Hello Neighbors…
We are entering the hottest and dryest time of the year, and small fires are popping up regularly. It’s important to review your evacuation plan and flesh out any details so you’re ready to get out if necessary. This month we give you important information and tips about evacuation preparedness.
Thank you to those of you who completed our community survey! We’ll be reporting out on the results in the next couple of months. The survey is still open for additional responses.
And thanks to the donors and volunteers who facilitate Greenhorn Firewise in our commitment to improving wildfire preparedness and safety for all our residents.
News and Reminders…
A few reminders of evacuation-related topics we’ve covered in the last couple of months:
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Keep your go bags ready. (Note regarding prescriptions: It’s recommended that you take photos of your medication labels with your phone.)
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Know your evacuation zone.
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Make sure you’re signed up for Nevada County alerts.
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Review your evacuation plan. Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes (including “unofficial” ones that may cross neighboring properties). Make sure to consider evacuation routes from your workplace as well as home.
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Always keep your vehicle’s fuel tank at least half full (or fully charged if electric). You may be sitting in traffic if you have to evacuate.
Important thoughts about evacuation…
As we all know, evacuation options for the Greenhorn Firewise Community (GFC) are very limited. Greenhorn Rd. west to Brunswick is the only paved, two-lane way out, and in the event of a large fire in our area, ALL ways out will be crowded and slow. And remember that emergency vehicles will be using one lane to come in (though there should be opportunities to pass disabled vehicles if necessary).
Hopefully you’ve all seen the map signage that we posted earlier this year near the mailbox clusters, which show a couple of alternate ways out of the Greenhorn corridor. These are not suggestions, but last resort options.
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The alternate routes are narrow and mostly unpaved, with very few turnouts. One disabled vehicle could block the route. But we felt it was important to make people aware of them.
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If you have a choice (meaning Greenhorn is open and the fire isn't coming from the west), Greenhorn toward Brunswick is the best option unless you live on one of the alternate routes or have a "back way" out from your property.
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YOU will need to decide the best route to take based on where you live and the direction the fire is coming from.
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The earlier you leave, the better. You don’t need to wait for an evacuation warning or order, especially if you have livestock or family with limited mobility or special needs.
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More details about main and alternate routes and about evacuation overall on our website.
Red Flag Warnings
A Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions (heat, wind, humidity, possibility of lightning) combine to produce the possibility of extreme fire behavior. While you should always be prepared during fire season, red flag days mean more heightened awareness and extra precautions, for example:
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Make sure flammable items like cushions, wooden furniture, potted plants, and propane grills are out of zone zero (inside the house or beyond five feet).
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Open gates and garage doors and ensure your vehicle is gassed up or charged.
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Consider driving your RV out of the area if you hope to stay in it during an evacuation.
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Pay close attention to reliable news sources.
How will you know? YubaNet, Watch Duty, KVMR and KNCO, Ready Nevada County, and other sources will provide notification of red flag warnings. Fire stations and the Rood Center will fly a red flag. And you can look for the Greenhorn Firewise Community red flag on the north side of Greenhorn Road a few homes in from Brunswick.
If There Is a Fire in the Area…
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Monitor multiple information sources as noted above under Red Flag Warnings. Do not rely on social media (NextDoor, Facebook, etc.) for timely emergency information.
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Understand the county’s evacuation communications and heed them. Late evacuations contribute to traffic jams and put you, your neighbors, and first responders at risk.
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Evacuation Warning: A potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with animals should leave.
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Evacuation Order: An immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
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Hi-Lo Sirens: Law enforcement will drive through evacuation ordered areas sounding the hi-lo sirens on their vehicles. DO NOT WAIT to hear this, but if you do hear it, leave immediately.
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Be prepared for potential power outages due to PG&E safety shutoffs:
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Keep your garage door open with the vehicle pointed out and keep gates open.
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Have food, lighting, water, and charged batteries.
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Keep pets nearby so you don’t have to find them if you need to leave.
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If you have large animals and/or livestock, be ready to evacuate them and do so as soon as practical. The Nevada County Veterinary Disaster Response Team can assist you with planning (for livestock as well as pets). Contact them now for advice—don’t wait for an emergency.During an active emergency and if you are in an evacuation zone please call Sheriff’s Dispatch at 530-265-7880 for assistance with animal evacuations.
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If you feel that you are in danger, evacuate—regardless of whether you’ve heard a warning or order. Especially if you have animals or family members who may need extra time. Leaving early increases your chance of survival.
What to Do Before and When You Leave
IF YOU HAVE TIME there are things you can do before you leave to prepare yourself and your family and increase your home’s chance of survival. Fire Safe Marin has an excellent Wildfire Evacuation Checklist that you can use when preparing to evacuate. After familiarizing yourself with it, keep a copy with your Go Bag for easy access in an emergency. (Note that the green section on notifications and information is Marin-specific, so ignore that.)
The checklist is organized by “Always,” “If Time Allows,” and “When You Leave”. Some of the topics covered are:
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How to dress for evacuation.
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Preparing inside the house (e.g., windows, lights, fans, etc.).
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Preparing outside and in the neighborhood (e.g., get combustibles away from the house, turn off gas, connect hoses, leave ladders, etc.).
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When you leave (e.g., use headlights, carpool if possible, drive carefully, etc.).
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This last section also talks about what to do if you are trapped.
“Evacuated” Tag. When you leave, don’t forget to place one of these tags in a highly visible place such as a door, reflective address sign, mailbox, fence, or gate. These tags will help first responders swiftly identify which homes have been evacuated so they can focus their attention on those who still need help. The tags are free and are available at fire stations, law enforcement offices, the Rood Center, and at many community events.