to burn and pollute the air. There are certain restrictions and there is a need to sign up to receive this free service which is only available certain months of the year, according to a calendar that is scheduling the service by zip code. Visit the website for specifics on the chipping program:
Invited by Shasta County Supervisor Allen Long (District 2), Director Ron Ruston made a presentation on the Council’s programs to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors at the November 18, 2025, meeting, . Besides the chipping program, the Council is involved in the following programs:
The Community Wildfire Mitigation Program (CWMP) is focused on reducing wildfire risks and enhancing neighborhood safety through targeted home hardening and defensible space projects, including helping eligible households with no cost or low-cost improvements. This program is available to eligible residents to support a safer, more wildfire-resilient community. This pilot program is currently available to residents in select areas, including Lakehead, Whitmore, and Oak Run.
According to the Council's website, The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) awarded SCFSC $608,000 to construct a shaded fuel break along Bullskin Ridge, located between Phillips Road and Bullskin Road near the community of Oak Run in Shasta County. A 600-foot wide shaded fuel break will be constructed on the ridge top and will include approximately 290 acres of forest land. The purpose of this project is to create a fuel break that would improve fire safety for the community of Oak Run and beyond, as well as protect mature timberlands and the Oak Run Creek Watershed, which provide vital ecosystem services and are home to countless species of wildlife as well as some of the largest, oldest ponderosa pine trees in Shasta County.
The Council is also working on a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) which is a collaborative and comprehensive document that outlines strategies and actions to reduce the risk of wildfires and enhance community resilience in areas prone to wildfires. CWPPs are developed by communities in collaboration with local fire departments, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders. These plans help communities assess wildfire risks, identify vulnerable areas, and prioritize actions to mitigate those risks. The last update to Shasta County’s CWPP occurred in 2016, however it is not inclusive and covers only portions of the county.
Shingletown Slash Reduction Program. Slash is debris from nature, such as tree limbs, prunings and pine cones. If not removed, slash can add potential fire hazards on your property. Removing slash and creating a defensible space around your home, is the first line of defense against wildfires. The Council has set up a program to help the residents in Shingletown dispose of their slash.
Creating Firewise Communities. The Council is also helping communities in Shasta County to become Firewise Communities, which is a process of neighbors getting together and working with the Council to identify the highest risks, creating defensible spaces, home hardening, and safe egress. This is a step-by-step process that is outlined on the Council’s website.
Please visit the website for more information and do your part to make Shasta County more resistant to wildfires.
Look for another article in the near future by Shasta Unfiltered about the new "defensible space for fire protection and prevention" ordinance passed in Shasta County on August 26, 2025.
