October 2024 Newsletter
Hello Neighbors…
As I wrote this, we were coming off of a cool, rainy day and headed for a couple of Red Flag Days. Point being that this time of year can be quite variable, and we’ll continue to focus on evacuation readiness, defensible space, and situational awareness until we get some significant rain over multiple events.
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So please forgive any redundancy in this newsletter. Fingers crossed that in November we can leave the fire season reminders behind for a while. Meanwhile—stay safe out there!
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Look for Our Annual Fundraising Letter
Our annual fundraising letter was mailed October 15. The volunteers on your Greenhorn Firewise board will match total donations (up to $5,000) made by October 31. We are still working toward the total amount needed to repair Lost Lake Rd., and we also have annual expenses related to mailings, the annual meeting, insurance and maintenance for the water tanks, website, etc. Every donation helps! (How to donate)
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Upcoming “Prepare to Burn” Workshop
The Nevada County Resource Conservation District (RCD) offers a free prescribed fire education program to the community. They provide a variety of courses and hands-on workshops on the basics of prescribed burning. The idea is that you can learn to burn legally, safely, responsibly in a way that improves fire safety and restores ecosystems.
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On November 17, RCD will be conducting a “Prepare to Burn” workshop at a landowner’s property in our community. This is a 4-hour, hands-on workshop. Learn about the steps to prepare for a prescribed burn including planning, preparing the site, and the permitting process. Learn what tools to use and when, how to prepare a site for safe burning using techniques like selective pruning and ladder fuel removal, and practice building control lines. CALFIRE will be there to discuss permitting requirements. Space is limited, so sign up soon if interested. If that date doesn’t work, there are other options and additional courses. Please note: This workshop will NOT involve an actual burn, as the burn ban is still in effect. There will be burning workshops if and when conditions are right.
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Prepare for Burn Season
While we can’t yet burn our woody debris, we can begin to prepare so we’re ready to go when the burn ban is lifted. Be mindful of materials, size, and location when you construct your piles, and cover them to keep them dry until time to burn. The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network has a nice web page and fact sheet on pile burning.
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Generator Safety
With the potential for PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) due to dry and windy conditions, now is a good time to review generator safety. Bonus—you’ll be ready for winter!
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Reminders
Report your time and expenses for fire wise activities. This helps Greenhorn Firewise keep its NFPA recognition, which can give you a discount on fire insurance. A full list of qualifying activities and expenses is available on the NFPA website. This is an honor system: no receipts are required. You can report at any time (or multiple times) during the year, but we will be submitting our hours to the NFPA in November. We have a new online form for this, but you can still use the old forms this year.
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No burning allowed! The outdoor burn ban is still in effect. As we mentioned last month, CALFIRE will not allow any burning until there is sufficient moisture in the ground and vegetation after multiple rain events. And at ALL times of year, you MUST check burn status before starting a burn.
Don’t neglect your defensible space maintenance, especially in “zone zero” (within five feet of your structures). Acorns and needles are already falling, and oak leaves are not far behind.
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Keep up your situational awareness, especially on windy days.
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Be extra cautious on Red Flag Days.
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Know your evacuation zone.
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Make sure you’re signed up for CodeRed alerts.
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Consult multiple information sources. Watch Duty and YubaNet are especially helpful.
Be ready to evacuate if needed:
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Keep your go bags ready. And make sure you include clothes for cooler weather!
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Review your evacuation plan. Familiarize yourself with alternate routes (including “unofficial” ones that may cross neighboring properties).