Nevada County Stands By Los Angeles, Strengthens Preparedness Ahead of Fire Season

The destructive wildfires ravaging Los Angeles are in the hearts and minds of many people living in Nevada County.

Some locals have dozens of friends and loved ones who have been impacted by the fires where thousands of people have lost homes and tens of thousands of people are still under evacuation orders.

“Most of my people are just sorting things out. I have over 20 friends and extended family that have been impacted,” said Jai Hanes, Program Director for local community radio, KVMRx.

Hanes grew up in Altadena, a tight knit creative community in the San Gabriel Valley where the Eaton Fire has consumed 14,117 acres, destroyed 9,366 structures and resulted in 17 fatalities. It is the second-most destructive wildfire in California history, according to CAL FIRE.

“Elders who were staples in our community lost their homes. We lost five schools so now we have a lot of  kids displaced. Trying to come back to a level of normalcy will be challenging but everyone is supporting each other as best they can,” said Hanes, who believes Nevada County can serve as a resource for wildfire preparedness.

“I think Nevada County understands because they have experienced this. Everyone here has a story as well and can relate. That’s the one commonality. I see this as an opportunity to share information,” said Hanes.

Law enforcement and fire personnel from Nevada County have been deployed to assist coastal communities impacted by the Palisades Fire, the fourth most destructive California wildfire, according to CAL FIRE. The Palisades Fire has burned 23,713 acres, destroyed more than 5,800 structures and caused ten deaths. 

Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is also lending a hand.

“We’re working 24/7 communicating with all of the stakeholders,” said Sgt. Dennis Haack from Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, who is stationed in Zuma Beach, Malibu assisting in the Palisades Fire.

Sergeant Haack is a law enforcement liaison for the assigned CAL FIRE Incident Management Team. He helps with planning efforts for equipment and supplies and communications between fire agencies, law enforcement and involved cooperators, such as power and water companies, state parks, tribes and more.

Sgt. Haack is the first employee of the Sheriff’s Office to become an official member of one of CAL FIRE’s Type 1 all-hazard incident management teams. These teams are designed to assist with complex incidents by providing an incident command structure.

Sheriff Shannan Moon recently spearheaded the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office’s participation in the CAL FIRE Incident Management Team program to support incidents throughout the state of California.

“I’m happy to be down here to try to help. I’m getting experience in large incident management that will be beneficial to Nevada County. If there’s ever a large incident, we’ll be prepared,” said Sgt. Haack.

In a coordinated response, a number of Nevada County resources have been deployed to the Palisades Fire. As of Jan. 8, only a day after the Palisades Fire started, this included Higgins Fire Protection District, Ophir Hill Fire, Penn Valley Fire Protection District, Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department, North San Juan Fire Protection District, and Grass Valley Fire Department.

Deputy CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit (NEU) Chief Jim Hudson, a resident of Nevada County, and his team of 67 personnel were deployed to Los Angeles the day the fires started.

Chief Hudson is the Incident Commander of CAL FIRE Team 2, one of 6 Type I incident management teams responsible for commanding the most complex incidents occurring in California, according to Mary Eldridge, Public Information Officer for the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit.

The Team is based very close to the fire in Pacific Palisades and is responsible for over 5,000 personnel assigned to the incident in different capacities. They are in Unified Command of the Palisades incident from the planning and execution of suppression efforts to evacuations, logistics and investigations, said Eldridge in a statement.

They will be deployed for 21 days working through all stages of the incident until they turn the incident back over to the Los Angeles Fire Department and the County of Los Angeles.

Chief Hudson has worked in the Unit for most of his 25 year career and is the Deputy Chief of Operations for CAL FIRE NEU and the Placer County Fire Department. 

“I am very proud of Chief Hudson and his Team as well as all of the CAL FIRE personnel we have deployed from our local area in support of the incidents in Southern California,” said CAL FIRE NEU Chief Brian Estes.

Mobilizing a Community

Community partners and volunteers in Eastern and Western Nevada County are organizing donation drives for critical supplies needed for Los Angeles fire victims who have lost everything.

Earlier this week, Courtney Henderson, Truckee Town Council Member and Former Mayor launched a regional effort in Truckee, Western Nevada County, Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes to collect provisions for those impacted by fire in Los Angeles.

“Wildfire truly impacts all of us in California, whether it is the threat of wildfire, direct experience with it, or the ramifications of it as it relates to our wildfire insurance,” said Henderson.

“This is an opportunity to show up for our urban counterparts. We can all show up for one another. When we band together we can have a big impact,” said Henderson.

District 5 Supervisor Hardy Bullock organized two drop off locations in the lobbies of the Government Center in Western Nevada County at 950 Maidu Ave. and the Madelyn Helling Library at  980 Helling Way in Nevada City. Bullock will be driving the donations from Nevada City to Truckee on Tuesday to help load into trucks. On Wednesday, Jan. 22 volunteers will drive the donations down south to nonprofit organization, Los Angeles Dream Center.

“For me it’s this awesome opportunity to be there for somebody and show up for someone. We’ve all been affected by wildfires. This really hits home,” said Bullock. 

Organizers of the donation drive are looking for the following essential items: brand new socks, underwear and bras, baby formula, diapers, toilet paper and paper towels, air purifiers, canned and non-perishable foods, large trash bags and safety goggles and gloves. Only these items will be accepted. Please, no clothing or other donations.

“It’s amazing to see this outpouring of support for our fellow Californians,” said Henderson.

Find drop off locations and ways to give financially here: www.townoftruckee.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=107.

Get Ready Nevada County

For those triggered by the fires in Los Angeles, there are a number of proactive steps people can take to feel empowered in their own neighborhoods and be prepared for future wildfires in Nevada County.

“In Nevada County we are lucky to have more than 100 Firewise Communities who share education and best practices for everything from home hardening and defensible space to how to organize neighborhood vegetation clearing work parties,” said Erika Kosina, Coalition Steering Committee Chair.

The Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities hosts quarterly meetings to maintain open lines of communication among Firewise Community leaders, our local fire agencies, the Fire Safe Council, and the Office of Emergency Services,” Kosina said.

Countywide CodeRED Emergency Alert Test: Jan. 23

All Nevada County Residents are urged to sign up for CodeRED Emergency Alerts. CodeRED is Nevada County’s opt-in emergency notification system that delivers critical information during emergencies. Nevada County residents can receive alerts via text, email, landline, cell phone or TTY.

On Jan. 23, Nevada County’s Office of Emergency Services will conduct the countywide CodeRED Emergency Alert Test. This test will be rolled out in phases starting at 10 a.m. 

How to Register for CodeRED:

• Visit ReadyNevadaCounty.org/Emergency Alerts. 

• Text ReadyNevadaCounty to 99411 and follow the link to complete the registration. 

• Contact 211 Connecting Point by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-833-342-5211. 

Save these numbers in your contacts: 866-419-5000 and 855-969-4636. These are the caller IDs for CodeRED alerts. If you or someone you know doesn’t receive the test alert by the end of January 23, contact the CodeRED Emergency Alert Customer Support team at crsupport@onsolve.com or 866-939-0911 x1, Monday – Friday 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. PST. 

During an emergency, residents should also listen for high-lo sirens signaling an evacuation, monitor local media and share information among their five emergency allies.

Know Your Zone

In the event of a wildfire or an emergency situation, law enforcement and fire agencies issue evacuation warnings or evacuation orders for impacted areas as a Zone with an evacuation status.

Knowing your Evacuation Zone can save crucial time during a disaster. 

To find your Evacuation Zone: 

1. Go to https://protect.genasys.com/

2. Enter your address into the search bar. 

3. Find your zone in the pop-up window and write it down. 

Remember to also know the Zone for your work, school and family members homes. 

Defensible Space  

Prepare your home and property for wildfires with defensible space. By removing vegetation and flammable features like patio furniture and wood piles from around your home, you are creating defensible space that slows the spread of wildfire and creates a buffer zone to help firefighters and first responders safely defend your home.

Now is the time of year to clean up vegetation on private properties and roads before things dry out in the spring.

Beginning Jan. 6, WM customers with green or brown colored organics bins now benefit from weekly instead of biweekly service. These bins take both residential green waste and food waste.

This spring, Nevada County’s Office of Emergency Services is also planning its annual free green waste events, including free Community Green Waste Drop-Off days at the McCourtney Road Transfer Station and the Firewise Community bin program.

Preparing your home for wildfires is a year-round effort. For more information and tips on Defensible Space visit: ReadyNevadaCounty.org/DefensibleSpace. 

For more information on green waste disposal options visit: ReadyNevadaCounty.org/GreenWaste.

“Nevada County faces a very different wildfire environment than Los Angeles, but so many of the actions that we can take to be prepared as individual community members are the same. Sign up for CodeRED. Know Your Zone. Harden your home and maintain your defensible space. And get to know your neighbors – during an emergency, your neighbors may be your greatest resource. Build those connections now so together we are ready,” said Alex Keeble-Toll, Interim Director of the Office of Emergency Services.

For more information on Emergency Preparedness visit ReadyNevadaCounty.org.

Laura Petersen is a freelance writer living in Grass Valley. This is one of a series of articles written on behalf of Nevada County. She can be reached at laurapetersenmedia@gmail.com.