Belleview/Kewin Mill Fuels Reduction Project

Residential property after fuels treatment project

The Belleview/Kewin Mill Fuels Reduction Project is a strategic wildfire prevention effort designed to protect the Belleview community and its vital infrastructure. 

Project Overview

The project will establish a 148-acre, 2.1-mile Shaded Fuel Break along Big Hill Road and Kewin Mill Road, anchored by Belleview Elementary School—a critical community resource located at the intersection of these two roads. The fuel break will span 300 feet in width—150 feet on each side from the road centerline—and will significantly reduce hazardous vegetation in this high wildfire-risk area.

Project area map
Project area map

Key Objectives

  • Safeguard Belleview Elementary School and adjacent neighborhoods.
  • Increase the effectiveness of evacuation routes and firefighter access.
  • Create a visually appealing, park-like shaded fuel break that maintains forest health and wildlife habitat.

Timeline and Activities

  • Environmental Studies (March 2025 – July 2025):
    Conduct CEQA-compliant studies to ensure all treatment methods are environmentally responsible and legally sound.
  • Mapping & Access Planning (May 2025 – September 2025):
    Generate accurate maps of the project footprint and identify access routes, equipment landing zones, and affected vegetation areas.  Request and receive landowner access for treatment areas.  Copy of landowner access attached here.
  • Treatment Implementation (November 2025 – February 2027):
    Carry out prescribed fuel treatments to thin overgrown vegetation and establish the shaded fuel break, improving safety and forest resilience.

Project Impact

  • Directly reduces wildfire threat to Belleview Elementary and surrounding homes.
  • Enhances emergency response capability and evacuation safety.
  • Supports long-term forest health in the Big Hill and Kewin Mill area.

Funding & Support

  • Estimated total cost: Over $700,000
  • Funded by CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Prevention Grants Program, part of California Climate Investments.

For more information please reach out to the project forestry technician, Cameron Miller at 209-642-8304 ext 6 or cameron@tcrcd.org