The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Red Flag Warning from midnight tonight through 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16. Gusty winds and low humidity bring elevated critical fire weather conditions.

Red Flag Warning

Nevada County residents should take extra precautions during elevated fire weather conditions:

  • Prepare for quick evacuation. Park your vehicle toward the roadway and load your go bag.
  • Know how to open your garage if power is unavailable.
  • Be sure you have a full tank of gas.
  • Keep pets nearby and have a plan to transport large animals and livestock.
  • Always check towing equipment and eliminate dragging hazards.
  • Do not mow or trim dry grass.
  • Do not use equipment outdoors that may create a spark.
  • Never park your vehicle on dry grass.
  • Never burn during fire weather conditions.
Red Flag Warning for Sierra Nevada foothills from Redding to Yosemite, Oct 15 12AM to Oct 16 10AM 2026. East to Northeast winds 15-25 mph, gusts 25-45 mph, humidity 10-25%, poor overnight recoveries. Risk of rapid fire spread; have an emergency plan and follow local burn bans and evacuation orders

Nevada County Alerts

Nevada County has implemented a new alert and warning system, Nevada County Alerts. This system delivers timely, critical information to residents during emergencies. All Nevada County residents can sign up for Nevada County Alerts or verify that their information is correct by visiting ReadyNevadaCounty.org/EmergencyAlerts.

Know Your Zone

During an emergency, law enforcement and fire agencies issue evacuation warnings or orders and use specific zones. Authorities will use your Zone Name in emergency alerts, media announcements, and on social media. Residents can find their Evacuation Zone at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/KnowYourZone.

Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)

Due to elevated fire weather conditions, PG&E may issue a public safety power shutoff (PSPS) for portions of Nevada County starting Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m., with restoration estimated Saturday, Oct. 17. Conditions and timing may change; customers can look up their address online to find out if their location is being monitored for the potential safety shutoff at pge.com/pspsupdates.

Have enough nonperishable food, drinking water, flashlights, batteries and charged devices to last several days. Make a backup plan for medical equipment that requires electricity, and check on neighbors, especially older adults and those who may need additional assistance.

If you are using a portable generator, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use it outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents. Never run it in an enclosed space, and turn it off and let it cool before refueling.

To receive PG&E outage alerts, customers are encouraged to update their contact information and indicate their preferred language for notifications by

visiting www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 1-800-743-5000.

Map showing potential PG&E power shutoff areas in orange near Grass Valley, Nevada and Placer counties, and Truckee toward Lake Tahoe

Community Resource Centers

PG&E will provide a safe, indoor space to charge devices and access essential supplies during this PSPS at the following locations:

  • NSJ Community Center: 29190 Highway 49, North San Juan, CA 95960.
  • Madelyn Helling Library: 980 Helling Way, Nevada City, CA 95959.

The centers offer ADA-accessible restrooms and washing stations, charging for devices and small medical devices, portable batteries, blankets, snacks, water, seating and Wi-Fi. They will be open from 7 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 14 and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. beginning Oct. 15 until power is restored. For the latest updates, visit https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/ways-we-can-help/.

211 Connecting Point

Customers can call 211 to get help preparing for a potential power outage, or any other kind of emergency, to minimize hardships that may be caused by wildfire safety outages, like a PSPS. Support is available before, during and after a power outage. Call 211, text “PSPS” to 211 or visit 211.org to contact 211.

About the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES)

OES works under the Emergency Preparedness Board Objective, leading the community in all hazards planning, preparedness, response, and recovery with a focus on wildfire. OES focuses on improving countywide evacuation routes and safety, continuing to strengthen early alert and critical communication systems, and working with residents and community partners in emergency preparedness, defensible space, home hardening, green waste disposal, and fire-safe land stewardship. We are all in this together. Learn more about OES at: ReadyNevadaCounty.org.