MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The South Lake Fire Safe Council is committed to another year of participation in the community.

The SLFSC is operated solely by volunteers. Its mission is to allocate significant resources to wildfire education, prevention and preparedness projects in the South Lake County area.

In 2010 the community's support helped the council to provide inexpensive chipping at more than 100 residential sites.

The council was able to create over a mile of shaded fuel break each on Shenandoah Road and Bottle Rock Road.

In 2011 they will again be providing inexpensive chipping to supporting members.

A $25 support membership entitles the member to half an hour of chipping.

Chipping will be done for supporting members in May, July, September and November.

Requests for chipping in May are due by May 26.

Chipping request forms are available at fire stations in Middletown, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Cobb Area Water District and Loch Lomond Mail Express.

The forms also are online at www.southlakefiresafecouncil.org.

The community's support enables the council to do the projects that help make the community safer.

Even if you don’t need chipping, making each part of the South County area safer helps all areas to be safer.

Supporting memberships enable the council to get funding to do the projects necessary to keep all residents safe.

Your contributions are tax-deductible.

Supporting membership forms are available at the Fire Station on Highway 175 in Middletown or at www.southlakefiresafecouncil.org.

The South Lake Fire Safe Council meets on the first Saturday of each month at the Fire Station on Highway 175 in Middletown at 10 a.m.

All interested people are invited to attend.

Since the council's efforts are all voluntary, you probably have some skills that will help.