This program is what is commonly called a cost-share program.  What that means is the grant will pay for a portion (often 50%) of the cost of reducing risk around your home and increasing the health of your property.

Wildfire Network, a non-profit out of Edgewood NM.  We applied for and received a grant from the New Mexico Association of Counties to help reduce the impact of a wildfire in the East Mountains.  Our founder has been a WUI specialist for 12 years and has recently completed a NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist certification.

It's pretty simple... 

• fill out the form and let us know you would be interested. 
• We'll set up a time to come take a look at your property
• While we are there, we'll discuss with you what vegetation should be removed (if any) and how, what should happen to the slash that results, and look at ways to prevent embers from igniting your home.
• If you are still interested, we'll take tree density and other ecological indicators measurements, create a plan and work out the price.
• If you agree, we'll have you sign a waiver, allowing us on your property and we'll schedule the start of the project. At this point, your share of the cost is due.
• Once completed, we will re-measure our indicators, and present a report of the result.

No, it's somewhat different: 

• We don't charge a fee to come look at your property
• We do the assessing and cutting ourselves (we work with at-risk youth and bring them with us to teach them about forest health and thinning techniques), instead of handing you off to a contractor
• We don't work to a specific measurement (or basal area), we look at optimal ways to protect your home and property
• We may try to do the projects in stages, rather than all at once, to minimize the risk to the residual trees
• Part of our overall mission as an organization is to work with at-risk youth. We bring these youth out with us, to teach them about fire, recognizing healthy and unhealthy trees, and to feel good about hard, dirty work and the pride that comes from seeing the results of that work. It may take a bit longer, but you'd be contributing to their education and you are more than welcome to learn right along with them :)  

No!  Mitigation is done based on your property location, topography, aspect and expected fire behavior to minimize the risk to your home. We'll also give you tips to protect your home from embers.  

The same people that come to talk to you about your project - Wildfire Network. We employ a youth crew who are learning about and training for possible careers in fire and forest related occupations. While they are learning and gaining valuable experience they are also earning $15-17 per hour to support themselves.