I just wanted to give an update on my very poor experience with the Santa Clara Country FireSafe Council almost starting a mudslide on my property by removing way, way too much vegetation from my hillside property. Please contact me at shanmarq@yahoo.com if you have also had a very bad experience. I can post before and after pictures on my property on this website. I also have multiple statements from contractors about their actions violating multiple professional standards. I have over $25,000 worth of damage to my property due to the FireSafe Council. As a recipient of federal, state and county funds, they are supposed to comply with professional standards but refuse. Please call your county, state and federal legislature members and asked that this organization not be funded. They have no one who is even a licensed contractor in their organization. I should have been able to use a licensed, private contractor instead of Santa Clara County referring me to this incompetent outfit. Now, with all the evidence I have gathered regarding their negligence, they are still trying to get out of paying my insurance claim by falsely claiming I signed an agreement that lets them get out of any and all negligence for their actions. Also, when I told them County Weed abatement regulations did not remotely require the removal of so much vegetation, Council members just laughed. Yet at a hearing in January 2013, a County official admitted on tape that too much vegetation was removed yet the County continues to NOT supervise them and give them funds.
Review from Guidestar
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The FireSafe Council was supposed to clear dead weeds off my property so I was fire hazard compliant. Instead, they stripped all ground cover off my property which is on a very steep hillside. This allowed water to run underneath my house, causing clay soil expansion and this in turn caused cracking in my inside walls and driveway. There is not a soil engineer in the U.S. who would not tell the Council that stripping ground cover off a steep hillside is extremely negligent. The Council also removed nearly all my California native plants, mistaking them for weeds and destroying the beauty of my garden! It will cost me $2,000 to replace the ground cover and cut down California natives and another $1,500 to repair the cracks in my driveway and inside my house. When I asked them to pay for their negligence, their attitude is too bad!!!!!
I just became a volunteer with this organization and I am amazed at the amount of work they do with various communities. The chipping program is particularly beneficial to reduce vegatation in high fire zones throughout the county. Homeowners can't keep up with the growth using the ONE can of green yard waste alloted by the garbage company. The organizations community outreach programs, including Smokey Story Time are great ways of spreading the message of fire awareness. Overall a very well-run organization.
I became involved in the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council several years ago to help prevent wildfires in the Alum Rock Park area near our home. Later, as I became involved in more county-wide activities of the council, I was elected Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors. The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council is funded by federal grants and by contributions from companies, foundations, organizations and individuals who are interested in prevention wildfires. Thanks to these collaborative efforts, SCFSC has made significant progress in protecting homes and communities from wildfires. Our mission is Mobilizing the people of Santa Clara County to protect their homes, communities and environment from wildfires. We do Community Outreach and Education and provide free Chipping Programs to help people create and maintain Defensible Space around their homes and communities. You can help us by volunteering for community events or by contributing to or helping organize chipping projects. See www.SCCFireSafe.org for more on our council. It is a good way to learn more about wildfire prevention and help protect your home and community.
AllanT 07/25/2013
The information in the review above is not accurate. The FireSafe Council provided free clearing and chipping services for this Special Needs Assistance Program applicant and did not cause any of the alleged damage. Her claim has been investigated by the FireSafe Council and two insurance companies and denied. For additional information, please Allan Thompson, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, AllanT@SCCFireSafe.org.