Wildfire Risk Reduction Project Launches Along Road 620 Corridor

A new wildfire risk reduction project is getting underway in the Road 620 corridor, and local residents will have an opportunity to learn exactly what it means for their properties and the surrounding community at an upcoming town hall in Oakhurst.

The Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council is launching the Bissett Laterals & Road 620 Fuel Break Project, a CAL FIRE-funded effort focused on reducing wildfire danger, improving evacuation routes, and creating strategic fuel breaks in one of the region’s more fire-prone areas.

For those who live along Road 620 or in the surrounding Ahwahnee area, the work is expected to include ladder fuel removal, selective tree thinning, and shaded fuel breaks along key ridgelines, all designed to slow the spread of wildfire and give firefighters a stronger chance to protect homes.

Equally important, organizers say, is improving access in and out of the area during an emergency.

“This is about being proactive,” the Fire Safe Council noted in its outreach to residents. “Every year, fires ignite in this region, and we need to prepare defensible lines to help save lives and property before it’s too late.”

One of the biggest benefits for property owners is cost — the work will be completed at no expense to landowners whose parcels fall within the project footprint. Those residents can expect to receive additional information by mail in the coming days with more details specific to their property.

To help the community better understand the scope of the project, a Community Town Hall has been scheduled:

📍 Oakhurst Government Center (40232 Junction Drive)
📅 Thursday, April 23
🕓 Open house: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
🗣 Presentation: 5:15 p.m.

Attendees will be able to review detailed maps, learn what the work will look like on the ground, and speak directly with project staff about their individual properties. The meeting will also cover timelines, treatment areas, and the overall strategy behind the fuel break system.

For those unable to attend in person, a virtual option will also be available via Google Meet, along with a call-in option.

The project is part of a broader effort across eastern Madera County to increase wildfire resilience through landscape-level fuel reduction and community engagement. With fire seasons growing longer and more intense across the Sierra foothills, efforts like this are becoming a key piece of local wildfire preparedness.

For residents in the 620 corridor and surrounding areas, this meeting offers a chance to get ahead of the next fire season — to understand what’s coming, ask questions, and see firsthand how these improvements could make a difference when it matters most.

Community members are encouraged to attend, learn more, and take part in the conversation about protecting the place they call home.

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