The Defensible Space Advisory Visit program provides a one-on-one consultation and advice at your home for comprehensive education on compliance with Public Resource Code 4291 – the law that requires defensible space around structures. PRC 4291 was expanded in 2005 from 30 feet to 100 feet of clearance.

With increased promotion of defensible space, many people were confused and had difficulty understanding what needed to be accomplished. The council implemented a volunteer advisory program with formal training by CAL FIRE and local resources to provide an advisory visit that mirrored a compliance inspection without the threat of enforcement.

The County of Nevada Office of Emergency Services offers a Defensible Space Inspection that is more formal than the Fire Safe Council's Defensible Space Advisory Visit. The County program attends more to compliance and complaint issues.

Fire Safe Council asks that people please consider making the suggested tax-deductible donation of $25 (to cover co…

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The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County has a variety of programs designed to increase fire safety in wildfire country.

• Access & Functional Needs (AFN) - Low-income senior residents or those with medical disabilities may qualify for assistance with defensible space clearing.
• Defensible Space Advisory Visit (DSAV) - This program provides a one-on-one consultation at your home for comprehensive education on compliance with defensible space requirements around structures.
• Chipping Program - The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County offers low-cost ($75/hr) chipping of brush cleared for defensible space of any permanent structure, and/or 30 feet from any roadside or driveway used for evacuation purposes.
• Address Signs - The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County creates Reflective Safety Address Signs so Public Safety personnel can find you in an emergency.
• Firewise USA® - The Firewise USA® Program provides resources to help homeowners learn how to adapt to living with wildfire while teaching…

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Fire Safe Council crew members perform defensible space clearing, according to the standards and best practices taught in the Defensible Space Advisory Visit training.

This service is modeled after the Access & Functional Needs program, but since this is a paid service, there are no income, age, or disability requirements to meet. To obtain a no-obligation quote for services, complete the request form at the link below. Wait times for this service may be lengthy due to many applications and limited number of crew members.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.areyoufiresafe.com/
• Form to request Reduced Cost Defensible Space Clearing Service - https://clienthub.getjobber.com/client_hubs/0ea7b196-f50e-4e4b-9a3a-f2f6486280f3/public/work_request/new?source=social_media
• Contact - https://www.areyoufiresafe.com/contact-us

The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County has Reflective Address Signs available for purchase. These signs can help emergency personnel find your address in the dark.

Signs are all weather, UV resistant metal with 1” x 4” numbers printed on your choice of one or both sides. These signs are compliant with 2010 California Fire Code requirements. Pre-drilled holes make mounting easy. Mounting posts are available for an additional charge. They recommend mounting signs in the line of sight as you approach your home from the roadway. Some locations may be best served by having more than one sign.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.areyoufiresafe.com/
• Reflective address signs - learn more or purchase - https://www.areyoufiresafe.com/programs/address-signs. NOTE: They do not ship the orders. You must come to the office to pick up your sign when it is ready.
• Contact - https://www.areyoufiresafe.com/contact-us

Scotch Broom Challenge.  The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County has tools to lend which make it easier for people to remove Scotch Broom. Scotch Broom should be removed because it is a highly flammable non-native plant and it also displaces native and beneficial vegetation. A photo ID and deposit check are required to borrow the tools.

Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a highly aggressive, non-native, invasive weed species. It was introduced to the United States as an ornamental and as packing material for cases of whiskey and beer from the British Isles, central and southern Europe. It is now considered a pest plant by many eastern and western states.

Why this plant is considered a pest...

• Scotch broom is highly flammable
• Displaces native and beneficial vegetation
• Costly in areas where forest production is impeded by its growth
• Forms dense stands which impede movement of wildlife, livestock, and degrades wildlife habitat
• Plants in excess quantity can be toxic to humans, horse…

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The 211 Connecting Point Contact Center provides a web page with information about wildfire resources.

Web pages

• Home - https://211connectingpoint.org/
• Wildfire resources - https://211connectingpoint.org/wildfire-resources/
  
  
  

The Placer County Fire Safe Alliance focuses on the wildland urban interface (WUI), fuel load reduction/healthy forest ecosystem, disaster management, and fire safe communities.

Alliance stakeholders include public agencies representing federal, state and local resource management, local Fire Districts, community Fire Safe Councils, and private industry representatives.

All members of the Alliance work to improve public safety, preparedness, security and community vitality in our region.

Web pages:

• Main website - https://www.placer.ca.gov/5721/Fire-Safe-Alliance

Placer County Fire Department (PCFD) provides all fire and emergency medical services. Through a Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) which was initiated in 1974, PCFD integrates state and local firefighting resources, career and volunteer, into an effective combination fire department.

Web pages

• Placer County Fire Dept. - https://www.placer.ca.gov/7625/Fire-Department
• Fire Stations - https://www.placer.ca.gov/7646/Fire-Stations

Placer County Fire Department has 16 fire stations.

• Bowman Station 10 - Cal Fire/PCFD Headquarters
  • ​13760 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA  95603, 530-823-4270
• Foresthill Station 11
  • 25150 Foresthill Road, Foresthill, CA 95631, 530-367-3111
• Colfax Station 30 - serves Colfax and Gold Run
  • 24020 Fowler Road, Colfax, CA 95713, 530-346-6776
• Dutch Flat Station 32 - an unstaffed reserve/volunteer station
  • 980 Sacramento Street, Dutch-Flat, CA 95714, 530-889-0111
• Alta Station 33 - serves the Interstate 80 corridor from Alta to the top of Donner Summit
  • 33333 Alta Forestry Road, Alta, CA 95701, 530-389-2234
• City of Colfax Station 36 - an unstaffed/reserve volunteer station that serves the downtown area of the City of Colfax
  • 33 Church Street, Colfax, CA 95713, 530-889-0111
• City of Colfax Station 37 - an unstaffed reserve/volunteer station on the north end of Colfax.  It serves the City of Colfax and the area around Rollins Reservoir.…

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On July 12, 2022, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of a Defensible Space Fuels Reduction Pilot Program and committed $200,000 in funding for the 2-year pilot period. The goal of the program is to assist vulnerable residents in creating defensible space around their homes and properties in order to reduce the risk of loss of life and property in the event of a wildfire. The program will provide up to $5,000 per property to property owners in unincorporated Placer County who have very low income and are elderly or disabled to hire a contractor to assist in bringing The property into compliance with the County’s Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance requirements.

See eligibility and application info here: https://www.placer.ca.gov/8445/Defensible-Space-Fuels-Reduction-Pilot-P

Web pages

• Home - https://www.placer.ca.gov/8445/Defensible-Space-Fuels-Reduction-Program