California Forest Stewardship Program: Nevada County Fire Safe Council

Fire safe projects: from chippers to chats

Nevada County Fire Safe Council mission: To educate the citizens and protect the natural resources from the effects of catastrophic wildland fires, while improving forest health, air and water quality.

The Nevada County Fire Safe Council has been busy. With only one full-time staffperson and some 30 to 50 volunteers, this committed group is working on lots of projects and activities designed to provide a safer living environment for the residents of Nevada County.

Perhaps their most popular program is a door-to-door free chipping and shredding service that helps neighborhoods clean up the material generated by creating defensible space. The shredder creates garden mulch welcomed by local gardeners.

Lynn Lorenson, a master gardener, compiled a booklet of Firewise Plants for Western Nevada County. Copies were given to all the nurseries in the county for their customers. Nursery workers have reported that many people change the way they choose plants thanks to information contained in the booklet.

The next step is a community demonstration garden being developed for the new Grass Valley Fire Station. This creative project will give people the chance to see firewise plants in a garden setting to identify which ones they might like for their own homes. Planting the garden will begin in the fall.

At the annual air show last year, the Council organized a parade of local fire equipment including helicopters and spotter planes to show how much fire protection is based in Nevada County. In addition, a float illustrating firewise construction will be seen at the local Fourth of July parade.

Homeowner education is a major part of the group’s effort. The Fire Safe Chat Program is offered by trained presenters to provide information to small groups in their own homes.

Most volunteers are introduced to the group at the monthly Volunteer Luncheon where committees share their efforts and all find time to socialize.

For more information, contact Michelle Phillips, Fire Safe Council Executive Coordinator, at (530) 470-9193 or visit their website, http://www.nccn.net/~firesafe.