Nevada County, CA — A new public benefit organization, the Fire Safe Nevada County Coalition (FSNCC), has been formed to strengthen community wildfire preparedness and resilience.

Jo Ann Fites-Kaufman, the Board Chair of FSNCC, said the new organization is volunteer-driven and dedicated to empowering and supporting residents, neighborhoods, and communities – especially Firewise communities– to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires. The group will work closely with Cal Fire, local fire district officials, Nevada County Office of Emergency Services and other organizations supporting community wildfire safety including the Nevada County Community Foundation.

“We have great firefighting and emergency response agencies and community organizations working toward wildfire preparedness. We’ll be complementing and adding to their efforts, working collaboratively with them to support community and neighborhood initiatives that strengthen Nevada County’s resilience in the face of wildfire threats,” said Fites-Kaufman.

Cristine Kelly, Interim Director of the Community Foundation of Nevada County, said, “We’re thrilled to be able to offer fiscal sponsorship to the newly formed Fire Safe Nevada County Coalition. The new partnership not only provides a “home” for their fundraising efforts, it supports the Community Foundation’s Disaster Preparedness and Resilience strategic priority. We look forward to working with the team!”

FSNCC will provide resources, mentoring and funding to improve fire safety and create a more fire-adapted environment, focused on these key objectives:

  • Education: Offer fire safety education resources and programs to increase awareness and understanding of wildfire risks and mitigation techniques.
  • Mentoring: Connect Firewise Communities and neighborhoods with experienced leaders who can provide guidance on creating and maintaining fire-safe environments.
  • Project Funding: Facilitate direct funding for fire safety projects that help Firewise Communities implement localized fire prevention and mitigation efforts.
  • Best Practices: Share effective strategies for Firewise Communities and neighborhoods including resident engagement, campaigns and community preparedness to build a culture of fire safety across the entire county.
  • Local Implementation: Contract with local vegetation mitigation businesses to execute project work, ensuring that economic benefits stay within the community.

The existing Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities will be merged into this new organization. Erika Kosina, Chair of the Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities, emphasized the importance of this integration:

“Merging with this new organization will help us do a better job of supporting Firewise leaders in protecting their communities with the tools, education, and funding they need. More support for Firewise community leaders will help safeguard our entire community from the devastating impacts of catastrophic wildfire.”

The Fire Safe Nevada County Coalition is calling on residents, businesses, and local organizations to join their efforts to reduce wildfire risk and promote a safer, more resilient community. An office and contact phone number will be established soon, and donations can be made to the Community Foundation of Nevada County or directly to the FSNCC. More information, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, is available at www.FireSafeNCCoalition.org.