Jan 2022 the Sierra Resource Conservation District in partnership with the Creek Fire Recovery Collaborative, was awarded a three-month work stay from Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Pacific Region, Blue Team 6. This group of 8 individuals’ range in age from 18 to 25, visit from 6 different states, and have signed on as AmeriCorps team members for the purpose of helping those in need across the country. These individuals are purely volunteers and give 45 hours a week of their time without compensation for the project they are assigned to. Their previous team projects included Habitat for Humanity Work in Eleele, Kauai. Their current project is Creek Fire Recovery efforts to help families and communities who lost their homes in the fire on their path towards rebuilding. The second part of the project is fire prevention in the gateway communities to the Sequoia/Kings National Park, who are at high risk for wildfire and were threatened last fire season within a mile of the KNP complex fire. They have already attended chainsaw and chipper training classes, worked in several fuels reduction days, and completed 5 vegetation management projects within their first two weeks of service. During their visit, SRCD also wants the group to connect with local non-profit organizations to help their cause. United Way of Fresno and Madera County was also awarded a team, Red Team 2, to assist those in need with filing their taxes. Red Team has become available to join Blue Team for some of the Creek Fire recovery projects. SFC has had the great pleasure of working with the crew on trail repair on our Fine Gold Creek Preserve and we will continue to work with them on trails, roads, invasive species removal, and other imperative stewardship tasks. The group has a true passion for learning, and they are soaking up information about the importance of land trusts and what we do to protect open spaces. They are incredibly hard workers, wonderful individuals, and we could not be happier to have them!
Check out more of the Red Team 2 story on ABC 30 Action News: ABC 30 Red Team 2 Story
This story was written by Allyson Brooks – Sierra Foothill Conservancy
Story Contributor Kelly Kucharski – Sierra RCD
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