Banner Mountain Firewise Community Holds Meeting on Jan. 28

A community meeting for Banner Mountain residents will be held on Tuesday, January 28, from 5:00 – 6:30 pm at the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City to review their progress on creating defensible space and gain new insights on how to improve the effectiveness of their efforts.   

As part of the evening’s agenda, JoAnn Fites-Kaufman, community wildfire safety specialist, will share information on how to expand the effectiveness of fuel reduction work.  

Fites-Kaufman, whose career has spanned 36 years, both as a fire scientist with the National Forest Service as well as a firewise community volunteer, will highlight various types of fuel reduction and discuss fire behavior in relation to Banner Mountain terrain, vegetation and climate.  

“My goal is for folks to use the most effective tools for their neighborhood and firewise area. I will cover a variety of tools and share my perspective as to which can be the most helpful.  Remember, it all starts at the surface,” stated Fites-Kaufman.

In addition, information will be shared about the potential for new defensible space regulations beginning in 2025, in regard to homeowners’ fire insurance policies and county regulations. Representatives from both CalFire and Nevada County have confirmed their participation.  

And lastly, one of the goals for the meeting is to generate more neighborhood connections in the Banner Mountain area.  

“Banner Mountain is a huge firewise community. Thus neighbor-to-neighbor connections are even more critical as we work to generate safer neighborhoods. With the fires raging in southern California’s wooded subdivisions, we see what can happen – even in the winter. Neighborhood connections, safer evacuation routes and enhancing defensible space continue to be our goals for the year.  We look forward to meeting with more Banner Mountain residents and to help make our wonderful mountain community safer. Please join us,” stated Jeff Peach, Banner Mountain Firewise Coordinator.