We are pleased to share that our Field Staff completed much training in Prescribed Fire and passed the Pack test as a unit. This brings with it the opportunity for these folks to work on our Forest Health grant and assist the USDA Forest Service with work on their lands in the Tahoe National Forest.

What a challenging start to the New Year for many of you! The good news…? The Firewise USA® program in Nevada County begins 2022 with 71 Firewise Communities (FWC)! The Fire Safe Council (FSC) thanks and congratulates all the neighborhoods that are making a difference by reducing the fuel loads and providing a more resistant landscape for Firefighter’s to make a stand and minimize the size of fires, if or when ignition occurs nearby.

Last year, the Fire Safe Council offered me the opportunity to guide neighborhoods through the process of being recognized as Firewise by CalFire and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA.com). This is a program I fully support and am grateful to be of assistance. What I did not anticipate was the great response by residents embracing this program. And up to another 50 neighborhoods are at some point in the process of completing their application. My goal is to have at least half submitted by mid-year.

As you might know, a few of the larger Firewise Communities are being divided to comply with new parameters for all Firewise USA® communities. The two currently being adjusted are Greater Alta Sierra (GAS) and Friends of Banner Mountain (FBM). You can see their new maps on the Fire Safe Council’s website at https://www.areyoufiresafe.com/programs/firewise-usa

1)     For GAS, ASPOA has been removed from the other neighborhoods and itself will be split into East and West. I look forward to working with the surrounding areas not part of ASPOA to create your Firewise Community.

2)     For FBM, Banner Mountain Firewise Community has been established. And again, the surrounding areas are welcome to apply for Firewise status.

Please email me if you are in the surrounding area and we have not already spoken. FWC@AreYouFireSafe.com

By this year’s November 18^th data upload deadline date for “In Good Standing” recognition by CalFire and NFPA, 19 Firewise Communities will need to update their Action Plan of Goals for the years of 2023 through 2025. This is to be completed by a committee from their community. CalFire requests these Action Plans spell out – in each of the three years – education opportunities; home hardening projects; and, vegetation mitigation projects on individual parcels, and if appropriate, common areas. If goals repeat each year, NFPA recommends a percentage of completion be noted for each year. Email me if your community is listed below and you would like an example of a successfully submitted Action Plan or have any other questions. I suggest if you are holding a meeting this Spring, that you discuss this process with your FWC members and begin developing your updated goals. These are the FWC:

Deer Creek Southside - Jones Bar - The Cedars - Foxwood-Slate Creek - Juniper Hill

Toller Ridge Court - Golden Oaks Association - Lower Colfax - Town of Washington

Greater Champion Neighborhood - Montezuma Ridge West - Upper Rough and Ready

Greenhorn - Outer Jackass Flats - Wolf Mountain - Hyatt-Blue Sage

Ridge View Woodlands - You Bet - Sierra Knolls

Thanks for being Firewise!

Aloha Nui Loa, Pat Leach