We also need to be sensitive to the need to preserve animal habitat. Bloomfield cited two programs he helped establish in District 5 during the last five years which could help point the way toward greater fire safety. One is the Placer County Resource Conservation District's demonstration projects along a stretch of Placer Hills Road, and another in Foresthill, which seek to reduce the brush under the trees, thus reducing the fire danger. Another is the chipper project implemented cooperatively with the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection, which also serves as the Placer County Fire Dept. Under the plan, a substantial amount of the brush growing under trees in areas of high fire danger is thinned, then chipped for landscaping uses, thus reducing fire danger.
Many fires start in weeds and brush along highways and can easily reach into neighborhoods.
Facility needs far surpass the additional revenues this year's good economy has meant. Several constituents who met recently with Rex added their encouragement for residents to bring their comments and concerns to the library coffee klatches. Pat Bueb, Chairman of the North Auburn MAC, believes residents can and should have their say. Sharon Cavallo, who served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for Placer Legacy and is a former MAC member, stressed the importance. If people don't communicate with Supervisors, they won't have that understanding to make decisions.