June 29, 2026 – The San Diego Regional Fire Foundation has presented funding ti 30 Fire Safe Councils (FSCs) and East County Magazine (ECM) with grants totaling $276,000 to aid in wildfire prevention and preparedness, including community education to make their neighborhoods safer.
“We deeply appreciate this funding to support our East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts, our coverage of wildfires and our efforts to educate the public on wildfire preparedness in our region,” says ECM editor Miriam Raftery. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation and to the San Diego River Park Conservancy for their matching grant, helping us to keep people safe and informed.”
Fire Safe Councils are community-led, volunteer-based organizations dedicated to protecting homes and communities from wildfires. FSCs support their communities through various activities including fire-hardening homes, removing flammable plantings, hosting vegetation chipping events, installing reflective address signage, and educating and assisting neighbors with emergency preparedness.
San Diego has over 50 FSCs – the most of any region in the United States – all supported by the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation. In 2025, volunteers from FSCs invested over 19,000 hours of their time in curbside or centralized chipping removing 1 million cubic feet of vegetation; collecting 187 tons (374,000 pounds) of trash, metal, and e-waste; distributing 109,000 newsletters, 1,800 social media posts, 120 newspaper articles; and presenting 250 wildfire safety education events geared toward making their communities safer for all residents. 50 homeless encampments were identified and cleared, making the area more fire-safe. 200 acres of hazardous vegetation were cleared in our larger scale projects.
Project SAFE Grants are awarded annually by the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation. All Fire Safe Councils in San Diego County are eligible to apply for funding for projects that increase the wildfire safety of their communities. The San Diego Regional Fire Foundation seeks donor support in funding these Project SAFE Grants. Donations can be made at www.sdfirefoundation.org.
“These dedicated Fire Safe Council volunteers invest time, energy, and commitment as they work to help protect their neighborhoods. Fire Safe Councils collaborate closely with local communities, fire agencies, and the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation to implement projects aimed at reducing hazardous fuel loads, increasing defensible space, and engaging in other activities to enhance preparedness and prevent wildfires. We applaud the contributions of these amazing volunteers!” said Julia Richards, Executive Officer, San Diego River Conservancy.
For 37 years, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation has been the only fire foundation supporting all of San Diego County. “The San Diego Regional Fire Foundation is proud to help fund the FSCs’ fire preparedness efforts, without which our communities and residents would be at greater danger from the devastating impact of wildfires. We are grateful to our generous donors: the San Diego River Conservancy, San Diego Gas & Electric, and many other donors for joining us in funding the work of the Fire Safe Councils,” said Joan Jones, Executive Director of the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation.
“Building wildfire resilience requires strong local partnerships, and Fire Safe Councils are at the forefront of that effort,” said Brian D’Agostino, Vice President of Wildfire and Climate Science. “Their deep understanding of local risks and ability to bring neighbors together help drive meaningful, on-the-ground solutions. SDG&E is proud to support their community-driven work that strengthen safety and resilience across our region.”
“The need for early evacuation notification is critical, not only during wildland fires, but during any emergency that requires residents to leave their homes. By leveraging advanced technology like Genasys Protect, we can make rapid, informed decisions and quickly notify those impacted, helping keep our communities informed, prepared, and safe,” said Rick Johnson, Division Chief, CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire.
The following Fire Safe Councils and the East County Magazine are receiving a Project SAFE Grant award from the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation:
Alvarado Estates
Campo/Lake Morena
College Canyons
College East
Crest
Cuyamaca Woods
Del Mar Heights
Descanso
Escondido
Eucalyptus Hills
Fallbrook
Greater Golden Hill
Inland Rural
Kensington
Los Tules at Warner Springs
Mission Hills
Laguna
Olivenhain
Palomar Mountain
Poway
Ramona West End
Rancho Peñasquitos
Real East County
Rolando Park
San Elijo Hills
Skylark
Sorrento Valley
Talmadge
University City
Wynola Estates
About the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation
For 37 years, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation has been the only fire foundation supporting all of San Diego County with the goal of “Making San Diego the Safest County in the Nation”. We accomplish this by providing fire and medical equipment to all fire agencies in the County with over 250 fire stations. Additionally, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation works to prevent fires and makes community members better prepared in case of fires by supporting all Fire Safe Councils in San Diego County. Lastly, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation provides scholarships to firefighters to attend Fire Academies and Paramedic School. Visit www.sdfirefoundation.org.
About the San Diego River Conservancy
The San Diego River Conservancy is an independent and non-regulatory state agency established in 2002. The Conservancy’s Governing Board comprises state and local representatives and public members who form diverse partnerships committed to conserving these highly valued resources. The San Diego River Conservancy strives to accomplish its mission by preserving land, protecting open space, wildlife species, and native habitats, and providing recreational and educational opportunities. Since 2021, the San Diego River Conservancy has approved over $35 million in grants for San Diego County wildfire and forest resilience projects. https://sdrc.ca.gov/
About SDG&E
SDG&E is an innovative energy-delivery company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by increasing energy delivered from low- or zero-carbon sources; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; and investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region’s infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a recognized leader in its industry and community, as demonstrated by being named Corporate Partner of the Year at the San Diego Business Journal’s Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards and receiving PA Consulting’s ReliabilityOne® Award for Outstanding Reliability Performance for 20 consecutive years. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a leading U.S. utility growth business. For more information, visit SDGEtoday.com or connect with SDG&E on social media @SDGE.