PARADISE, Calif. -- Toni Manion has a disease that causes numbness in her feet. Because of this, she is forced to walk with a cane so that she can manage to walk on uneven ground.

Calli-Jane Burch, the Executive Director of the Butte County Fire Safe Council says Manion is the perfect candidate for their Residents Assistance program.

When volunteers with the Residents Assistance program arrive, they prune bushes and trees, rake leaves, and chop down branches. It's all done to give people peace of mind, and defensible space to protect them from having their homes go up in flames.

“Ladder fuels, it’s little branches, then big bushes, small trees, big trees, branches hanging over residences,” explains Residents Assistance volunteer, Dan Wentland.

If it weren’t for volunteers like Wentland, Manion says she would be in a very difficult position.

“I’d have a lot of fines,” says Toni Manion, as she laughs. “I can’t do it and I’m on a fixed income so I can’t pay anybody to do something like this.”

The Residents Assistance program helps people over 65 years of age, those who are disabled, or those who are low income.

If you would like to seek their assistance or become a volunteer, you are encouraged to call Calli-Jane Burch at (530) 877-0984.

The Residents Assistance program services individuals in the Butte County area.