RECENT PROJECTS

In April of 2025, FSMO’s very first project was performed. Located in the Valley Hill neighborhood of Bollinger Canyon, numerous residents cleared $28,000 worth of vegetation from their properties. FSMO paid the contractor the full grant amount of $10,000.

The Crestview neighborhood in Orinda organized five neighbors to participate in FSMO’s first grant program. Provided by funds from the California Firesafe Council, they qualified for $10,000 paid to their contractor, which matched the total cost of $20,000.

As the contractor was performing the work, a neighbor who had chosen not to participate changed their mind and joined the effort. This is a testament to the positive impact a large vegetation clearing project can have on changing minds and attitudes.

By utilizing the California Fire Safe Council grant provided by FSMO, neighbors on Meadow Lane were able to help a neighbor with financial needs. In the process, they cleared of 80cu/yds of hazardous vegetation. Much of this was located between homes, creating valuable defensible space between properties.

Along with a large amount of brush clearing, one of the most noticeable aspects to the project was the removal of a row of Italian Cypress trees. This species is especially hazardous as they emit vast quantities of embers when they burn in wildfire conditions.

The delay in Federal funding reimbursements hindered FSMO’s ability to proceed with the second tranche of projects in 2025. When that money was finally received, FSMO wasted no time in restarting the program. The Del Rey neighborhood, on the south side of Orinda, was eager to get the work done.

Comprised of six properties in total, large amounts of vegetation were removed from across the neighborhood. A large parcel overgrown with brush and dead trees was prioritized followed by several homes with vegetation located in their zone zero. One of the participants took advantage of the price savings to have nine Monterey Pines removed.

As several of the properties required work near creek beds, FSMO consulted with the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure that the work was in compliance with all laws, regulations and best practices.

In May of 2026, PG&E was looking for a way to clear large swaths of land adjacent to transmission lines and substations in Moraga and Orinda. Utilizing a scope of work plan from MOFD, Fire Safe Moraga-Orinda contracted with BurnBot, a California based vegetation removal contractor.

BurnBot employed three remote controlled masticators that were able to quickly and efficiently pulverize overgrown vegetation along the ridge. Over the course of five days, over 23 acres were cleared of hazardous vegetation. The effort resulted in the achievement of following goals:

1. Create a 100-200’ wildland fire buffer (shaded fuel break) behind the homes on Paseo Grande.

2. Reduce the potential for crown fire to ascend the ridge through continuous, mature brush and live oak fuel bed by establishing an age-class mosaic in the fuels.

3. Buffer the ridge top and endeavor to retreat encroaching brush to support a grassland mosaic, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of aerial retardant drops on the ridge while providing safer access for ground-based fire suppression resources.

4. Enhance and restore native grassland habitats on the spur ridges.