NEVADA CITY, Calif. August 4, 2016 – On Monday, August 8th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, KVMR and YubaNet invite you to a community conversation about the state of emergency in the Yuba canyon. Join us at the Nevada Theatre and participate in the dialogue.
Tahoe National Forest Fire Chief Shelly Allen, CAL FIRE NEU Battalion Chief Matt Wallen, State Parks Chief Ranger Matt Green, Captain Jeffrey Pettitt Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Battalion Chief Boyd Johnson North San Juan Fire Department, Caleb Dardick South Yuba River Citizens League and Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department have confirmed their attendance.
The Yuba Fire was reported in the early morning hours of August 2, 2016. Firefighters made their way to the incident and reported numerous fire rings and evidence of campfires along the river.
It is time to recognize and deal with the problem. In the fifth year of a drought, with extensive beetle infestations further weakening trees, fire danger is extremely high. Campfires in the Yuba canyon put all of western Nevada County at risk for another major wildfire like the 49’er Fire.
The community and agencies need to work together to mitigate the danger, this townhall is the beginning of the collaboration.
The event will be live broadcast on KVMR FM 89.5 and we will take questions from the audience in the theater and online.
The event is free and open to everyone.
Seems like BLM and State Parks should be at such a meeting. Since much of the canyon is in their jurisdiction.
We are awaiting their confirmation. Of course they have been invited.
Helping the homeless so they’re not camping might just be a thought……
I will not be able to attend, but am suggesting that the USFS is required to justify still allowing campfires in their campgrounds, especially those close to our communities. Maybe this group can demand that they close down the campfires in campgrounds.
Thank You,
Sven Ostrom
Why is overnight parking allowed, while overnight camping is banned? Start by towing any car left after dark, and maybe some people will get the message. The river seems to be getting beat down by too much use by irresponsible people.
Someone out hiking and unexpectantly comes in a little late would be stranded out in the middle of nowhere if their vehicle was towed.
Someone out hiking should be familiar with the regulations. An hour late is not overnight parking.
The Bear River needs to be patrolled as well. As a property owner across from the Bear River campground – I see many many campfires on the Nevada County side along fishing access. Homeless & Miners stay at the Bear River Campground until their time is up then migrate across the river. I see where campfires have burned merely a couple feet from dry brush. The area belonging to the state across from the campground needs to be patrolled and regulations enforced! it’s just a matter of time…..
LaKenna DeWald
I see that Matt Green from state parks will be attending. I think most of the campgrounds in the county belong to the USFS, hopefully they can attend because they play a key roll in patrolling their area. More Patrol is definitely needed. I agree the homeless camps are a problem, wish someone could one up with a reasonable solution for them. I’m pretty sure State Parks only has one campground in nevada county, but do own a lot of day use areas along the river
Actually, most campgrounds in the Yuba canyon are on BLM or State Parks land. As mentioned in the story, the USFS will be attending.
The problem is larger than campground fires, which is what Yuba Net said originally when it reported about fires not in campgrounds. The day use areas are being used as campgrounds and are not being patrolled, apparently, all the way from Bridgeport, Jones Bar, and Purdon and Edwards, at least. And I don’t think it’s only homeless, who should be provided for, but summer campers who don’t follow rules.
Come to the meeting and voice your concerns.
Law enforcement event should occur at all access points along the Southern Ybua from Englebright to Spaulding. No campfiresignatures in the summer during fire season and no access at all during Aug and Sept.
And the agencies say they don’t have funding for enforcement, but compare that cost to cost of fighting another fire like the 49er Fire.
I don’t understand why campfires are allowed anywhere in the state anymore. Why should everyone have to shoulder the risk to life and property, and the added firefighting expense and danger, for the entertainment of a few? Far easier to outlaw campfires entirely than to continue with the patchwork of different rules.
And who pays for firefighter responses to the private burn piles that escape their bounds? It’s more than tiresome to read of the multiple “fire starts” every day. We can’t prevent lightning, but we could put some sensible rules (and penalties) in place. Our lives may depend on it!
Kathleen, Campfires are outlawed at this season in most of the places we’re taking about in the river canyon; the problem is no one is enforcing that.
It would be easier to enforce if it’s broadcast that they’re illegal state-wide. Then, no excuses that they thought they were OK in particular places. A state-wide campfire ban, with arson-type penalties and liability, seems like the only way to make people stop their stupidity.