November 2025 Newsletter

Hello Neighbors…

 

We’ve definitely got a great start on rain for the year—almost 13 inches at my house as of November 17. Time to pull your favorite sweater and leather gloves out of your go bag and turn your focus to falling leaves and needles, winter prep, and the holiday season.

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Nevada County came away from the fire season relatively unscathed again this year, which means there is a lot of fuel out there. But we have another 5-7 months of breathing room to work on our defensible space, home hardening, and emergency planning. We’ll begin to cover those topics again in earnest in the new year.

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CALFIRE Statistics for 2025

In 2025 (as of November 10), CALFIRE responded to 7,745 wildfires of at least 10 acres (about the same as last year), totaling 523,233 (about half of last year). The 5-year average acreage (CALFIRE and US Forest Service combined) is 1,313,500 acres). This doesn’t include the many smaller fires that our local departments handled without CALFIRE assistance or the CALFIRE incidents that were stopped while under 10 acres. See CALFIRE statistics.

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Residential Burning

As of November 15, CALFIRE has lifted the permit requirement for residential pile burning. Please continue to burn safely. And always confirm it's a permissible burn day before lighting up.

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Winter Preparation

Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) has a great web page to help you be ready for whatever comes our way. Key areas to consider if you are snowed in and/or power goes out include:

• Planning for medical devices and your health

• Keeping warm

• Maintaining light

• Food and water

• Fuel for home, vehicles, generators, and tools

• Staying connected

• Safe travel

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Fire Season Recap: Take Stock of What Went Well and What You Can Improve

Before we settle into the holiday season, it’s a good time to reflect on this past year’s fire season and consider what you might want to update for next year’s emergency preparedness.

• Do you have ideas for improving your go bag?

• Better ways to communicate with neighbors?

• An updated home inventory?

• And what projects might you want to tackle for better home hardening and defensible space?

• What about working with your neighbors on clearing ladder fuel and overhanging trees on a shared private road?

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Even if you’re not ready to tackle these things now, jotting down a list while it’s fresh in your mind now can be helpful.

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Heads Up! Informational Letter and Survey Coming in January

Keep an eye on your mailbox in January for a letter and community survey from your Greenhorn Firewise board of directors.

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We aren’t making a fundraising push this year, since we just completed one project (Lost Lake Rd.) and are currently finishing another (updated signage for emergency alternate routes).

Instead, we are recapping the work that’s been done with your donations over the past 5 ½ years. Thank you for helping to make our community safer!

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And we are asking you to complete a short survey about your concerns, your communication preferences, and the skills you may have to share. This information will help us to shape our priorities in the coming year and beyond.

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So give that some thought as you enjoy your holidays! And if you are inclined to make a donation before the end of the year (any amount is welcome to help cover ongoing expenses), here is a link to donate on line or by mail.

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Lava Cap Mine Superfund Site Cleanup Announcement

The EPA has asked us to help spread the word about some good news in our area. Starting in March 2026 they are beginning phase 2 of cleanup and water treatment system at the Lava Cap Mine Superfund Site, which impacts Little Clipper Creek and Lost Lake. Ultimately this is a very positive thing, but over the course of the work, through fall 2027, there will be periods of significant truck traffic to and from the site. A public meeting was held on November 13 at the Rood Center, and interested parties can learn more and sign up for updates at the EPA’s web page for this project.