“Barn-Raising” Nowadays: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

NEVADA COUNTY — Most of us have long assumed dense, overgrown western forests were normal and natural. Nevada County Resource Conservation District (NCRCD) is working to facilitate the use of prescribed fire as a safe, legal, responsible tool to reduce the choking undergrowth on private property.

Funded by a Community Wildfire Protection grant, Jo Ann Fites-Kaufman, Vice Chair of NCRCD, leads a Grass-Valley-based team offering solid support to private landholders in Nevada County and western Sierra County who want to use good fire to improve the safety and health of their properties. Jennifer Rain Crosby (Prescribed Fire Community Outreach Coordinator) and Haley Coopergard (Prescribed Fire Operations Manager) are the other team members.

Fites-Kaufman (designated burn boss) grew up in this area. Crosby, who has called the San Juan Ridge her true home since she was five years old, helped with burn piles growing up. As an adult, discovering she had “a natural fluency with fire,” she began looking for opportunities to join handcrews. Coopergard, toting a college degree, a stint in the Conservation Corps, and plenty of woods experience in three western states, has a natural bent for cross-cut felling. “I want to be on the ground,” she laughs.

Together they are enthusiastic about making an array of free face-to-face and virtual learning opportunities available to landowners who want to understand and utilize fire as a valuable tool. Classes cover critical information about how fire works, complying with relevant laws/regulations, and how to be a good neighbor in this context.

Fites-Kaufman, Crosby and Coopergard agree that a prescribed burn is “80% preparation.” The RCD team is enthusiastic about educating both the curious and the serious. Participants learn how to look for challenges and opportunities on particular property, how to mitigate the risks, where limbing up is needed, the real skinny on digging a control line, and letting neighbors know what’s planned (so they don’t misunderstand any smoke they may notice).

Indeed, a smart burning plan includes inviting those who live nearby to get involved; the more help available on a burn day, the better. Fites-Kaufman has been around these hills long enough to describe the residents as “very independent,” not necessarily comfortable asking for help. However, given that everyone living nearby will benefit from the improved forest, it’s a perfect time to extend an invitation. The RCD team says it’s “like raising a barn” in times past. Neighbors gather to support each other on a project, making things fire-safer for everyone, and building a warm sense of community.

In summary: “This is a very cheap property maintenance tool.” “Each part of the eco-system is valuable.”“I can’t tell you how good I feel in the summer, knowing our forests are safer.” A chorus of gratitude for safe fire ended our conversation.

For a wealth of helpful information, start with browsing the NCRCD website (https://www.ncrcd.org/about-prescribed-burning). Move on the to the class descriptions/dates at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/prescribed-fire-education-3244009. Or call the Grass Valley office at (530) 798-5529. You’ll find neighborly, knowledgeable staff available to lend a hand.