6B and Friends Firewise Community Newsletter: Spring 2022

Neighborhood News

• We thank those who returned their Firewise expenditure forms. The totals are required when 6B and Friends applies for recertification every year. Some insurance companies also offer discounts on home insurance when homeowners live in a Firewise Community. 

Approximately 75 percent of immediate and adjacent 6B residences returned their expenditure sheets. Ponderosa and Hidden Valley percentages were much lower, and we need to increase these numbers! Having a representative from the Ponderosa and Hidden Valley areas on our Firewise committee would be a great help. Don’t be scared! Unlike the first couple of years when the committee did a lot of work to get our water infrastructure repaired and to meet the requirements to become an official Firewise Community, the committee work has decreased significantly. Please contact Lynn Forbes, lynnfrbs1@yahoo.com, if you can help. 

• Thanks to the 18 neighbors who participated in our successful February 26 Green Waste bin program on Thoroughbred Loop!  We collected literally tons of branches and small trees via 14 large trailer loads, 14 smaller vehicle loads plus multiple trash cans full of leaves and twigs in less than four hours.

Regional News

• California is in a drought. Much of California, as well as adjacent states, are on track for the driest January-March on record.
• Burning without a permit will soon come to an end. Burn piles are permitted only on appropriate days under safe conditions. You can check on permissible burn days here.
• NID regulations prohibit water transport other than for health, safety and emergency reasons. With water thefts increasing, due mainly to non-compliant cannabis growers, watch for trucks and truck-trailer rigs at our fire hydrants and ponds. If you see suspicious activity, don’t confront drivers, but report the incident to Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, (530) 265-4431. If it is safe to snap a photo, do so. It could help. 

How to dispose of yard waste

• The last free event sponsored by the County of Nevada and the Fire Safe Council is scheduled for April 8, 9, and 10 at 12625 Brunswick Road (use entrance at Millsite Road and East Bennett Road) between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. 

Other yard waste disposal options:

• Take advantage of the chipping program through the Fire Safe Council. If you chip yard debris and use it for mulch, spread it at least 30 feet from any structures and no more than 3-inches deep.
• Check out the low-cost defensible space clearing services offered by the Fire Safe Council.
• Hire contractors to do specific work. You can find a list of local contractors from arborists to stump grinding here. 

Reminders for the coming fire season

• Please, no mowing on high fire-risk days!
• Review evacuation plans. We have possible evacuation routes for our neighborhood on our website. 

• Check on your neighbors. Have at least one neighbor you can call and they can call you in case of an emergency.
• Evacuate early. If not, you risk the lives of others and complicate the jobs of and endanger first responders.
• Place red Evacuated Tags in a visible place when you leave. You can obtain evacuation tags from the Fire Safe Council (143 Springhill Drive, Grass Valley, off of Idaho Maryland Rd), the Rood Center or at fire stations.
• Refresh the items in your GO bags. Be sure medicines are up to date.
• Keep vehicle gas tanks full all year-’round. Consider adding fuel stabilizer to the gas in generators. Battery-powered fuel pumps and quality siphon hand pumps are a safe way to transfer fuel. Refill generators outside, and only after they have cooled down.
• Considering buying a generator? Basic Generator Types & Safety is a  good resource to help in your decision.  
• Reflective non-flammable address signs help first responders, police and paramedics find you in the event of any emergency, not just fire. Order reflective address number signs from the Fire Safe Council here.
• Request a Defensible Space Advisory Visit. This is a free, no-judgment visit to help you take the right steps to make your property as fire safe as possible. We are lucky to have three DSAV inspectors in our neighborhood. Call Lauren Drutz, (530)559-5460, Karen Pridemore,  (530) 274-8770, Trent Pridemore, (530) 274-8770, or the Fire Safe Council, (530) 272-1122.

New legislation

According to AB 38, as of July 1, 2021, when you sell property that is located in a high or very high fire severity zone you will need documentation of a compliant Defensible Space Inspection and disclosure that you live in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as we do.  

Click here for more information and to schedule a CalFire Defensible Space Inspection. 

Know your evacuation zone

It is critical to know your evacuation zone number. In the event of a wildfire or other emergency, law enforcement and fire agencies issue evacuation warnings and orders via emergency alerts, media releases and social media. Memorize your zone number and carry it in wallets and purses, vehicles and on cell phones. 

All 6B and Friends FireWise Community is in ZONE NCO-E061, except for:

• Address 15086 South Ponderosa Way is in ZONE NCO-E060.
• Address 12780 Auburn Road is in ZONE NCO-E099.

You can check your zone here.

Did you know … 

In Sweden, one rarely sees poorly managed private forest stands. Limbing trees to reduce fuel ladders, increasing tree spacing and reducing forest-floor fuel exceeds what we do in the United States. Why? Because the government requires forest management. If you don’t do it, they do, and bill you $$$. 

When we look at our neighborhood overall, we often see improvements to structure hardening, but not in tree thinning. 

Dense stands of trees are vulnerable to insect infestation (bark beetle) due to drought stress in which individual plants don’t get their fair share of  light and water. Many downed trees in our snow storm debacle were stressed trees. Beetle-infested trees should be removed before larvae hatch and migrate to healthy trees. Severely infested trees will die and add yet another layer of dry fuel for wildland fires.

An excellent source for all things related to fire prevention is the Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities website. 

Remember: You are only as safe as your neighbors and vice-versa.

Be safe!

Your 6B and Friends Firewise committee 

Lauren Drutz, Lynn Forbes, Karen Pridemore, Trent Pridemore, Jim Walters