Nevada City Manager Joan Phillipe, acting in her capacity as Director of Civil Defense and Disaster for the city, has issued a declaration of public emergency due to extreme fire danger. She issued the declaration due the current extended drought conditions combined with the excessive amount of combustible material located in and around the city.
Because there is a high risk of fire occurring or spreading in or near the city, the declaration bans open fires in the city limits until the termination of the local emergency. Fires in devices designed for outdoor warming such as patio fireplaces, chimneys, portable fire pits, stoves or other portable burning devices used for outdoor recreation and/or heating are also prohibited in the city limits under the declaration. No permits or permission will be granted approving recreational, ceremonial or special event fires. These prohibitions are mandatory.
The prohibition does not include use of devices used for cooking such as barbeques. Those devices must be used on property owned by the user or who has legal authority to occupy the property.
The Nevada City Council will review and ratify the proclamation at its August 25 council meeting. If it is ratified, it will remain in effect until the council proclaims the termination of the local emergency.