Firewise USA®

Firewise USA®

Firewise USA® Communities

In 2008, the board of directors of the Fire Safe Council Nevada County voted to change their mission to include promotion, development, and retention of formal Firewise USA® Communities in Nevada County.

Why? Scientific research has proven that when adequately prepared, a house has a better chance to withstand a wildland fire without the intervention of fire suppression services. And when firefighters do make a stand to save a home, Firewise USA® Communities provide a safer working environment to help make a nearly impossible job possible.

The goal is to encourage and acknowledge action that can minimize home loss to wildfire. It teaches you to prepare for a fire before it occurs. It teaches you to work together as a community to address wildfire. The program adapts especially well to small communities, developments, and residential associations of all types, but can work for any neighborhood where motivated homeowners band together to create a safer environment. As of January 25, 2023, the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County is Regional Coordinator for 87 Firewise USA® Communities in Nevada County, and 2 Firewise USA® Communities in Sierra County.

Briefly, being a Firewise USA® Community involves:

  • Forming a committee to maintain the program and tracking its progress or status.
  • Observe a Firewise Communities USA® Day each year that is dedicated to a local Firewise project. This can take the form of a potluck with a speaker and literature, a workday for clearing roadsides, or other events.
  • Invest a minimum of $29.95 per residence annually in Firewise projects in your home or neighborhood. This is NOT a fee or membership -- hours worked by volunteers on clearing roadsides, creating defensible space; or investment in home hardening, vegetation mitigation, equipment purchase or rentals, etc. have a dollar value that you can track and count toward the requirement.
  • Report annually online to your private NFPA Firewise USA® portal to document continuing compliance with the program. It's an easy process to fill in the blanks regarding your neighborhood activities, hours spent, etc.

An excellent resource for communities is the Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities, which meets quarterly to share information, resources, and best practices for maintaining Firewise USA® Community recognition. Sign-up for email notifications of meetings. Extensive info can be found on their website https://www.nccoalitionfwc.com/

To learn more on how your neighborhood can become a Firewise Community, contact us or visit Firewise USA. If you are the Resident Leader for an existing Firewise USA® community and are tracking hours and dollars spent on projects, the portal for entering that information is here:  https://portal.firewise.org/user/login 

NOTE: Per Cal Fire, all 3-year Action Plans must now be submitted on the new template found here. Other formats will be rejected: CA_3-Year_Action-Plan_Template.docx


Recognized Firewise USA®Communities:

Firewise Communities "In-Training" - Currently Being Assessed:

The communities below have Maps and Assessments started, need Action Plans and/or to enter Mitigation Data on NFPA Portal:           


Requesting to be Firewise Communities

The communities below are working on Map boundary and elements necessary to become a recognized NFPA Firewise USA(R) Community.

  • Brookview Acres
  • Cole Country Estates
  • Cooper Road (preliminary name)
  • Cottage Hill
  • Gold Drive
  • Grass Valley
  • Hidden Valley
  • Ladera Lane
  • Lodestar HOA
  • MacDonald
  • Maidu Trail Neighborhood
  • Penn Valley
  • Pinecone Circle
  • Ponderosa Pines
  • Post Chaise
  • Purdon
  • Ridge Road
  • Rough & Ready West
  • Russel Valley
  • Sailor Flat Road
  • Smiley's Pond
  • The Palisades
  • Valcormiss
  • Wessels Farm
  • West Grass Valley
  • West Main
  • Winter Creek

Are you in a Firewise USA® community? Use the interactive GIS map to find out.