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Firewise USA communities in Nevada County — free help organizing your neighborhood for wildfire (Wildfire Ready Coalition + Fire Safe Council)

Phone number
530-446-1224 (Fire Safe Council of Nevada County office; its site says the office is closed for now) · County defensible space line 530-470-2727
Category
Home
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Eligibility
Nevada County residents and neighborhoods (HOAs, road associations, any group of neighbors). Truckee-Tahoe area: Truckee Fire is the coordinator
Auto Summary
A Firewise USA community is a neighborhood that organizes to cut its wildfire risk, with a risk assessment, an action plan and yearly work. In Nevada County three regional coordinators help for free: the Wildfire Ready Coalition of Nevada County (volunteer 501(c)(3): mentoring, workshops, office hours), the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County (western county) and Truckee Fire (east). Existing sites must renew every November in the Firewise USA portal. Verified 2026-09-28.
Value
$0
Espanol
Comunidades Firewise USA en el Condado de Nevada — ayuda gratuita para organizar a su vecindario contra incendios forestales (Wildfire Ready Coalition + Fire Safe Council)
URL
nevadacountyca.gov/2782/Fi...munities
What it is: a Firewise USA® community is a neighborhood that organizes to reduce its wildfire risk, with a community risk assessment, a 3-year action plan and yearly work parties. The national program is run by the NFPA. Firewise status can also help when you talk to insurers (see United Policyholders).

Who helps in Nevada County (free)

The county lists three NFPA-recognized regional coordinators:
  • Wildfire Ready Coalition of Nevada County — wildfirereadync.org. "A local 501(c)3 non-profit volunteer-driven organization" that supports residents and Firewise Communities "through mentoring, sharing best practices, fire safety projects, and education." Step-by-step guide to starting a Firewise Community, events and open office hours on assessments and action plans.
  • Fire Safe Council of Nevada County — areyoufiresafe.com. Regional coordinator for western Nevada County (Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley, South County, North San Juan, Hwy 174): FWC@areyoufiresafe.com.

Other Fire Safe Council programs (status on its site, 2026-09-28)

  • Defensible Space Advisory Visit — a one-on-one visit at your home with advice on reducing the threat of losing it to wildfire.
  • Home Hardening Retrofit Program — funded by FEMA through Cal OES, covers 90% of approved retrofit costs (you pay 10%). Your home must first pass a defensible space inspection.
  • Chipping and the Defensible Space Clearing Service (for low-income seniors or people with medical disabilities) — temporarily unfunded; not taking requests.
  • The site says the office is closed for now; email is the most reliable contact.

Already a Firewise site?

"Every November, participating sites must submit an annual application to maintain their 'in good standing' status" in the Firewise USA portal (portal.firewise.org). Check your community dashboard for the exact date. Action plans update every 3 years and risk assessments every 5; California sites use CAL FIRE's templates.
Sources: Nevada County OES — Firewise Communities, nevadacountyca.gov/2782; Wildfire Ready Coalition, wildfirereadync.org and /complete-annual-reporting; Fire Safe Council of Nevada County, areyoufiresafe.com (home + Firewise page); NFPA — Firewise USA annual renewal information (read in Chrome) (all checked 2026-09-28). Lead from the Nevada County News newsletter (9/17).