Last week. Nevada County OES joined Truckee Fire Protection District (TFPD) on a tour of recently completed and mid-implementation fuels reduction projects. Even with a light blanket of snow on the ground, it was easy to see the wildfire mitigation benefit and aesthetic value of these projects with ample space between trees, no ladder fuel, and an overall “park-like” setting right up to private property.
Several projects were examples of where TFPD was able to step in with Measure T funds to add value to existing work underway by fiscally supporting increases in acres treated or by expanding upon previously completed work. More information about Measure T can be found on Truckee Fire’s website: www.truckeefire.org/wildfire-implementation-plan.
Leveraging what is already being done or “meeting projects where they are at” is key to tying together mitigation actions across the landscape, from the level of individual stewardship through Firewise Communities and beyond.
“It was exciting to see what has been accomplished first-hand in the field and then reconvene at the Fire Station to talk about the multitude of ways that we can increase East-West Nevada County collaboration on the wildfire front,” said Senior Analyst Alex Keeble-Toll.
Future opportunities to work together include pending updates to Community Wildfire Protection Plans, development of best practices for dead tree initiatives, community defensible space and home hardening assistance programs, Firewise Community coordination, evacuation route vegetation management, and more.
