Alpine Fire Safe Council Corporate

The Alpine Fire Safe Council (AFSC) is a non profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to reducing the risk to life and property due to catastrophic wildfires in Alpine County. The AFSC was formed in 2003 after the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) granted funds from Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000. Although most of what the AFSC does could and should be done by local government, as a non profit corporation the AFSC is eligible for grant funding that would otherwise not be available to the community.

A five to seven member volunteer Board of Directors governs the AFSC. The Board sets policy, approves programs and budgets, and retains staff to implement and initiate programs. Directors are elected for a two year term by the outgoing Board of Directors. An attempt is made to attract directors who represent all areas of Alpine County. Board meetings are open to the public and are generally held the last Monday of each month, alternating between the Markleeville and Woodfords fire stations. Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend Board meetings.

Current Directors and Staff
Directors:
Kris Hartnett, Chair	Markleeville
Jerry Andrews, Vice-Chair	Markleeville
David Griffith	Woodfords
Dave Mills	Woodfords
Al Moss	Woodfords
Shirley Taylor	Woodfords
Steve Yonker	Woodfords

Staff:
Jeff Brees, Fire Safe Coordinator	Markleeville
Kerry Radelfinger, Administrator	Woodfords

What unites all of us is the knowledge that although we live in an area with a history of catastrophic wildfires, with defensible space and sensible planning and enforcement of existing regulations there should not be any loss of life and only minimal property damage when the next catastrophic wildfire comes through. We are working towards ensuring that property owners have defensible space and the responsible government agencies provide sensible planning and enforcement of existing regulations.

Funding for the AFSC is primarily provided by Federal and State agencies, and occasionally from private individuals and businesses. The RAC, which awards Title II funds provided by the federal Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000, has been very supportive in providing us with a basic operating grant and has also funded individual projects. The Sacramento Foundation working with the Bureau of Land Management, and the California Division of Forestry, have funded individual projects.