We at the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council are grateful for the support of our community. It is a wind at our back that keeps us going forward. It also adds to the pleasure of being a part of the organization, of contributing to an important mission.

If you are new to the hill, our programs may be unknown to you, and you may not know how to help us. If you would like to contribute, here are five ways you can support us in our mission of fire safety:

1. Join the Woodies. The Woodies are volunteers that abate the properties of people who can't afford it, and cut and split wood for people who have a hard time heating their homes. We meet once a week, usually Friday morning, and we have a great track record of service, fun, and safety.

2. Become a Fuelbreak Guardian. This was Trish Tuley's brainstorm-why not have people adopt the fuelbreaks as some adopt stretches of highway? This new program is aimed at providing the US Forest Service with information about the regrowth of the Pine Cove Fuelbreak, a clearance surrounding the western slope under Pine Cove. In close partnership with the Forest Service, we now have a small group of people trained to take measurements and make observations on predetermined plots along the fuelbreak. We are looking for people who enjoy being outside, can walk on moderately difficult terrain, and would enjoy taking notes on the state of the forest. This is perfect for anyone who likes walking in nature and noticing details.

3. Invite us to speak to your organization. We are happy, delighted in fact, to speak to any group on the mountain about fire abatement, forest health, and Fire Safe Council programs. Trust me-we'll hold your interest.

4. Let us help you abate your property. We have grant money to help homeowners abate their property. Our project managers will meet with you to discuss the needed work, put the job out to bid, and pay 75% of the contractor's price.

5. Join the Fire Safe Council. An easy but significant way to help us is to become a member. It is only $10 per person for the year. If you want to help more, send us a donation. Since we are a 501 (c) 3 organization, your donation is tax deductible.

Allow me to explain something about our funding. We have been remarkably successful at getting large government grants, but they all require matching funds, usually about 25%. What this means is that for every $3 we receive from an agency, we need to raise $1 in "match". This match can be both hard and soft; hard being money in the form of dues and donations, soft being hours volunteered by the community. So both your dollars and your volunteered hours help us to succeed in the grant process, which helps us to abate more properties.

I hope some of these actions will appeal to you. If they do, please call us at 659-6208, or send donations to MCFSC, PO Box 507, Idyllwild, CA, 92549. By doing one or more of these things you work with us to keep the mountain communities safe from destructive wildfires. We welcome your helping hand, however you choose to extend it.