2015 Fire Season Guide
Contents
1. Fj pity i Fa i d pie Ta qt King Fire September 17 2014 7 aa ERN s NC NI aa a l Dn n D z W q s Q LN y e A P WR ud un 4 Uh c uu zm i j cum p zT Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Guide A public service in wildfire prevention brought to you by the U S Forest Service your State Forester and supported by the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County Nevada County Fire Chief s and CAL FIRE Nevada County is home to some of the most scenic forestland in the state The natural beauty and mild Mediterranean climate have attracted many families to settle in our community Living in Nevada County is learning to live with fire In the past lightning sparked fires that periodically burned to help clear out vegetation fuels on a regular basis and it was beneficial to our forests Now most fires are started by people and are becoming more catastrophic in nature It is not a matter of IF a wildfire will occur but WHEN and WHERE it will happen Remember YOU can prevent forest fires Prepare your home and family for emergencies now Creating an area of defensible space does not mean you need a ring of bare dirt around your home Through proper planning you can have a beautiful landscape healthy forest and a fire safe home Flying embers from wildfires threaten structures from miles away when carried by wind and smoke plume2. Engineers rendering of a proposed biomass facility in Placer County e Nevada County Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Ordinance In June of 2014 the Nevada County Board of Supervisors passed Ordinance Number 2380 adding Article 7 to the Nevada County General Code regarding Hazardous Vegetation Abatement In a nutshell the ordinance gives the Federal State and Local Fire Agencies the ability to require the property owner of an unimproved parcel to clear a portion of their parcel that is next to an improved parcel for the purposes of obtaining their Defensible Space In the past Fire Officials could not require any clearing of vacant parcels Nevada County Consolidated Fire District had a program where by local ordinance they would look at Target Areas and send notices to the owners of vacant parcels requiring them to clear their land of hazards No work could be done outside these Target Areas After numerous citizen complaints the Board of Supervisors put together a committee to work on an ordinance to help the Fire Agencies by establishing a hazardous vegetation abatement ordinance that provides a process to identify and abate hazardous vegetation on unimproved parcels and protects the lives and property of the citizens of Nevada County while at the same time protecting sensitive plant and animal species and protecting against significant erosion and sedimentation The removal of hazardous vegetation in the
3. 2 Fe agi S gt D D 7 A 4 A 2 Jy i d A ld N fi b 75 WU LA o 4 Ps y A Nm 4 3 r4 E g E y 3 a SA S fi Maintain 100 feet of d Defensible Space E Remove all dead or iS dying plants from o around your home o o M ae c e eooeee LN NC NE NE DO GET A SIMPLE S STEP PLAN TO PROTECT YOUR HOME AND FEAMIEY KEN WILDFIRE AT ICAL Ww FIRE ReadyForWildfire org_ Bark Beetle Outbreak Sj With the fourth consecutive year of below average rainfall many Registered Professional Foresters are watching for signs of bark beetle infestations in their trees Do you know what to look for Have you properly thinned your forest to protect them from moisture stress and bark beetle attacks You should keep a watchful eye and consider thinning trees for improved vigor and protection against drought and insects When bark beetle populations are not excessively large they normally go unnoticed by humans They become more important during large population outbreaks Trees killed by bark beetles if not removed can become a fire hazard or danger of falling on structures vehicles or people When pines are stressed bark beetles can successfully attack trees and build up their populations to very high levels spreading from one tree to another over successive generations Adult bark beetles bore through the bark of pines and into the cambium layer where they mate and lay eggs The eggs hatch into
4. Planting distances from distribution lines Pacific Gas and Electric Company Small Zone Trees no taller than 25 feet at maturity Distribution The best way to protect yourself and your home is by planting the right tree in the right place Though some large trees grow under power lines naturally many are planted without the realization of how large they would eventually become So select a tree with the proper height at maturity for its location Plant for personal and fire safety Use the Small Medium and Tall Zone guidelines near distribution lines and the Wire Zone Border Zone Outer Zone guidelines near transmission lines If you re not sure whether a line is distribution or transmission call us at 1 800 743 5000 Wire Zone Ep Transmission Line lt lt Only low growing shrubs at No trees For more information about trees and power lines Visit www pge com trees e Request a Guide to Planting Small Trees Near Distribution Lines by calling 1 800 743 5000 or email RightTreeRightPlace pge com Specify Northern California Central California or the Bay Area Inland area Border Zone Outer Zone Only small trees Trees no taller than or shrubs the distance to the wire at maturity i l l l l Incompatible vegetation is subject to removal Take Responsibility Protect your home Create 100 feet of
5. Western Nevada County Community Defense Project Madrone Springs The Project will continue with hand cutting and hand piling throughout the summer in the Washington Ridge Road and Cooper Road areas During the fall winter season when ground and fuel conditions are wet pile burning will take place on 326 acres Mastication mechanical thinning of brush small understory trees and downed woody fuels will also occur on 289 acres of National Forest System lands In the first year of the Project 466 acres were hand cut pruned and piled and 11 000 piles on 222 acres was completed Questions can be directed to Eric Burke Vegetation Management Officer 530 478 6222 or Mike Cherry Fire Management Officer 530 288 3231 on the Yuba River Ranger District Bureau of Land Management The BLM Mother Lode Field Office issues Hazardous Fuels Variance Permits to landowners who wish to reduce fuels on adjacent BLM land After receiving a permit request BLM will perform the necessary environmental and other reviews for the project before issuing the permit Throughout the 2012 2015 fire seasons BLM has been providing fuel reduction and strategic fire planning in the South Yuba watershed the Inimim Forest and Round Mountain areas BLM will be conducting prescribed fire within many areas of Nevada County BLM continues to support the Fire Safe Council with personnel and equipment BLM encourages landowners to Take Re
6. While the location of the cell site closest to the 911 caller may provide a general indication of the caller s location that information is not always specific enough for rescue personnel to deliver assistance to the caller quickly Consumers making a 911 call from a wireless phone should remember the following Tell the emergency operator the location of the emergency right away Provide the emergency operator with your wireless phone number so if the call gets disconnected the emergency operator can call you back If your wireless phone is not initialized meaning you do not have a contract for service with a wireless service provider and your emergency call gets disconnected you must call the emergency operator back because the operator does not have your telephone number and cannot contact you Refrain from programming your phone to automatically dial 911 when one button such as the 9 key is pressed Unintentional wireless 911 calls which often occur when auto dial keys are inadvertently pressed cause problems for emergency call centers If your wireless phone came pre programmed with the auto dial 911 feature already turned on turn this feature off consult your user manual for instructions Lock your keypad when you re not using your wireless phone to help prevent accidental calls to 911 Consider creating a contact in your wireless phone s memory with the name ICE In Case of Emergency which
7. funded projects Fi _ dp et y we can make I of Nevada County fire safe Programs and services provided by your local Fire Safe Council include Defensible Space Advisory Visits at Your Home Year Round Drive By Chipping Service Firewise Landscaping Guide e Defensible Space Clearing for Low Income Seniors and Disabled e Defensible Space Verification Service for Homeowner s Insurance fee service Educational Lending Library Videos Books and Scientific Periodicals Emergency Evacuation Planning Scotch Broom Challenge Weed Wrench Loans amp Community Project Sites Fire Safe Products Reflective Road Address Signs amp Fire Rated Tarps Firewise Community Wildfire Hazard Assessments Firewise Communities USA Certification Assistance e Neighborhood Education Presentations e Reduced Cost CAL STAR amp REACH Air Ambulance Service Memberships Strategic Community Fuel Reduction Projects Childrens Fire Prevention Education Program e Memberships for Individuals Associations and Businesses e Annual Awards Program for Volunteer Firewise Community amp Partner of the Year For complete information on all programs and services please visit www areyoufiresafe com or call the Fire Safe Council at 530 272 1122 Land Stewardship amp Illegal Camping Over the past few years there have been numerous wildfire ignitions from illegal camp fires in our community The conce
8. is critical to fire safety Over time plants grow both vertically and horizontally mulches dry out leaves and needles accumulate within and around landscape vegetation All of these fuels may help feed a fire Remember to conduct annual cleanups of your established vegetation to ensure a fire safe condition A fire safe landscape can increase your property value provide wildlife habitat and conserve water while beautifying your home You may download a free Firewise plant guide for Western Nevada County online at http www areyoufiresafe com get fire smart defensible space and beyond firewise landscaping 250 200 150 100 Relative Values by Combustion Characteristics 50 Shredded Pine Cedar Shredded Medium Fine Tahoe Rubber Needles Westem Red Bark Nuggets Chips Flame Height E Rate of Spread Tahoe Chips Tahoe Chips with Fire Single yas Wood road prec Retardant A Figure 3 Relative values of three combustion characteristics between eight mulch treatments Average maximum flame height Average rate of fire spread Average maximum temperature measured at four inches above the bed Graph courtesy of University of Nevada WILDFIRE IS COMING IS YOUR HOME READY Harden your home by using fire resistant building materials a fi A A i f Lf Z A AEI 7747 2 Remove dead leaves and pine needles from your roof and gutters A p b
9. larvae which chew galleries or mines through the cambium and inner bark The larvae pupate in the outer bark become adult beetles and chew their way out to fly off to another tree and begin a new generation in California up to four generations per year California is experiencing a bark beetle epidemic with the southern Sierras showing 50 6096 mortality in pine stands Help protect our forests by thinning suppressed trees and keep a watchful eye for these symptoms I5 KY ur TAA WV ns and Symptoms of Bark Beetle Infestations boring activity emergence holes in bark bark flecked woodpeckers If you suspect bark beetle activity in your pines consider having a Registered Professional Forester RPF make a visit to your property for an assessment and site specific recommendations gradual or sudden tree death yellow to brown or red brown foliage fade bleeding on the trunk frothy wet material oak bark beetles white pitch tubes initial attack of the Western pine beetle pitch streaming down trunk initial attack of the fir engraver Actual Size of Western Pine Beetle small reddish brown pitch tubes on bark most pine engravers large pinkish to reddish brown pitch tubes near tree base red turpentine beetles white to pinkish pitch granules near base red turpentine beetle sawdust like and cinnamon colored boring dust frass collecting in bark crevices onal and spider
10. lists the phone numbers of people you want to have notified in an emergency CODE NEN EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM County Firewise Communities USA By working together residents can make their own property and their neighborhood much safer from wildfire The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County has been assisting individual neighborhoods in completing the National Fire Protection Association s Firewise Communities USA certification process for over 7 years Nevada County currently has more certified Firewise Communities USA than any other county in California It begins with a few concerned citizens who form a committee Next a community wildfire hazard assessment is conducted in collaboration with a Registered Professional Forester your local fire department and CAL FIRE From this assessment recommendations are given in how to best address the wildfire hazards The community committee develops an action plan to implement the recommendations Once the action plan is in place an educational event is held to let residents know their part in implementing the action plan The certification is renewed annually to keep a focus on the ongoing need for vegetation management to reduce the wildfire fuel on the landscape The Fire Safe Council has aided the following communities in attaining the Firewise Communities USA certification e Lake Wildwood Association 2007 e Lake of the Pines Ass
11. the most significant natural disaster threat residents face living in Nevada County To learn more contact the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County at 530 272 1122 or online at www areyoufiresafe com COMMUMITIES Local Biomass Energy Facility Planning The Nevada County Biomass Task Force is continuing to work toward the goal of having a biomass energy facility in Western Nevada County The task force began work almost 6 years ago with an interest in helping reduce wildfire hazard both around our communities and in the forested areas that provide so many valued resources like water wildlife habitat and recreation It was soon clear that a biomass energy facility would be one way of meeting that interest by providing a market for excess biomass in the form of small trees limbs tops and defective logs that are produced from forest management and hazard reduction projects in our communities and surrounding forestlands A biomass energy facility will use the excess biomass to product electrical energy that will be fed into the existing electrical grid The biomass will be chipped at project sites and hauled by truck to the facility The facility will convert the chips to biogas using well established gasification technology The biogas will be used onsite to power an internal combustion engine that will in turn run a generator Such technology is very clean think natural gas engine and will use biomass that is for the m
12. through Farm Bill programs CONSERVATION PLANNING The NRCS works with forest landowners to develop a conservation plan customized to meet the owner s objectives for their land The conservation plan will address resource concerns and propose improvements that can be voluntarily implemented on the landscape Conservation planning provides direction to forest landowners to achieve goals and improve natural resources Forest Landowners HEALTHY FORESTS Forest health is a very broad term Many forests are both healthy and productive A number of concerns have been identified as major forestry problems These include fire and fuels invasion of non native and native pests loss of biodiversity air pollution water quality and quantity and degraded riparian forests Many forest stands have too many trees per acre or contain a disproportionate amount of shrubs in the understory This competition for light nutrients and water leaves forests extremely susceptible to disease and insect damage increases the risk of catastrophic fire reduces productivity and provides poor quality wildlife habitat as well as limited recreational opportunities FUEL HAZARD REDUCTION Forests and woodlands make up about 42 percent of California and half of that portion is in private Without effective management understory plants compete with trees for water nutrients and sunlight ownership Many of these acres are overstocked and at risk of wildf
13. webs To find a Registered Professiona Forester visit http www bof fire ca gov professional_foresters_registration locate_a_rpf_or_crm_ tunnels under the bark wood surface engraved by For More I nformation Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release http www cawildlife911 0rg Protecting Wildlife As residents are preparing for wildfire many wildlife species are still nesting their young Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release WR amp R offers the following suggestions to minimize impact on nesting birds and young wild animals Many of us forget that as the weather warms up and we begin our spring clean up chores around our property wildlife critters may have chosen our property to raise their young One of the things that folks can do to protect very young rabbits and hares is to keep the weeds low all year round When people let their weeds grow tall and then cut them short in the spring it can hurt kill or expose the babies to predators stated Kelly Roberts small mammal rehabilitator with WR amp R She also recommends carefully examining any burn piles left over winter Setting the brush piles on fire without inspecting them can kill or injure animals Jan Crowell reminds folks that it is illegal to trap and relocate wild animals This time of year especially it is best not to trap and relocate the animals as most are having babies By taking moms away they are leaving the young o
14. year m m Mad T Springs P ied AFTER E EC h L i Ph s bM S i n Ny m a x lap 1 E iy d B E s ri 7 Lc NU m b AMEN JL l l Skillman y Campground r NL uf a GO e Eivemile L T JA L House ScottsFlat 5 pet Ca Reservoir 9 Project Boundary E Forest Boundary USDA FOREST SERVICE k p _ 2 1 1 Nevada County amp Disaster Response 2 1 1 Nevada County is a resource and information hub that connects people with community health and disaster services through a free 24 7 confidential phone service and searchable online database 2 1 1 locally serves the entire population of Nevada County 2 1 1 is a free confidential phone number that offers assistance in multiple languages and services that are accessible to people with disabilities In the wake of a County emergency 2 1 1 provides citizens with critical non emergency assistance such as Information on evacuation and return routes mass care shelter housing options food and water social services family reunification status animal and pet evacuation information traffic and road closures 2 1 1 programs have been used to relieve pressure on the 911 system and emergency response teams by providing an easy number for citizens to remember and call for non emergency needs freeing up emergency responders to deal with true emerg
15. areas subject to this Article is recognized as an essential action homeowners and property owners can take to increase the chances that homes structures and other property will survive a wildfire while protecting the natural environment Regular fuels management and modifications on unimproved parcels is necessary to ensure adequate defensible space is achieved Fire Officials can now take action by first notifying the property owner of the hazard and giving them 30 days to comply If the hazard is not abated the fire official has the choice of issuing an Administrative Citation a criminal citation or go through the process of abatement and recovering the costs for that work The property owner has the right to appeal the decision if they feel no hazard exists Since this is something new to not only the property owners but the Fire Agencies we will all need to continue to work together to make this ordinance a success If you have any questions or concerns about the ordinance or a possible hazardous parcel contact your local fire agency Assistance For The U S Department of Agriculture s Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS is a federal agency that emphasizes voluntary science based assistance to help private forest landowners The NRCS promotes and informs private forest landowners about forestry practices that can improve growth reduce risk and improve forest health Many of these practices can be cost shared
16. defensible space
17. downer recently conducted a mastication project contracting with local Robinson Enterprises for the project The transformation to a healthy forest was so remarkable that the Board of Directors of the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County awarded the landowners a Special Recognition for Land Stewardship The project is highly visible and serves to help educate the public about good vegetation management for forest health The landowner reported that there were over 20 individual camp sites on this property obscured by heavy vegetation This project is also an example of how good forest management can attain multiple objectives General vicinity map for community defense huelllheductionginiestenniievada oui Western Nevada County Community Defense Project Local State and Federal agencies and organizations have been working to reduce the fuels in western Nevada County for many years In the area east and northeast of Scotts Flat Lake and Cascade Shores subdivision several different projects in different ownerships are coalescing to provide better wildfire defense in a strategic landscape approach Tahoe National Forest Fuels reduction activities continue on National Forest System land with the goals of improving evacuation routes and reducing intensity of fire behavior These activities will also increase the suppression capabilities of firefighters and create safer areas to fight fires This is the second year of the
18. encies In addition 2 1 1 provides a valuable referral number for public safety and health personnel Police Sheriff CHP and Fire personnel have an easy to remember number to give to at risk populations as a resource to help with their needs in any type of emergency or for ongoing assistance For example police officers are able to give one phone number composed of three digits for marriage family counseling substance abuse job training children senior services health care services and other assistance which may help the family avoid violence and abuse 2 1 1 helps law enforcement and the courts connect people in need with resources to help Finally 2 1 1 s trained information and referral specialists give personalized attention to each caller by utilizing a comprehensive computerized database of more than 800 Agencies 911 Wireless Services amp Emergencies The number of 911 calls placed by people using wireless phones has significantly increased in recent years It is estimated that about 70 percent of 911 calls are placed from wireless phones For many people the ability to call 911 for help in an emergency is one of the main reasons they own a wireless phone While wireless phones can be an important public safety tool they also create unique challenges for emergency response personnel and wireless service providers Since wireless phones are mobile they are not associated with one fixed location or address
19. h Disposal Wildlife Management Activities zm NIAC Natural Resources Conservation Service DON T BURN DOWN OUR TOWN Hot sparks and campfires put everyone at risk ONE LESS ONE LESS WILDFIRE Local Firewise Communities amp Fire Safe Council of Nevada County 530 272 1122 www AreYouFireSafe com RESOURCE DIRECTORY Agencies to assist with fuel reduction conservation planning amp emergency preparedness Fire Safe Council of Nevada County 530 272 1122 Nevada County Office of Emergency Services 530 265 1515 Nevada County Resource Conservation District 530 272 3417 Cal Fire Regional Office Auburn 530 889 0111 Cal Fire Recorded Fire Incident Information 530 823 4083 Tahoe National Forest 530 265 4531 Bureau of Land Management 916 941 3101 Nevada County Public Health Department 530 265 7174 American Red Cross Capital Region 916 993 7070 American Red Cross Northeastern Chapter 530 673 1460 What Fire District Are You In Wildland Fire Protection i CAL FIRE Tahoe NF Wildiand Fire Protection Boundary between CAL FIRE and Tahoe N F Grass Valley Fire Department 125 E Main Street Grass Valley CA 95945 530 274 4370 Higgins Fire District 10106 Combie Road Aubum CA 95603 530 268 0844 Nevada City Fire Department i 317 Broad Street Nevada City CA 95050 530 265 2351 CAL FIRE has primary wildland fire responsibility within local Nevada Co
20. ified trespassers 1 r ch el w d E d we Loo Ur n NH TNT as il i sr dnd X Th iun i p Pictured left to right Don Hoffler Robinson Enterprises Charlie Litton representing the Litton Family and Jeff Wagner Deputy Fire Marshal Grass Valley Fire Department Private property owners need to re sign the 602 letter each year for it to remain in effect Conduct vegetation management to thin suppressed trees remove understory brush and ladder fuels and limb up the trees to be saved 6 10 feet from the ground Remove any trash or debris remaining from the illegal camp sites Monitor the property or work with a neighbor if you live out of town to control the re growth of vegetation SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR LAND STEWARDSHIP During the Firewise Community Wildfire Hazard Assessment for the Glenwood Maidu Charlene Neighborhood in the summer of 2013 a landscape wildfire hazard was identified A large vacant property in the vicinity had a number of illegal camp sites in a heavily forested area with abundant understory brush and ladder fuels Members of the hazard assessment team including Grass Valley Fire Department Cal Fire Fire Safe Council and a Registered Professional Forester recommended the landowner be contacted and asked to reduce the fuel loading on the property In the winter of 2014 an old cabin on the property was ignited by illegal campers and it burned to the ground The lan
21. ire damage California and many of our neighboring states have experienced abnormally dry conditions These adverse conditions have fueled severe wildfires that are challenging our natural resources FOREST LANDOWNER ASSISTANCE NRCS conservationists can assist forest landowners with management decisions as well as providing technical and financial assistance to improve forest health and reduce the impacts of catastrophic wildfires In more than 75 years of assisting forest landowners NRCS has assembled a body of technical standards to help producers address a large number of natural resource concerns ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM EQIP The Environmental Quality Incentives Program EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that promotes production and environmental stewardship as compatible goals EQIP shares conservation costs with landowners to implement conservation practices on the landscape The Conservation Stewardship Program a separate program can help forest landowners obtain even higher levels of environmental enhancements HOW TO APPLY Contact the local NRCS District Conservationist at 530 272 3417 x 101 Eligible projects will be evaluated prioritized and selected for funding as budget allocations permit TYPICAL NRCS FOREST CONSERVATION Site Preparation Tree Planting Forest Stand Improvement Controlling Competing Vegetation Fuel Break Sediment Reduction from Roads and Trails Slas
22. n your home is sited on a steep slope The most intensive vegetation management lies within the home ignition zone Objectives for the home ignition zone include e Remove any combustible materials such as needles leaves dead twigs firewood dry grasses recycling and building materials from within 30 feet of the home garage outbuildings and propane tanks e Reduce the ladder effect between plants e Replace any flammable plant species such as juniper cypress or broom varieties with Firewise plant selections e Maintain high moisture content in the vegetation Be cautious using mulch in the home ignition zone see graph Mulching With Governor Brown calling for 2596 water conservation mulching plants is a good way to retain soil moisture Mulch conserves moisture but also burns Carefully choose the location of plants or garden beds that will need mulch Mulches greater than 2 inches deep tend to smolder and are difficult to extinguish Do not use wood or bark mulches within 5 feet of the house Instead consider colored rock pea gravel or other less flammable materials Having a hardscape immediately adjacent to your home will help protect the structure from flying ember intrusion Where to Plant Avoid putting plants immediately adjacent to the siding underneath vents or eaves and decks It is best to plant low growing and low volume plants within 10 feet of the structure Maintenance Maintenance
23. nes to die stated Crowell small mammal rehabilitator for WR amp R She recommends a variety of methods to discourage critters Don t leave cat or dog food out as wild animals don t know it was not left out for them Critter proof your chicken house Use chain link not chicken wire Fruit trees can be more difficult Electronic eye sprinklers noise makers dogs whatever one can do to make the orchard less attractive is a good approach Janice Barberry songbird rehab team leader with WR amp R recommends that before any trees are cut down in the spring to look for active nest sites and to check for cavity nesters such as woodpeckers before removing trees It is most important to take down unwanted trees in the fall or winter after fire season yet before wildlife baby season WR amp R recommends that since we all live in wildlife habitat please consider the following tips to reduce impacts on our fellow wildlife neighbors As you plan your spring maintenance chores please keep in mind how you can be sensitive to the wild critters living in your neighborhood while also being responsible for fire safe practices continued Crowell WR amp R is the non profit organization staffed totally by volunteers to rehabilitate and release injured or orphaned native wild animals in Nevada and surrounding counties Tips for Protecting Wild Birds and Animals in the Early Spring Keep grasses weeds low all yea
24. ociation 2009 e Mountain Lakes Estates 2010 e Friends of Banner Mountain 2010 e Tahoe Donner Association 2010 Greater Cement Hill Neighborhood Association 2012 Serene Lakes Property Owner s Association 2012 Greater Alta Sierra Firewise Community 2012 Golden Oaks Homeowner s Association 2013 e Rattlesnake Ridge Estates 2013 e Ridgeview Woodlands Homeowner s Association 2014 e Cascade Shores Homeowner s Association 2014 Glenwood Maidu Charlene Neighborhood 2014 e Rattlesnake Neighborhood Association 2014 Several local communities are currently undergoing the certification process including Toller Ridge Court Homeowners Greater Champion Neighborhood Association Brunswick East Condominiums Stonebridge Homeowner s Association and The Gazebo There is also a waiting list of seven communities to become certified Aside from being safer from wildfire by working together in your neighborhood to address the wildfire hazard you may be eligible for a discount on your homeowner s insurance if you live in a certified Firewise Community USA Last year the United Services Automobile Association USAA announced a rate reduction program for California which provides policyholders living in Firewise Communities USA a 596 discount on their homeowner s insurance policies That s cash savings along with the peace of mind that you ve done all you can to protect your family and property from
25. ost part now being disposed of by open burning chipping or mastication onsite All three of these disposal methods result in emissions of carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas Open burning the most common disposal method also produces other greenhouse gases and climate change impacting emissions The task force received grant funding in 2014 to complete a Biomass Feasibility Assessment that showed there is adequate biomass available on a long term sustainable basis to support a biomass energy facility The assessment also identified several feasible sites for a facility The task force recently received a grant to continue facility planning work The latest grant for which the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County is the fiscal manager will fund basic site planning and completion of the Conditional Use Permit work necessary for establishing the biomass facility The task force will be selecting a single site from the list of feasible sites to be the focus of this planning and permitting work If all goes well the work will be completed in the next two years after which efforts will include working with potential energy facility developers to pursue actual construction The Nevada County Biomass lask Force is a volunteer organization that is open to anyone in the community who has interest For further information you can visit the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County website at www areyounresafe com under the Resources Tab Biomass section
26. r round Don t burn brush piles in early spring without inspecting them first Don t trap and relocate animals in the early spring as you will probably leave the young ones to die Check for nesting birds including cavity nesting species like woodpeckers before removing trees Cut down unwanted trees and large brush species in the fall if possible The Fire Safe Council is here Ne FireSafe to HELP YOU he Fire Safe The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County is a non profit local volunteer based organization dedicated to making Nevada County safer from catastrophic wildfire through fire prevention education fire break clearing projects and creating Firewise Communities USA es pe a ogether Fire prevention education and direct landowner assistance programs are provided through grant funding and community donations Donations are requested based on the services provided however most all programs and services are free of charge regardless of puce i ur a tu d z Ea i M T sr A m imm i y d E x z15 bw et Lack x 3 m a SY z MH A ey ros aT E M Na e beet M en the ability to provide a contribution The Council offers memberships for specific benefits such as priority chipping service scheduled chipping service and discounts on products and events Memberships provide revenue to fund grant writing and local match requirements for grant
27. rn of another 49 er Fire sparked by a person trespassing on vacant property and burning debris is a constant worry of fire officials The 1988 49 er Fire burned over 33 000 acres and 312 structures in four days It is still listed as the 17th most devastating wildfire in California history by structures lost even 27 years later It has been proven that good forest management and land stewardship deters trespassers due to the open park like condition that does not provide any vegetation cover for illegal camp sites Cooking warming and ceremonial fires are legal on your own property If you so choose you may give permission for people to camp E ios 3M e rui J pui M E o0 075 EE o Aa on your property but may also be left with the cost of the clean up garbage hazardous materials and other environmental damage caused by them If you own property and have people camping without your permission there are specific actions you may take to remove them 1 You must post the property with no trespassing signs Be sure to put these signs up high enough so that they may not be easily torn down Make an effort to survey the property to identify any potential camp sites Enlist the support of local law enforcement in contacting any campers to notify them they are trespassing and that you will have them removed File a 602 letter with the local law enforcement agency to authorize them to remove any ident
28. s With the ongoing drought vegetation is much drier than usual which means you need to be ready for wildfire year round Lack of vegetation management on your property directly affects those around you so please do your part to protect the forest we all treasure Use extreme caution when working with equipment to manage the vegetation on your property Conduct these activities earlier in the day when humidity is higher and temperatures are lower Many of the calls the fire department responds to are caused by people trying to do the right thing the wrong way When camping in the forest be sure to watch an active fire and fully extinguish before you depart When using natural mulch in your landscaping to retain moisture for plants do not place these materials within ten feet of your structure Mulches pose a threat of ignition if embers land there During the drought water resources such as lakes and ponds may be too low to utilize for fire suppression efforts Without snow pack in the higher elevations this condition will continue to decline Please allow us to help you when disaster strikes by providing effective defensible space and being prepared to evacuate early Many homes are simply not defendable and hard choices are made during wildfire events Please take action to make your home fire safe Ze Chiefs of Nevada County Creating and Maintaining A Firewise Landscape Vegetation Arrangement The general concept is tha
29. sponsibility and maintain 100 defensible spaces around their homes For more information visit www preventwildfireca org The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County Work continues to implement strategic fuel reduction projects on the ground to reduce catastrophic wildfire and protect homes During the 2014 15 fiscal year an expansion of the Deer Creek Community Fuel Break below the Morgan Ranch subdivision and along Champion Mine Road in Nevada City was implemented Ultimately this fuel break will be two miles long on either side of Deer Creek to help protect ridgetop home developments from ignition sources in the environs Ignitions from illegal camping continue to be a high concern among fire agencies Fuel reduction projects deter illegal camping activity due to the open nature of the forest after treatment The numerous individual certified Firewise Communities are also implementing fuel reduction projects in their neighborhoods to address identified hazards through their action plans Firewise Communities pulled cleared evacuation routes removed Scotch Broom cleared adjacent vacant parcels or assisted low income seniors disabled with defensible space These Firewise Communities projects utilized the assistance of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps crews sponsored by the Fire Safe Council These fuel reduction projects combined represent over 150 acres of community fuel reduction treatments in the past
30. t native trees should be kept furthest from your home while shrubs and hardwood ornamental trees may be closer Bedding plants and lawns may be nearest to the structure From a wildfire fuel perspective vegetation is often described in terms of its vertical and horizontal arrangement The vertical fuel continuity is also referred to as ladder fuels Laddering arrangements of fuels enables fire to climb neighboring vegetation like a ladder Reduce the chance of fire climbing into trees by removing the lower tree limbs from 6 10 feet from the ground or the lower third of branches on smaller trees Fire soreads on the ground from plant to plant and then onto your home To reduce the chance of fire spreading horizontally space or group plants in clumps for visual screening while providing enough space between plants to reduce the fire spreading Individual spacing needs depends on the height and width of the plant but generally a three times height for vertical separation is a good rule of thumb Also consider the overall fuel loading in terms of how much vegetation there is within 100 feet of your home A more open park like condition will reduce the overall intensity of the fire Vegetation Zones The home ignition zone is within 30 feet of the house The reduced fuel zone lies beyond the home ignition zone and extends out to 100 feet from the house or to the property boundary Greater defense zone widths are necessary whe
31. unty fire district boundaries nm Nevada County Consolidated 11329 McCourtney Road Grass Valley CA 65045 Horth San Juan Fire District 299 Noth San Juan CA 95960 Ophir Hill Fire District Peardale Chicago Park Fire District Chicago Park CA 95742 Penn Valley Fire Protection District Ema Penn Valley CA 95048 CAL FIRE thos MF Wildland Fire Protection E Rough and Ready Fire District FO Box 10 Rough and Ready CA 95975 530 432 1140 Truckee Fire Protection District 10049 Donner Pass Road Truckee CA 06161 530 582 7850 PO Box 34 Washington CA 05986 CALFIRE 13760 Lincoin Way Aubum CA 95603 530 889 0111 Tahoe National Forest 831 Coyote Street Nevada Cay CA 25050 530 265 4531 Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place Tree Planting Safety Your safety is PG amp E s top priority Planting trees under power lines can pose electrical shock hazards and fire safety risks To stay safe keep the lights on and get the long term benefit beauty and satisfaction from the trees you plant refer to the planting zone guidelines below When landscaping be sure to consider overhead power lines and underground utilities in addition to fire hazard sun exposure and soil conditions when selecting shrubs and trees Tall Medium Zone Zone Trees taller Trees no taller than 40 feet than 40 feetat at maturity maturity a ae ef ey miam d
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