During this process, we discovered that many residents were “house rich but cash-poor,” unable to afford the growing cost of fire prevention services. CLG members helped clear large sections of tall grass and overgrown vegetation surrounding homes, reducing fire risk and improving safety throughout West County.

As the program developed, we had to adjust our original hourly rates after realizing that many properties required machinery such as weed-whackers and chainsaws to complete the work safely and effectively. This meant relying on skilled workers who already owned the equipment and had the experience to use it properly.

We were also encouraged by the community’s positive reception to women workers taking on fire mitigation and yard work assignments, helping challenge traditional gender expectations in this type of labor.