Valley Center, CA… The Rincon Fire Department will receive the 2018 Wildlife Mitigation Award (WMA) during the International Association of Fire Chiefs Wildland-Urban Interface Conference (WUI) in Reno, Nevada on February 28, 2018.  The WMA is the highest national honor one can receive for outstanding work and program impact in wildfire preparedness and mitigation. 

“This national award is yet another indication of the hard work and dedication our fire department provides to Rincon and its surrounding communities,” stated Bo Mazzetti, Chairman of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians.  “We are honored to have been recognized and I applaud our Fire Chief and his team for a job well done.”

The Wildfire Mitigation Award was established in 2014, to recognize the large number of great wildfire mitigation programs and projects that are making a positive difference in the communities.

“The 2018 Wildfire Mitigation awardees are valued partners of the nation’s state foresters and the agencies they lead, serving as key members in the nationwide effort to ensure safer and more rapid response to wildfire year-round,” said George Geissler, Oklahoma state forester and president of the National Association of State Foresters, a co-sponsor of the Wildfire Mitigation Awards. “I commend the awardees for their wildfire preparedness efforts which contribute to saving lives, protecting thousands of homes, and strengthening our communities.”

“As the Fire Chief of the Rincon Fire Department, it is our mission to provide quality service, protect life, property, and the environment of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians with a professional, highly trained group of servants dedicated to the Band, visitors, and community,” expressed Chief Ed Hadfield.  “With that said; we are honored to be chosen for this prestigious award. This award is a recognition of a whole community approach to wildfire mitigation. Our entire community has embraced and forged forward with the mitigation strategies necessary to assure the lands and the culturally sensitive areas remain in harmony with the rich cultural values of the Rincon people.”

The Wildfire Mitigation Awards are sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, and the USDA Forest Service.