Nevada County Local News: Public Safety


All Local Public Safety News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: A Pyrocumulus cloud generated by the Dixie Fire in July, 2021.
What is Fire 'Containment?' That and Other Terms, Explained

What does it mean when firefighters call a fire "contained?" Here's a brief guide to commonly used fire prevention terminology.

Image caption: Many of Robert Kerbeckā€™s neighbors in Malibu Park lost their homes in the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which left behind lots where only chimneys still stood.
Give Your Home a Fighting Chance in a Wildfire

California wildfires are becoming larger, more frequent and more ferocious. ā€˜Malibu Burningā€™ author Robert Kerbeck shares simple steps you can take to protect your home.

Image caption: Truckee saw its share of the 2022-2023 snowpocalyse, as seen at this downtown coffee shop on Donner Pass Road.
Disaster Prep: Alerts, Maps and Apps

When disaster strikes, youā€™ll need to have these information resources available on your smartphone.

Image caption: With CERT training, volunteers can learn firefighting skills.
Emergency Teamwork

Fires, floods, earthquakesā€”Californiaā€™s got it all. And CERT volunteers are ready to step in.

Image caption: Thousands of homeowners have been kicked off their fire insurance policies.
California Fire Insurance Crisis: How the State Helps Homeowners

As California insurance companies have revoked the fire policies of thousands of homeowners, the state has taken steps to get them covered again.

Image caption: Though itā€™s the most famous, the San Andreas Fault is just one of more than 500 active faults in California.
Battening Down for the Big One

Making it through the earthquake is the easy part. The hard part is surviving in the chaos that follows.

Image caption: Supercell storms are just one of many weather phenomena in the era of climate change.
The New Vocabulary of the Climate Change Era

The climate change era has created a whole new set of terms for a wide variety of storms and other weather phenomena. Here are some of the most important.

Image caption:
How Not to Feel the Burn

California residents can turn to these public and private entities to help prepare for wildfires and protect their property.

Image caption: There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained

Community service districts can do most anything a city government can do. Hereā€™s how they work and how to start one.

Image caption: Mosquitos kill about 725,000 people every year, worldwide.
Taking a Bite Out of the Mosquito Population

The pesky mosquito can be deadly as well as annoying. Hereā€™s how local governments in California have been waging war on mosquitoes for more than a century.

Image caption: California will soon be getting a new hotline number as an alternative to 911 for mental health crises.
988, the New Mental Health Emergency Number, Explained

California will soon add a new emergency hotline service with the number 988. Hereā€™s the story behind that new service, and the original 911 number.

Image caption: States have expansive powers to protect the health of the general public.
The Stateā€™s Broad Power to Protect Public Health, Explained

Since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, states have possessed broad authority to protect public health, even to suspend laws and commandeer private property. Hereā€™s why, and how it works.

California Local Pin Marker From YubaNet...

03/26/2025
In their March 25 meeting, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors approved acceptance of grant funding to be directed towards fuel reduction on 1,000 acres of land in Penn Valley.

California Local Pin Marker From The Union...

03/24/2025
Finances are dwindling for Rough and Ready Fire Protection District and the future of Station #59 is unclear.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

03/21/2025
Image for display with article titled Truckee Hosts Fire Hazard Severity Zone Update Meeting, Highlights Community Wildfire Preparedness

Truckee residents gathered Wednesday, March 19, for a public meeting on updates to California's Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, a crucial tool in wildfire prevention and mitigation. Led by Emergency Services Director James Blattler, the meeting aimed to educate the community on revised hazard classifications, new regulations, and their implications for Truckee homeowners and future development.

California Local Pin Marker From The Union...

03/21/2025
Read on to learn about the March 20 community spaghetti dinner and go bag giveaway at the Rough and Ready fire station #59.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

03/20/2025
Image for display with article titled Los Angeles Fires, a ā€˜Poignant Reminderā€™ for Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Basin fire districts are preparing for changes brought about by Governor Gavin Newsom's early February executive order in response to the Los Angeles wildfires, which burned neighborhoods, took lives, and were largely wind driven, something Lake Tahoe is no stranger to.

California Local Pin Marker From YubaNet...

03/20/2025
The Penn Valley Family Resource Center is partnering with Ready Nevada County and the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools to help Penn Valley residents prepare for wildfire season. Read on to learn more.

California Local Pin Marker From YubaNet...

03/20/2025
Read on for more information about the first in a series of community workshops being hosted by the Nevada County Transportation Commission and the City of Nevada City to discuss development of a Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan for the Zion Street/Sacramento Street Corridor.

California Local Pin Marker From The Union...

03/19/2025
Read on to learn more about new Interim Fire Chief Tom Browning.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/18/2025
Evacuating the Tahoe basin in summer could take 14 hours, and 99% of properties are at risk ā€” yet new resorts are being built in high-danger fire areas.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/18/2025
After the Trump administration threw out policies dating back to 2011 limiting immigration arrests at ā€œsensitive locations,ā€ California colleges and universities are providing resources to support students, but canā€™t stop immigration enforcement from entering public spaces. Some advocates say more must be done.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

03/14/2025
Image for display with article titled Supervisors Go to Washington D.C. To Advocate for Nevada County Jobs, Fire Insurance and Public Lands

Last week, county representatives wrapped up an action-packed seven-day trip in Washington D.C. advocating to maintain federal dollars critical for local jobs, wildfire safety and insurance and the protection of the region's public lands.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/13/2025
California public health officials are closely monitoring two residents who recently tested positive for measles. Officials are on high alert given ongoing measles outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico and abroad.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

03/12/2025
Image for display with article titled Truckee Town Council Discusses Opposition to Federal Funding Cuts Impacting Forest Health

The Truckee Town Council met on Tuesday, March 11, to discuss resolutions opposing federal funding cuts affecting local forest health, wildfire mitigation, and social and economic stability.

California Local Pin Marker From The Union...

03/12/2025
Read on to learn more about the recent release of updated fire hazard maps for the Grass Valley area and how you can give input and get your questions answered.

California Local Pin Marker From The Union...

03/12/2025
Evacuation routes, fuel reduction and wildfire prevention will be among the topics of a community forum scheduled for March 21. Read on for details and plan on attending to better prepare for the upcoming fire season.

California Local Pin Marker From Los Angeles Times...

03/11/2025
California Assembly Bill 247 would significantly raise the hourly wage of inmate firefighters. Read on to learn more.

California Local Pin Marker From YubaNet...

03/10/2025
Communication from the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County to local Firewise Communities has sparked confusion about a grant application. Read on for details.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/06/2025
Five years ago, as COVID-19 hit the state, legislators cancelled a hearing to discuss a state audit that found the stateā€™s office of emergency services and at least three California counties werenā€™t prepared to help vulnerable people during natural disasters.

California Local Pin Marker From YubaNet...

03/06/2025
Read on to learn more about the fuel reduction work along Gracie Road in the Banner Mountain area of Nevada County.

California Local Pin Marker From The Union...

03/06/2025
Read on to learn more about how to harden your home against wildfire at a free Second Saturday Home Hardening Workshop in Nevada City.