Water Tanks Project

Your Donations at Work!

In 2022 the Greenhorn Firewise Community (GFC) purchased and installed four 10,000-gallon water tanks on the Greenhorn Road corridor for the sole purpose of fire suppression. The tanks are strategically located two and four miles from the intersection of Brunswick Road. The availability of water for fire suppression on Greenhorn Road is extremely limited, only worsening the farther one goes from Brunswick Road. The road stretches for over 6 miles, with only a few hydrants in the first mile. 

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Installation of these tanks reduces turnaround times for fire resources, allowing for sustained fire attack. To put things in perspective, 40,000 gallons of water can refill an average of 80 fire engines or 20 water tenders. This greatly increases the ability of the fire agencies to suppress fires early in their progression, benefitting the residents of the Greenhorn Rd. corridor as well as neighboring communities. Any fire can become everyone’s problem very quickly.

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The total cash outlay for this project was more than $82,000.00 plus $2,500 of in-kind contributions. A grant for $62,370 from the Nevada County’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation for Community & Economic Resiliency all went to the purchase of the four water tanks themselves. Greenhorn Firewise Community donors provided the balance of funds needed to complete this project, with sweat equity from GFC board members and others. In addition, landowners at the two sites allowed easements for the tanks, without which the project would not have been possible. 

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Thinking of installing tanks in your Firewise Community? Our "Lessons Learned" report can give you valuable information before you start.