Fire has always been a vital part of California’s ecosystems. Indigenous communities used fire for centuries to shape the land, promoting biodiversity and healthy landscapes. Whether intentionally set, or sparked by lightning, fire was a consistent and natural disturbance. However, with hundreds of years of fire suppression, many of Napa’s forests and wildlands have become overgrown and vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires. This year, Napa RCD made a leap forward in addressing this issue by supporting the formation of the Napa County Prescribed Burn Association (PBA).
PBAs are community-based mutual aid networks where landowners, residents, agencies, and cultural burners work together to reintroduce fire as a tool for landscape management. Prescribed fire reduces hazardous fuel loads, restores wildlife habitat, and helps ecosystems thrive.
In 2024, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and Napa County Resource Conservation District (Napa RCD) partnered to host a series of community meetings to spread awareness of prescribed fire and PBAs, as well as to gauge interest and concerns from the community. Since then, a steering committee consisting of local landowners, community members, and agency partners has been created to continue guiding the formation of the Napa PBA. Although early in its development, the PBA has supported local pile burns, technical trainings, and more. These events provide critical skills to those interested in putting good fire on the land, and help us build a network of community fire stewards.
As local landowner and Napa PBA Steering Committee member Fred Seavey put it:
“My family has farmed in Napa County for 45 years, and we’ve seen firsthand the devastating impacts of wildfires. After volunteering on burns in Sonoma County, I’m thrilled that we’re bringing this highly effective, community-based approach to Napa. The PBA adds a critical tool to our collective efforts to keep our landscapes healthy and our communities safe.”
Interested in joining the PBA? Contact danielle@naparcd.org to learn more today!
Why Your Support Matters:
This essential work would not be possible without the support of our community. The Napa Valley Give!Guide is your opportunity to support meaningful change in Napa County. By giving to Napa RCD, you’re investing in local programs that safeguard our environment, educate future stewards, and strengthen the connection between people and the land.
This collaborative effort has already begun to make an impact, but there is so much more to do. Your support through the Napa Valley CanDo Give!Guide will help expand this work, allowing Napa RCD to support PBA led trainings, additional burns, and connect even more people to the tools and knowledge needed to steward our land.
Together, we can reignite the balance between fire and the land, ensuring a resilient future for Napa Valley.
The campaign is open from now until December 31, 2024—every donation, no matter the size, makes a real impact. Visit the Napa Valley Give!Guide and take action today.
A Gift for Every Donation
The Monkey Flower Group will gift a small floral bouquet to every donor who makes a donation to Napa RCD through the Give!Guide. Donors who give $50 or more will receive five small flower arrangements.