The county's wildfire mitigation plan, adopted in 2019, identified roughly 40 miles of roadside vegetation in need of defensible-space clearing. As of this year, county records show fewer than three miles have been completed.
Officials point to a funding gap: the plan assumed a state grant program that has been funded in only one of the past five years. Meanwhile, insurance non-renewals in the highest-risk zones identified by the plan have risen sharply, according to data from the state insurance commissioner's office.
A county commissioner told Groundwork a renewed funding request will go before the board this fall.