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Share your story
Everyone has completed projects that make their property and our neighborhood safer. Well here's your chance to show off what you've done. Email us pictures of your projects and we'll add them to our gallery. A great way too inspire others.
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About Us
Firewise Communities are members of Firewise USA, a component of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The NFPA is a national non-profit established in 1896 to regulate and standardize how we protect ourselves from fire. Firewise Communities provide a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level.
The Firewise USA program is administered by NFPA and is co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. While the NFPA administers this program, individuals and communities participate on a voluntary basis. Any community that meets a set of voluntary criteria on an annual basis and retains an “In Good Standing Status” may identify itself as being a Firewise Site.
What are the Benefits of a Firewise Community?
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Enhanced Safety. By adopting Firewise practices, communities can significantly reduce the risk of wildfire damage to homes and properties, leading to a safer living environment.
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Community Preparedness. Firewise Communities are better prepared for wildfires, with established evacuation plans, trained residents, and coordinated response efforts.
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Access to Resources. Recognized Firewise Communities can access grants and funding opportunities for fire prevention and mitigation projects, helping to implement further safety measures.
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Increased Property Value. Homes and properties in Firewise Communities may have higher property values due to the reduced risk of wildfire damage and the community’s commitment to safety.
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Insurance Benefits. Some insurance companies offer discounts or incentives to homeowners in Firewise Communities, recognizing the reduced risk and proactive measures taken.
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Community Cohesion. Working together on Firewise projects fosters a sense of community and collaboration, strengthening bonds among residents and enhancing overall community resilience.
Your participation is entirely voluntary.
To participate in BACCA’s efforts to improve our community’s wildfire preparedness, start here:
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Join our email list to stay up-to-date on any developments and announcements (your email address is not shared with any third parties).
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Complete the self-assessment (this information is anonymized and is not shared with any banks, insurers, or other third parties).
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Complete the volunteer hourly worksheet for all work you’ve performed, including any expenses, over the last two years. Complete this form at least once a year to keep us updated of these hours/expenses.
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Attend any BACCA meetings or events to help keep our community prepared for wildfires. The best way to find out about these events is to sign up for our email list.
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If you wish to volunteer for BACCA please contact us.
Blog
El Nino is coming.
Are you ready?
Map
This map illustrates the area included in our FireWise Community. Please review to determine which area you reside in. Each zone has a dedicated coordinator that represents the homes and properties contained within its boundaries.
Click on the map to enlarge.
Forms
Self-Assessment
The first step to preparing for wildfire is a self-assessment of your home and property. BACCA’s top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. It’s crucial that we thoroughly understand our community’s specific needs. Identifying our vulnerabilities allows us to prioritize our efforts and allocate resources where they are most needed. Your participation is essential in helping us create a safer, more resilient community.
This information is only used internally by BACCA and is not shared with any banks, insurers, or other third parties. The information, as percentages, is compiled for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in order to maintain our status as an official Firewise Community.
Participation is voluntary, but the more people who participate, the more resources will be available for our community’s most vulnerable weaknesses.
This form only needs to be completed once every 5 years.For in-depth instructions and descriptions for this self-assessment, see the official Firewise USA Self-Assessment Instructions. If you prefer a printed version, Download here and email to baccafirewise@gmail.com.
Volunteer Hourly Worksheet
Firewise Communities, including BACCA, are only possible thanks to the hard work of dedicated volunteers. In order to maintain our status as an official Firewise Community, BACCA, as a whole, must log one hour of volunteer work for every home in our area every year. This can include actual expenses, where every $25.43 spent counts as one hour of volunteer work.
If this is you’re first time completing this form, include all work and expenses from the previous 2 years from the date you complete the form. After that, you must complete the form at least once per year. If you prefer a printed version, Download here and email to baccafirewise@gmail.com.
See examples of volunteer work and expenses by clicking here.
Meet the team
The BACCA Comittee
This amazing team spent almost three years working with FireWise USA to get our area recognized as a FireWise Community. Since the official recognition, they've continued working, planning our community-wide meetings, workshops, and informing our neighbors on the best ways to keep our community safe.
You can reach your Area Contact using this email. Please put the contact's name at the beginning of your message.
Jennifer Tayler
Area 1 Contact
Judith Nielsen
Area 2 Contact
Desiree Northend
Area 2 Contact
Gary Vanderpol
Area 3 Contact
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Mark Michalski
Area 4 Contact
Deni Dax
Area 5 Contact
Erin Grizard
Area 6 Contact
Resources
Partner Organizations and Websites
The National Firewise USA recognition program provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level.
Wildfire Ready Coalition of Nevada County is a local non-profit volunteer-driven organization dedicated to reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire in Nevada County. They support and empower residents, visitors, and communities - especially Firewise Communities - through mentoring, sharing best practices, fire safety projects, and education.
Ready Nevada County is an official public safety and emergency preparedness initiative by the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) designed to help residents prepare for wildfires, severe weather, and other disasters. The program provides the community with tools to create defensible space, plan evacuations, and receive early warnings.
Contact
To contact BACCA, please send an email to:
Please include your zone number (which can be found on our Map page) in the subject line.