For more than 15 years, the Willow Creek Fire Safe Council has been working to help our community prepare for wildfire and reduce the risks that come with living in a fire-prone region.
A nonprofit since 2009, the Willow Creek Fire Safe Council is led by a volunteer board consisting of Gina Moon, President; Miles Garrett, Vice President; Alison Petro, Secretary; and Directors Tina Loyo, Walter Wood, and Zach Whyman.
The Council’s mission is to reduce wildfire risk and increase survivability by supporting fuels reduction projects and encouraging residents throughout the greater Willow Creek area to make their homes, neighborhoods, and community more fire safe.
That work takes many forms. The Council offers a volunteer-led community chipper program, home risk assessments, the Blue Dot program, and address signs through the Greater Willow Creek Community Wildfire Defense Grant. They also organize weed-pulling events and Adopt-a-Highway cleanups, while providing community outreach focused on home hardening and wildfire preparedness.
For most of its history, the organization has been entirely volunteer-led. Today, the Council has administrative support and continues working to build the organizational capacity needed to expand its programs, create jobs in our rural community, and strengthen its long-term service to the greater Willow Creek area.
One area of ongoing focus is invasive species removal, including efforts to address Scotch broom and other vegetation that can contribute to the spread of wildfire.
The Willow Creek Fire Safe Council also maintains its Firewise certification through the National Fire Protection Association. At the heart of all of this work is a simple goal: helping our neighbors take practical steps to protect their homes and improve our community’s ability to withstand wildfire.
Snowcone from a fundraising event during Bigfoot Daze 2026
Community participation is an important part of that work. The Council welcomes volunteers, members, and community engagement as it continues working toward a more fire-safe Willow Creek.
As they put it: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Willow Creek Fire Safe Council
40620 Highway 299, Willow Creek, CA 95573
(530) 629-6008
wcfiresafe.org