Nevada City is getting its first-ever state grant to help remove dead and dying trees and thin fuels, to reduce the wildfire danger. Tree mortality has greatly accelerated over the 5-year drought, including massive bark beetle infestations. Fire Chief Sam Goodspeed says they’re getting $200,000 from CAL FIRE…

click to listen to Chief Goodspeed

Goodspeed says the grant isn’t enough for removing all the ailing trees, but it will help with getting rid of a lot of the trees that are at the greatest risk of falling…

click to listen to Chief Goodspeed

Nevada City has also budgeted some money for the work, which can cost as much as $2,000 per tree. CAL FIRE has approved more than $15-million, spread across 34 counties and 107 separate grants. 9.75 million comes from fire protection fees assessed homeowners living in designated State Responsibility Areas. Since January 1st, CAL FIRE has responded to over 5,700 wildfires, an increase of 23% over last year to date.