More Good FireFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2025
Healthy Forest Alliance Funds New Eastern Sierra Prescribed Fire Association
Truckee, CA — The Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation (HFA) is proud to announce funding support for the launch of the Eastern Sierra Prescribed Fire Association (ESPFA), a new collaborative dedicated to advancing safe, science-based prescribed fire and community wildfire resilience across the Eastern Sierra region.
The Eastern Sierra Prescribed Fire Association will serve landowners, fire practitioners, agencies, and local partners by coordinating prescribed burn projects, training opportunities, equipment sharing, and peer-to-peer learning. The initiative is designed to expand local capacity, restore fire-adapted ecosystems, and reduce hazardous fuel loads in high-risk wildland areas.
“Prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools we have to strengthen forests and protect communities,” said Richard Carvalho, Founder and Executive Director of the Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation. “By funding the Eastern Sierra Prescribed Fire Association, we are investing directly in local leadership, collaboration, and hands-on implementation.”
The new association will focus on:
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Supporting landowners with burn planning and implementation
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Providing training pathways aligned with national wildland fire standards
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Hosting community burn events and outreach workshops
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Building local equipment caches and safety resources
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Strengthening partnerships with fire districts, resource conservation districts, and nonprofit organizations
The Eastern Sierra region faces increasing wildfire intensity driven by drought, climate stress, and decades of fire exclusion. Prescribed fire, implemented under carefully planned conditions, helps reduce surface fuels, improve forest structure, increase biodiversity, and create safer conditions for firefighters and communities alike.
Funding from the Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation will help establish foundational infrastructure for the association, including organizational development, safety equipment, training coordination, and initial project implementation.
Community members, landowners, and partner organizations interested in participating can learn more at www.espba.org.
The launch of the Eastern Sierra Prescribed Fire Association reflects HFA’s broader mission to strengthen communities through good fire and expand access to professional development and resources for fire practitioners nationwide.
About the Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation
The Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing wildfire resilience through stewardship, training, and community engagement. The Foundation supports prescribed fire initiatives, fire practitioner development, equipment access, and collaborative burn associations that restore forests and protect communities.
For media inquiries:
Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation
10266 Truckee Airport Rd, Suite C
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 287-8660