The California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) has announced the appointment of Patty Ciesla to the position of Executive Director.

“The CFSC Board and staff welcome Patty as Executive Director,” said Kate Dargan, Co-Chair of the CFSC. “She brings a wealth of expertise and experience in fire prevention, finance and grant programs to the California Fire Safe Council. She will leave her position as Executive Director of the Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council and begin her duties in the Sacramento office of CFSC.”

“Patty will take the CFSC Executive Director position held by Larry Davis, a former Schwarzenegger administration appointee, who was chosen to serve as Interim Executive Director. The CFSC Board and staff thank Larry for his stewardship during the search for a permanent Executive Director,” said Bob Roper, Co-Chair of the CFSC.

As Executive Director of the Santa Clara Fire Safe Council, Ciesla successfully built practices to comply with grant management and reporting as mandated by the United States Forest Service. She built strong relationships with California Executive Directors of fire safe councils, fire chiefs, and other leaders in Firewise and Firesafe communities to promote the mission of wildfire prevention and regional readiness.

“As a fire safe council leader with five years of success at the county and regional level, I am already deeply connected to the CFSC mission and am excited at the opportunity to usher the California Fire Safe Council through its transition to become a more powerful leadership organization,” Ciesla said.

She holds a BA degree in Human Biology (With Honors) from Stanford University where her thesis centered on how the environment can impact human health and safety.

The California Fire Safe Council has been mobilizing Californians to protect their homes, communities and environments from wildfires for over 25 years. Working with local California Fire Safe Councils, fire departments, community associations and homeowners, CFSC has provided more than 900 grants totaling more than $100 million dollars since incorporating in 2004. CFSC has a deep history of providing capacity building and technical assistance to the more than 150 local Fire Safe Councils in California, and in facilitating cross-sectoral investments in wildfire resilience.

For more information visit www.cafiresafecouncil.org.