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Firewise USA

Firewise USA

Firewise Communities USA

How To Become a FireWise Community brochure 

In 2008, the board of directors of the Fire Safe Council of 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.

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 $2.00 per capita annually in Firewise projects in your neighborhood. This is NOT a cash investment -- hours worked by volunteers on clearing roadsides, creating defensible space, etc. have a dollar value -- currently about $29/hour -- you can track and count toward the requirement.
  • Report annually online to Firewise USA® 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 monthly to share information, resources, and best practices for maintaining Firewise USA® Community recognition.

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

Recognized Firewise USA®Communities:


Firewise Communities Currently Being Assessed:

The communities below are considered currently being assessed, or assessment is pending. 

  • Bitney Springs
  • Echo Ridge
  • Grizzly
  • Kentucky Flat
  • Martis Peak


Firewise Communities "In-Training"

The communities below are considered "in training" and working on the elements necessary to become a certified NFPA Firewise Community.

  • Burma Road
  • Cole Country Estates 
  • Cottage Hill
  • Cruzon Grade
  • Dalmatian Drive
  • Freeman
  • French Coral
  • Harmony
  • John Born Road
  • Lake City
  • Lakewood
  • Lightning Tree Road 
  • Lodestar
  • Maidu Trail Neighborhood
  • Osborne Hill
  • Penn Valley
  • Pine Cone Circle
  • Pine Forest
  • Pla Vada
  • Ponderosa Road Association
  • Sunnyvale Road Association
  • Tahoe Mountain - Grays Crossing
  • Tahoe Mountain - Old Greenwood
  • Wampum- Lovell
  • Washington Hill
  • West Main
  • West Sages
  • Wildwood Heights
  • Willow Valley Road

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