Cal Fire Chief Jim Mathias shared some disturbing statistics at a recent Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities meeting that we think are important to share with you:
Rainfall is at 50-70 percent of normal
The snowpack is at 3 percent
We are experiencing hot, dry, north and northeast winds that typically occur in the fall
There is below average greening of trees, and the grass crop is above average
We are basically in a moderate to severe drought due to the lack of rainfall in January and February
Worst of all, fires are starting. As of May 5th last year, there were 24 fire starts; as of May 5 this year, there were 81 fire starts
In short, fire season is early.
Now is the time to dive into those fire preparation tasks, especially creating the proper defensible space around homes and property lines. Here are some great resources:
The law of common sense
The 2020 Free Residential Green Waste Event, May 17th – June 27th, 2020
When: May 17-June 27, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.
Where: - Rise Gold, Grass Valley (the old Bohemia Mill), 12625 Brunswick Road, Grass Valley
Penn Valley Rodeo Grounds 10513 Spenceville Road, Penn Valley
NID Alta Sierra Reservoir Site 12057 Francis Drive, Grass Valley
The collected waste will be chipped or ground and offered to the public every Friday and Saturday during the Green Waste Event at the Penn Valley and Grass Valley sites.
Note: To reduce the spread of invasive species, blackberry, Scotch broom, or poison oak will not be accepted. Root balls, limbs greater than 6 inches, or trash will also not be accepted. Take these items to the transfer station on McCourtney or to the Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal site.
Volunteers are needed! Training to ensure proper social distancing and other safety precautions will be available.
For more information about the event or how to volunteer, click here.
Other news
General meeting cancelled: The 6B and Friends Firewise Community general meeting scheduled for May 17 at Wild Eyed Pub is cancelled due to the social distancing realities of the pandemic. We will continue to share important fire safety information with you via monthly emails - like this one - and fancier quarterly e-newsletters. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact one of the committee members.
Neighborhood rosters: A reminder that you can access the rosters for both 6B Ranch only and the entire 6B and Friends Firewise Community on our website. Go to 6Bandfriends.org → Click on the About tab at the top of the page → Scroll down to Roster → Choose 6B and Friends Roster or 6B Ranch Roster → Type in the password neighbors.
Fire drill: The multi-agency fire drill planned for our area in June will be scaled way back from the original plans. We’ll relay more info as we know it.
Defensible Space Advisory Visits: Free DSAVs will resume soon. Social distancing and other safety measures will be the protocol for all visits. If you would like to schedule a visit, call the Fire Safe Council at 530- 373-1122 or fill out the form on the FSC's website here.
Be well, be safe!
Your Firewise Committee,
Lauren Drutz, Lynn Forbes, Karen Pridemore, Trent Pridemore, Emily Sweeney, Jim Walters