FIRE SAFE COUNCILS OF PLACER COUNTY

January, 2024 Newsletter
Stay up to date on wildfire safety in your community

Featured story

Placer County: Committed to Forest Health and Reducing Wildfire Risk for Residents

By: Kerri Timmer, Placer County Regional Forest Health

Our Placer County Board of Supervisors’ commitment to wildfire risk reduction and forest health began in 2006 with the creation of the Wildfire Protection and Biomass Utilization Program and strategic plan, and it has continued with the Board’s identification of forest health and wildfire management as a top land use priority in recent years.

In late 2022, after the county experienced the largest fire in its recorded history (77,000-acre Mosquito Fire), the Board identified the need for a science-based countywide project prioritization process to see all the wildfire mitigation work that’s necessary but with the ability to stage the highest-value projects first.

The Regional Forest Health (RFH) team has contracted for the use of Land Tender, an interactive mapping and risk assessment platform, as a decision-support tool to help create that countywide plan.

The Land Tender tool uses local data and stakeholder input to identify priority areas where forest treatment can have the best chance of reducing negative fire impacts on lives, property, and other assets we care about. Land Tender modeling allows landowners and managers to define planning zones and accelerate implementation of fire prevention and forest health projects, focusing on the most severe and immediate risks to our Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) communities and forested landscapes.

Land Tender is already being used by partners in and around Placer County, including USDA Forest Service, Truckee Fire Protection District, and Pacific Gas & Electric Company, meaning we can share data and better align priorities across different land ownerships.

The Land Tender process does not take the place of localized planning and project prioritizing. County staff will continue supporting individual organizations in furthering their local project goals. But in addition to individual community wildfire protection plans or Firewise Communities efforts, Placer needs a countywide plan that addresses goals and priorities at the large landscape scale, which often involves our state and federal partners.

This is where Land Tender comes in. For anyone interested in knowing more about Land Tender, we will be holding community forums across the county in February/March of 2024. We will provide a demonstration of the program and collect community input on critical assets and priorities for protection to be reflected in the plan.

Forum dates and locations will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Fire Safe Council Open Seats

The Greater Auburn Fire Safe Council is recruiting for one open seat. To serve on the council, you must live within the Auburn boundaries and be able to attend in-person meetings once a month.

The North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council is recruiting for one open seat to represent District 3. To serve on the council, you must live in Placer County District 3 and be able to attend in-person meetings once a month.

The Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council is recruiting for one open seat to represent Greater Colfax Area. To serve on the council, you must live in the Greater Colfax Area and be able to attend in-person meetings once a month.

Council member duties include, but are not limited to:

• Public education and outreach
• Community engagement on wildfire topics
• Working with local agencies on wildfire projects
  
  

To apply, please fill out this application form and email it to boardclerk@placer.ca.gov.

January Fire Safe Alliance Meeting

Join us on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 10 a.m. for the Placer County Fire Safe Alliance meeting. Come learn about Placer County’s Sustainability Plan and how it relates to wildfire mitigation. Click here for the meeting invite.

Upcoming Fire Safe Council Meetings

Foresthill/Iowa Hill

Jan. 16, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m.

Greater Auburn

Jan. 19, 9 a.m.
Feb. 16, 9 a.m.

Greater Lincoln

Jan. 16, 6 p.m.
Feb. 20, 6 p.m.

North Auburn/Ophir

Jan. 23, 4 p.m.
Feb. 27, 4 p.m.

Placer Sierra

Jan. 25, 6 p.m.
Feb. 22, 6 p.m.

For more information and meeting locations, Click Here

Community Outreach at the Mountain Mandarin Festival

Placer County Office of Emergency Services hosted an information booth at the Mountain Mandarin Festival in November. The booth was one of several in the Cal Fire building highlighting wildfire preparedness programs, including Placer County’s Defensible Space Pilot Program, the Resource Conservation District’s Chipper Program, and Cal Fire’s Home Hardening Program.

Fire Safe Council volunteers, including Kathy Wallace, Bob Snyder, Sue Hicks, and Jenny Brimhall, attended to assist with the distribution of materials regarding Fire Safe Councils, the Firewise Program, and information on how to sign up for Placer Alert. Staff addressed questions about burn pile sizes and home hardening construction materials. Thank you to everyone who supported the booth and attended the event!

Firewise News

By: Jacqueline Manning, Placer County Office of Emergency Services

The 2023 Firewise Community renewal season has concluded. Despite unexpected changes in requirements, our communities demonstrated resilience, with many of them gaining approval on their initial submission. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all resident leaders for their diligent efforts in renewing Firewise recognition for their communities.

The Placer County Regional Coordinator assisted Firewise communities with renewal applications by providing information, technical support, and connection to local resources. This renewal season presented unique challenges but served as an opportunity for growth and collaboration as coordinators from local fire districts, Placer County, and Nevada County came together to support our communities.

Overall, the communities achieved significant success, with most completing their renewal process and securing recognition until the end of the 2024 calendar year. The remaining communities await final approval from CAL FIRE and NFPA for their revised submissions. Congratulations to the Firewise Communities of Placer County! We eagerly anticipate hearing about your remarkable accomplishments in 2024.

If you are interested in starting a Firewise Community in your neighborhood, Click Here.

Explore the Firewise Boundary Map

Explore the Placer County Firewise Community Boundary Map by scanning the QR code and enter your address into the designated search bar to view your Firewise Community. If you are not a part of a Firewise Community, explore neighboring Firewise communities and learn how becoming Firewise can save you money on home insurance, and protect your home against wildfires.

The Firewise Boundary Map can provide you information about which Fire Safe Council you belong to, where your local fire station is located, and if your home falls into a Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Click here to view map

Click here to sign up for emergency notifications