The Nevada County Resource Conservation District has a Natural Resources Advisory Visit Program (AVP) that offers Nevada and western Sierra County landowners personalized assistance with natural resources management on their property. This program provides general guidance and information in addition to facilitating referrals to other public and private resource professionals at no cost to the landowner.

Our mission is to promote responsible resource management within our jurisdiction through education, leadership, technical assistance, and project facilitation.

Some examples of the technical services, information, assistance, and assessments we offer are:
• Soils information
• Erosion control
• Drainage issues
• Rural road maintenance
• Pond management
• Pasture management
• Rangeland management
• Forest health management
• Livestock water development
• Cross fencing
• Soil nutrient management
• Wildlife habitat improvement
• Pest management
• Watershed issues

Web pages

• Home - https://www.ncrcd.o…

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There are three main factors regarding residential outdoor burning:

1. where you live (burning is always prohibited inside the city limits of Nevada City and Grass Valley)
2. which fire jurisdiction serves your location
3. whether a burn permit is required

See info below for CAL FIRE, Nevada County, and Placer County.

CAL FIRE
During certain times of the year and in certain parts of the state, residential landscape debris burning of dead vegetation is allowed. However, homeowners should always check with their local fire station or CAL FIRE station, as well as local air quality management agency before burning. Burn permits are required many places and during the dry months, CAL FIRE prohibits burning altogether.

• Cal Fire Burn Permits - https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/
• Cal Fire Burn Status - https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/current-burn-status/

IMPORTANT: CAL FIRE Burn Permits are only for within the State Responsibility Area (SRA), or where CAL FIRE has jurisdictional authority. … [read more]

What is a Clean Room?
A clean room is a room that is set up to keep levels of smoke and other particles as low as possible during wildfire smoke events. A clean room should be free from activities that create particles such as cooking or smoking, and the doors and windows should be kept closed to prevent smoke from getting in. A clean room can also contain a portable air cleaner that makes the air in the room cleaner than the rest of the home.  

Why Create a Clean Room?
If there is an active fire in your area, or if the Air Quality Index indicates smoke levels are unhealthy and forecasted to remain there, local authorities may advise you to stay indoors or create a clean room. Spending time in a clean room at home can help reduce your exposure to smoke while staying indoors.
Conditions can change quickly, so you should always be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Follow your local news, the AirNow website, https://www.airnow.gov/, or your state air quality website for … [read more]

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

Submit form to request an assessment of fire safety hazards around homes and advice on the best way to create defensible space and harden your home against fire.

NOAA/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Weather watch/warning/advisory definitions This information can help with emergency preparedness. In addition to web links below, the National Weather Service Sacramento office can be reached 24/7 at 916-979-3051.

SOME KEY ONES IN NEVADA COUNTY (fire, heat, flooding):

FIRE
The National Weather Service issues Red Flag Warnings & Fire Weather Watches to alert fire departments of the onset, or possible onset, of critical weather and dry conditions that could lead to rapid or dramatic increases in wildfire activity.

• A Red Flag Warning is issued for weather events which may result in extreme fire behavior that will occur within 24 hours.
• A Fire Weather Watch is issued when weather conditions could exist in the next 12-72 hours.

A Red Flag Warning is the highest alert. During these times extreme caution is urged by all residents, because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire. A Fire Weather Watch is one level below a Red Fl… [read more]

The California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) website has tools and resources for Californians who have been impacted by disasters.

Web pages from above with visible url links

• Home - https://www.caloes.ca.gov/

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Provides educational information on how to get through a disaster
• Helps with local and state emergency preparedness
• Coordinates federal response to a disaster

California is in FEMA Region 9.

Web pages

• FEMA home - https://www.fema.gov/
• FEMA California - https://www.fema.gov/locations/contact/california#contact-and-about
• Contact - all regions - https://www.fema.gov/about/contact

In the event of a disaster, the Ready Nevada County dashboard will display real-time data.
READY NEVADA COUNTY DASHBOARD - https://nevcounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=dfae8e3b36e3455bbf9dcc865349e72e

The Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) is responsible for coordinating with County departments, municipalities, key stakeholders, and special districts to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all disasters.

Ready Nevada County is an effort coordinated by OES to raise awareness and mobilize the community to prevent and prepare for wildfires.

2022 READY, SET, GO! Handbook - English
https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44617/2022-Ready-Nevada-County-Handbook-PDF
Includes info about evacuation planning and checklists.

Spanish Handbook - 2021 ¡PREPARADOS, LISTOS, A EVACUAR! Manual
Spanish READY, SET, GO! 
https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/38907/RNC2021_Handbook-Spanish-WEB?bidId=… [read more]

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