The City of Pocatello has been awarded $4.84 million through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Wildfire Defense Grant. As a designated low-income community, the City is not required to provide matching funds and has five years to use the funding.
The project will reduce wildfire risk across 1,350 acres of City-owned open space, spanning from the east and west benches of Pocatello down to the Portneuf River. It also includes prescribed fire training, community outreach, and the launch of a “Juniper Dump” program, offering free dumpsters for residents, especially those on the west bench, to safely dispose of juniper trimmings and create defensible space around their homes. As funding allows, adjacent private properties will also be included, with 16 landowners already agreeing to participate.
The funding will be used to:
1. Implement fuel reduction on private properties and state lands. This includes partnering with willing landowners to hire contractors and supplying dumpsters for neighborhood cleanup efforts.
2. Reduce fuels on City-owned properties. Areas of focus include City Creek, Sacajawea Park, along the Portneuf River, and general invasive species management.
3. Build City capacity to conduct prescribed burns by training and equipping staff to implement long-term hazard fuels mitigation efforts.
4. Carry out public education and outreach through a part-time Mitigation and Outreach Specialist, including home ignition inspections, signage, and awareness efforts.
“This is a big win for Pocatello,” said Mayor Brian Blad. “These funds will help us protect our neighborhoods and open spaces from wildfires.”
The City extends its appreciation to the USDA and all partners involved in securing this critical funding.