 Fire season is here — and preparation starts before the smoke does. This month, Placer County is making it easy to get ready, get informed and get connected.
📝 Burn permits required May 1 — CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit has announced that, effective at 8 a.m., May 1, all hazard reduction burning will require a permit in Placer County. Learn more
🧑🚒 Free events for families — Firefighter story time for kids and emergency preparedness workshops are happening all month long. Learn more
📲 Sign up for PlacerAlert — Get real-time emergency notifications before, during and after a disaster. Sign up now
📋 Shape the plan — Placer County's Community Wildfire Protection Plan needs your voice. Get involved
 The dream of a transcontinental railroad that would connect the United States from east to west was rumored to be an elaborate scam of the Central Pacific Railroad. Even Theodore Judah, who had championed the idea and surveyed the route over the Sierra Nevada, worried the Central Pacific never intended to build the railroad past Dutch Flat. This fear was driven by multiple factors, and the Central Pacific was dubbed the “Dutch Flat Swindle” by the Daily Alta newspaper, a name that stuck until the project finally crossed Donner Summit in 1868.
The concern was partially due to the extremely slow progress made on the project despite huge investments of public land and funding. Meanwhile, the officers of the Central Pacific were simultaneously building the Dutch Flat and Donner Lake Wagon Road, which was a toll road supposed to assist in the construction of the railroad by carrying important construction supplies. The wagon road was completed in 1864 and reportedly made it possible to travel from Sacramento to Virginia City in 17 hours.
The infamous wagon road lost its stronghold on freight travel once the railroad was completed and the Central Pacific abandoned the investment. It gained renewed interest when it became part of the Lincoln Highway, which was the first transcontinental automobile highway in the United States in 1916.
Photo: Portion of the historic Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road as part of the Lincoln Highway near Donner Summit. Circa 1925. Placer County Museums, Tahoe National Forest collection.
Explore our new interactive timeline — updated every Thursday with photographs, milestones and the stories of people who built this county. Explore timeline
 Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply
Current recruitments include:
 Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...
Roseville: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market, Sutter Roseville Farmers Market, Roseville & Rocklin 19th Annual Art Studio Trek, BikeFest, Culture Without Borders: Lantern Festival
Rocklin: 26 Parks in 2026, Firefighter story times, Roseville & Rocklin 19th Annual Art Studio Trek, Red, White and Bluegrass, The Rocklin Heritage Street Faire, Rocklin Community Festival
Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market,
2026 National Competition “Feats Of Clay” Exhibit
Loomis: Townsmen Car Show, Creation Station -Local Crafters, Music, Food, Vendors,
Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market, Farmers Market at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Auburn Music On The Square, Old Town Auburn Celebrates Cinco de Mayo, Auburn Bike Month Speaker Series, Auburn Bike Month 2026
Colfax: Colfax Garden Club Plant Sale
North Lake Tahoe: Throwback Thursdays, Line Dancing Fridays, Firefighter storytimes, Cushing Crossing
...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.
Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!
Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail
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