Public Safety Image

Placer County Public Safety Articles



Placer Sentinel logo LOCAL NEWS
Representative Kiley Secures Crucial Funding for Lake Tahoe Utility Districts to Fight Wildfires

Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) secured millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for Lake Tahoe Utility Districts, helping them complete necessary infrastructure projects that will benefit all its residents and improve its wildfire response capabilities.

Sierra Sun logo LOCAL NEWS
Fireside Pizza Raises $16,000 for the Olympic Valley Fire Department

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. – Fireside Pizza announces that they will donate $16,000 to the Olympic Valley Fire Department. Fireside has been fundraising for local non-profits for over a decade. Each year, the team at Fireside selects a new local non-profit …

Sierra Sun logo LOCAL NEWS
Tahoe Donner Association Signs Landmark Wildfire Insurance Policy Tied to Forest Management

TRUCKEE, Calif. – In a groundbreaking move that could reshape wildfire insurance nationwide, the Tahoe Donner Association has secured a first-of-its-kind policy that links premium pricing directly to decades of active forest management.

Sierra Sun logo LOCAL NEWS
Sierra Region Delegation Calls for Restoration of Federal Forest Service Funding

TRUCKEE, Calif. — On Friday, April 18, 2025, elected officials and agency leaders from across the Sierra region, including representatives from the Town of Truckee, Nevada City, Grass Valley, Town of Mammoth Lakes, and multiple special districts, met with Congressman …

Sierra Sun logo LOCAL NEWS
Lake Tahoe Welcomes New Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team Program Manager

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – The Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team has welcomed Annabelle Monti as its new Program Manager who will play a key role in elevating regional efforts to prepare the Lake Tahoe Basin for wildfire. Monti brings extensive …

Placer Sentinel logo LOCAL NEWS
PG&E Open House in Colfax on Undergrounding, Strengthening Power Lines

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is continuing to underground and install strengthened poles and covered power lines in Placer County and will host an open house on April 24.

Sierra Sun logo LOCAL NEWS
Madden Creek Water System Reconstruction Continues This Summer in Homewood

TAHOE CITY, Calif. — Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) is continuing its long-term investment in drinking water reliability and fire suppression improvements with construction of Phase Three of the Madden Creek Water System Reconstruction Project. Construction is scheduled to …

Placer Sentinel logo LOCAL NEWS
Medication Take-Back Event Approaching

As Placer County prepares to host another free medication take-back event on April 26, local agencies continue to encourage residents to take advantage of permanent drop boxes and mail-in options that offer a safe, free way to dispose of medication …

Placer Sentinel logo LOCAL NEWS
New Webpage to Help Residents With Fire Hazard Mapping

Placer County, in partnership with the Placer County Fire Department, has launched the Engage Placer: Fire Hazard Severity Zones webpage, a centralized hub to help residents understand newly updated wildfire hazard maps, compliance requirements and insurance information.

Sierra Sun logo LOCAL NEWS
Placer County Launches New Webpage to Help Residents Understand State Fire Hazard Mapping Changes

AUBURN, Calif. – Placer County, in partnership with the Placer County Fire Department, has launched the Engage Placer: Fire Hazard Severity Zones webpage, a centralized hub to help residents understand newly updated wildfire hazard maps, compliance requirements and insurance information.

Featured

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.
States have expansive powers to protect the health of the general public.
The State’s Broad Power to Protect Public Health, Explained
Since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, states have possessed broad authority to protect public health.
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
Here's the story behind that new service, and the original 911 number.
Mosquitos kill about 725,000 people every year, worldwide.
Taking a Bite Out of the Mosquito Population
How local government tries to control the world’s deadliest wild animal—the mosquito.
There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
How Not to Feel the Burn
These groups help residents preserve their property, health and life.
Supercell storms are just one of many weather phenomena in the era of climate change.
The New Vocabulary of the Climate Change Era
As climate change causes more extreme and unusual weather, we need a new set of terms to describe the various phenomena
Though it’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 easy—the hard part comes later.
Many of Robert Kerbeck’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
Wildfires are larger, more frequent, and more ferocious—so be prepared.
Thousands of homeowners have been kicked off their fire insurance policies.
California Fire Insurance Crisis: How the State Helps Homeowners
The state tries persuading insurance companies to cover homes in fire zones.
With CERT training, volunteers can learn firefighting skills.
Emergency Teamwork
With CERT training, ordinary civilians can play critical roles in protecting their communities.
View of the flooded San Lorenzo River Park Benchlands in Santa Cruz, California on New Year's Eve 2022.
Communicating During Disaster and Crisis
Recent lessons learned over days of local disaster.
Placer Couty recently grappled with the Mosquito Fire, California’s largest wildfire in 2022.
Disaster Prep: Alerts, Maps and Apps
Keep these online resources handy in case of floods, fires, quakes and other disasters.