In January 2026, Sonoma County approved a $300,000 grant to PPI through the county’s Vegetation Management Grant Program, to create a shaded fuel break up to 100 feet on either side of the back road that connects our paved driveway to the upper end of  Muniz Ranch Road. This project will make emergency use of the PPI back road safer, and improve access for emergency vehicles enroute to Muniz Ranches and the wider Jenner coastal area. We plan to maintain the results of this shaded fuel break work so that the benefits can last for many years to come, as part of making our forested areas healthier and less vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires. 

Work commenced in May, and will be completed by the fall. The clearing is being done by a Cazadero-based company, Biswell Forestry, with local employees who are committed to providing quality work and who have a vested interest in keeping our community safe. Biswell’s expert crew mostly also have fire-fighter credentials, and are experienced in constructing the multiple burn piles created from the debris resulting from clearing – piles which will be burned in coming months as conditions allow, also with help from CalFire.

CalFire Battalion Chief Marshall Turbeville discussing the project with Biswell Forestry owner/manager Sterling Minter and PPI staffer Woody Crain

This grant award was made possible by many wonderful people in this county who tirelessly advocated for this project and put in many hours of work. We cannot thank Chief Ben Nichols (now with FireSafe Sonoma), CalFire Battalion Chief Marshall Turbeville and Kim Batchelder of Permit Sonoma enough for their continued support, and their general care in improving the safety and well-being of the west Sonoma county lands and people. Courtney Gutman, Aldo Lopez, and Robert Aguero from Permit Sonoma also worked hard to help us and offered valuable guidance.