County-Wide Chipping Program

The chipping program is available for Plumas County residents. 
Program funding has been made available from a CAL FIRE California Climate Investment Fire Prevention grant.

An application can be filled out by clicking one of the buttons below:
2019 Chipping Schedule:
Week to Expect Chipping Services
Communities
Phase I
 
May 20 - 25
application period closed
Twain, Indian Falls, Taylorsville, Genesee, Greenville
May 27 - June 1
application period closed
Lake Almanor, Chester
June 3 - 8
application period closed
Quincy, Meadow Valley, Bucks Lake
June 10 - 15
application period closed
La Porte, Greenhorn, Cromberg, Sloat
June 17 -22
application period closed
Gold Mountain
June 24 - 29
Graeagle, Plumas Eureka, Clio, C-Road, Mohawk Vista, Valley Ranch, Smith Creek
July 1 - 6
Portola, Lake Davis, Chilcoot, Vinton, Grizzly Ranch
Phase II
 
Aug 26 - 31
Twain, Indian Falls, Taylorsville, Genesee, Greenville, Lake Almanor, Chester
Sept 16 - 21
Quincy, Meadow Valley, Bucks Lake
Sept 23 - 28
Graeagle, Plumas Eureka, Clio, C-Road, Mohawk Vista, Valley Ranch, Smith Creek
Sept 30 - Oct 5
Gold Mountain
Oct 7 - 12
Portola, Lake Davis, Chilcoot, Vinton, Grizzly Ranch
If you don't see your community on the schedule contact the program manager, Gary Parque at 530-283-0829 to determine the week that you can be included.

The Community Chipping Program operates strictly during the weeks scheduled for each community.  Each parcel owner can participate once per year on a first come first served basis.  Preparing your piles well in advance of the chipping date is recommended.  Don't stack piles within your defensible space.  If the chipping service is delayed you don't want dry material next to your home during fire season.

Guidelines:

The Plumas County Fire Safe Council provides no-cost chipping for up to 16 linear feet of material that is no more than 4 feet in depth (height of the pile).  It is necessary that individual pieces be no shorter than 3 feet in length and it is preferable that they are no longer than 12 feet.  Any material in excess of 16 linear feet can be chipped at a rate of $100/hour and needs to be per-arranged with the program manager.

To ensure that your piles are chipped:
  • Build neat piles with all cut ends facing toward the street
  • Make sure that your piles contain no rocks, metal, mud, poison oak, scotch broom, vines, blackberries, or building materials
  • Locate piles on level ground, or on the uphill side of the road, outside of drainages
  • Build piles in areas that can be easily accessed with a truck
  • Include only materials that are longer than 3 feet in length
  • "Loose" piles are preferable to tightly packed material
  • Be respectful of the contractors’ time
Our program is NOT able to chip:
  • Roots or decaying wood
  • Pine cones, pine needles, leaves, or yard clippings
  • Piles that are over 4 feet high or built over standing vegetation
  • Large diameter materials that will not fit through the chipper opening – please cut material that cannot be easily compacted so that it is no wider than 12”
  • Short pieces that will endanger the chipper operators
  • Piles constructed with mechanical assistance (i.e. with a tractor)

      Before:

   After:
Example of a well built pile:
If you would like to make a tax-deducible donation to support an annual Chipping Program please send a check to Plumas County Fire Safe Council, Attention: Hannah Hepner, PO Box 1225, Quincy CA 95971
Alternatively you can use the secure PayPal button below (please note that PayPal reserves a portion of your donation)
Click Below to Download:
Picture
Guidelines for Creating Defensible Space
Contact Gary Parque:
c/o Plumas County Fire Safe Council
P.O. Box 1225, Quincy, CA 95971 
283-0829 (FAX:  283-5465)
Email: gary@plumascorporation.org
The Plumas County Fire Safe Council provides this program with funding from the CAL FIRE California Climate Investment Fire Prevention Fund
Plumas County Fire Safe Council
PO Box 1225
Quincy, CA 95971  
​(530) 283-0829