A reminder for the Valley Center Fire Safe Council Chipping Day, where local residents are invited to bring cut bushes, branches, etc., to the Water District field on Lilac Road across from the Community Center ( the parking area for Valley Center/Western Days) where members of the San Diego Urban Corps will chip and dispose of them.

Chips are available for residents to bring home at no charge. Chips can be loaded direct from the chippers into residents’ vehicle, but the vehicle owner accepts all responsibility for any damage to their vehicle. Or, residents can load their vehicles at the close of chipping at 3 pm. However, bring your own shovels and hay forks to load them!

The Fire Safe Council is planning more of the events for 2017, and has been awarded grant money through CalFire to cover the cost.

The funds come from the $135 yearly fee we pay to the state for fire prevention in the Sate Responsibility Area (SRA).

We want to thank our partners in these events: The Valley Center Municipal Water District, for the use of its facility and aiding in publicity; CalFire, for providing the grant funding and grant administration; and the San Diego Urban Corps, for providing the chipping and disposal services while providing disadvantaged young people training in job skills and education.

The Valley Center Fire Safe Council has been dedicated since 2008 to making Valley Center a wildfire-resistant community by funding and sponsoring wild land fuel reduction activities and community education.