Sierra City "Wildfire Prep Day 2022" Set for May 14 - Fire Safe Sierra County Website Launched

Reflecting growing efforts to foster increased fire safety, Firewise Sierra City will hold "Wildfire Prep 2022 Day" on Saturday, May 14, featuring morning yard cleanups and an afternoon fire department open house.

Firewise Sierra City was one of only 100 Firewise communities in the U.S. to be awarded a $500 grant to support outreach for this year's Wildfire Preparation Day events.

The Sierra City event is one of many being held in May across the U.S. and Canada encouraging people and organizations everywhere to come together to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks.

"We've had a couple tough fire years which can be mentally and physically exhausting," said Sarah Kubly, who leads Firewise Sierra City. "But now is not the time to let down our guard. We can make ourselves and our communities stronger and more resilient to wildfire."

The officially designated date for community events across the country and Canada is the first Saturday of the month, May 7th. Kubly said that residents are encouraged to do "work around their homes" on that day and then "join in our community events on the 14th."

On the morning of the 14th, Sierra City volunteers will assist in raking and trimming the yards of neighbors who may be unable to do the work themselves. Already, 15 volunteers have signed up; you can do so and find out further information by emailing firewisesierracity@gmail.org. (For regular updates on Firewise Sierra City go to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/firewisesierracity.)

On the afternoon of the 14th between 1 and 4 p.m., the Sierra City Volunteer Fire Department (SCVFD) will hold an open house at its Sand Shed facility, located off Highway 49 four miles above town and one mile below Bassetts. A "great way to spend the afternoon," the event will feature a free barbecue lunch for Sierra City residents and a raffle, with all proceeds going to SCVFD.

Attendees at the open house will receive educational materials on how to make your home, yard, and property more fire resistant. People also will be able fill out the survey, the "Sierra County Wildfire Preparedness Questionnaire."

The purpose of the survey is to better understand residents' most pressing wildfire safety needs and concerns and to serve more adequately Sierra County communities.

"What do residents of Calpine or Sierra City want? If you want to see work done on land surrounding your community, you need to let people know what's important so your voice is heard," said Kubly.

Kubly noted that identifying and applying for fire resilience grant funding is hugely important and getting residents' input on what should be funded is vital. The North Yuba Forest Management Project is an example of an ongoing initiative focused on forest health and restoration across 275,000 acres of the North Yuba River watershed to protect against catastrophic wildfire and assist at-risk communities. "We want to build on the momentum to continue to improve fire resiliency in Sierra County," said Kubly.

The Sierra County Wildfire Preparedness Questionnaire is also available online at a new website launched this month - https://www.firesafesierracounty.org.

The website is sponsored by the non-profit Sierra County Fire Safe Council, whose goal is to seek funding and organize projects "to help protect our residents, community, and natural resources from a wildfire."

Coordinator of the Sierra County Fire Safe Council is Danielle Bradfield (a Registered Professional Forester with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Humboldt State University in 1997 who grew up in Paradise and has nearly 20 years of experience managing forestry projects).

The council's website has an array of resources on fire preparedness; quick links (emergency alerts, current air quality, burn day updates); information on the Firewise USA® Program sponsored by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA); and a complete list of "recognized and aspiring" Sierra County Firewise communities as of April 2022: