Sherwood Forest Firewise Community

Wildfire Hazard Assessment

Assessment Conducted on March 13, 2016 by:

Dario Davidson, RPF #2341 & Lower Colfax Firewise Community Committee
Joanne Drummond, Executive Director, Fire Safe Council of Nevada County
Jared McElehenny, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District
Matt Wallen, Battalion Chief, Cal Fire
Debbie Ogden, Sherwood Forest Firewise Community Committee
Dick Bergstrom, Sherwood Forest Firewise Community
Kim Zwick, Sherwood Forest Firewise Community

FIREWISE COMMUNITIES / USA ASSESSMENT

Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
FIREWISE COMMUNITIES/USA
The Firewise Communities/USA (www.firewise.org) program is designed to provide a
collaborative and effective management approach for preserving the natural
environment while pro-actively addressing the issue of wildfires. Retaining aesthetic
views and protecting wildlife habitats are the values of the residents who live in
Firewise Communities/USA. The Firewise program is appealing and effective because
it may be tailored for adoption by any community and/or neighborhood that is
committed to ensuring its citizens maximum protection from wildland fire.
The following community wildfire hazard assessment is intended as a resource to be
used by the citizens of the Sherwood Forest Firewise Community (SFFC) neighborhood
for creating and maintaining a Firewise Community. This community wildfire hazard
assessment is designed to give a brief description of the area for basic understanding to
community residents of both minor and significant fire hazards. A simple plan should
be developed from the information in this hazard assessment and should be
implemented in a collaborative manner, and monitored and updated annually as needed
to suit the community and progress made on the goals set in the plan. By continuing to
keep a community focus on wildfire hazard mitigation, the community will ensure that
their efforts to attain the goal of the SFFC to become a nationally recognized Firewise
Community/USA is reality.
The Firewise Community wildfire hazard assessment was conducted on March 13, 2016
by: Joanne Drummond, Executive Director, Fire Safe Council of Nevada County; Captain
Jared McElehenny, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District; Matt Wallen, Battalion
Chief, CAL FIRE; and Dario Davidson, Registered Professional Forester, #2341. The
professional wildfire hazard assessment team was joined by residents in the Sherwood
Forest neighborhood including: Debbie Ogden, Dick Bergstrom and Kim Zwick.
Throughout the field hazard assessment and development of this report, members of
the group discussed how to best identify and mitigate the fire risks to individual homes
and the entire forested watershed.
COMMUNITY INTRODUCTION & CONCERNS
The Sherwood Forest subdivision was developed in 1961 by William J. Mills. The streets
are named from the classic tale of Robin Hood including: Friar Tuck, Nottingham, Robin
Hood and Archery. It is a close knit community that has already established a
Neighborhood Watch program for community safety and utilizes Nextdoor social media
to communicate. The Firewise Community program will further increase
communication, collaboration and the overall safety of the residents by working
together to mitigate catastrophic wildfire.

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Many landowners within Sherwood Forest have reduced the fuel buildup on their
properties and have maintained them well. There are some parcels that need more
work and these landowners need to be educated on the benefits of removing ladder
and ground fuels.
A parcel of land to the south of Sherwood Forest is BLM property. The lack of
management on this parcel is evident, with the overstocked condition of the forest and
the understory vegetation. Illegal camping and fires, along with uncontrolled OHV use
present a threat of wildfire to the residents of Sherwood Forest and the surrounding
areas. Unfortunately, the BLM staff has responsibility for many parcels like this one,
scattered throughout the western United States, and many concerns by neighbors do
not get the attention they need.
To the west, north and northeast lie large areas of former pasture land, which is no
longer being grazed. If a fire should burn into these areas, a very rapid rate of spread
would occur. Grazing or mowing, at least along the roadsides and subdivision boundary,
would mitigate the risk. Community members present during the hazard assessment
stated the owner of the adjacent grasslands has been agreeable to creating a perimeter
fuel break.
The North Star Mine property lies to the east of Sherwood Forest, and is only partially
being maintained. Additional mastication and thinning could lower the intensity of a fire
burning through the North Star Mine property, thereby lowering the risk to the
neighbors.
AREA DESCRIPTION
Sherwood Forest is a small subdivision with 60 parcels, ranging in size from one-half to
3 acres, located 1.5 miles south of Grass Valley, east of Old Auburn Road. During the
hazard assessment, the professional team recommended including the homes
developed on nearby Little John Street and Arrow Point Way as the footprint of these
homes and their proximity to the SFFC, both would benefit greatly from the effort.
Therefore, the total parcels included in the SFFC is 73, 65 of which have single family
homes developed with 8 vacant parcels. The elevation is between 2300 feet and 2400
feet. The topography is gentle with slope percent varying from nearly flat to 35%. The
Sherwood Forest neighborhood lies at the upper reach of a tributary of French Ravine,
which drains south into Wolf Creek, in the Bear River watershed.
The roads throughout the community are county maintained, chip sealed, double lane
roads. There are pressurized fire hydrants throughout the community.

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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
The vegetation typifies a Sierra Nevada foothills ponderosa pine and black oak forest. A
few Gray pines (also known as, foothill pine) exist in the area. Understory vegetation is
sparse where fuel management treatments have been completed.
On the other hand, along the
south side of the subdivision
a Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) parcel
contains a very dense
whiteleaf manzanita
understory, overtopped by
ponderosa pines and black
oaks. To the east of
Sherwood Forest is property
of the North Star Mine. This
property is an open forest
with a dense whiteleaf
Example of excellent forest management for wildfire
mitigation in the community.

manazanita understory. The

owners of the North Star

Mine property have masticated the brush in a strip along the boundary of Sherwood
Forest and there is a fire access road to provide fire suppression equipment entry. To
the west, north and northeast lies a large pasture that was formerly grazed and is
currently not being used by livestock. The grass can grow tall, and when dry in the
summer can present a danger to the community of a fast moving fire.
Prior to subdividing the land in 1960, the area was used for grazing, mining and timber
production. Much of todays infrastructure in the surrounding area roads, ponds,
water ditches, pastures is a legacy of historic land uses. Prior to development the
vegetation in the area was much different than today. Trees were of course much
smaller and the forest was less dense. There were more open, grass and shrub areas
than today, and there were fewer residences. Some areas may have been burned
seasonally by ranchers to maintain the open grasslands they desired. In fact, before the
Gold Rush the area was maintained in an open, park-like condition by Native American
periodic burning. (For more information read Fire in the Sierra Nevada Forests, by
George Gruell.)
Since the residential development began, the landscape has evolved to become more
forested, with the overstory trees maturing over time. These changes, in combination
with the increase in people and homes embedded within the watershed, and the lack of

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agricultural and forest management in the surrounding properties, have created a fire
hazard situation of concern for many residents and fire protection professionals.
MAP OF THE SHERWOOD FOREST FIREWISE COMMUNITY

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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
LAND USE AND MANAGEMENT
19th and early 20th century agriculture modified much of the landscape, producing more
open areas for grazing and fruit production. Much of the agriculture was abandoned
decades ago and has reforested with native trees. Remnants of the agricultural history
of the area have left a patchwork of pastures, orchards, brush fields and forests of
various ages.
UNDEVELOPED PROPERTIES
There are a total of 8 vacant parcels in the SFFC. The undeveloped property pose a
high threat when interspersed among developed home sites in the community if the
vegetation is not managed. Some residents are unable to achieve their 100 feet of
defensible space as required under California Public Resource Code 4291 due to home
site placement and the adjacent property boundary ownership. The assessment team
recommends neighbors work together to achieve the required 100 feet of managed
vegetation around homes to provide firefighters the ability to protect structures during
fire events. The SFFC Firewise Committee should consider adopting a 30-Day Courtesy
Notice to properties that do not comply with PRC4291. The County of Nevada adopted
a hazardous vegetation management ordinance in May 2016 which provides policy to
address defensible space for all homes regardless of property boundaries. Homeowners
would share the cost of managing the vegetation for structure protection and the
specific treatment would be prescribed by the local fire district. If homeowners refuse
to cooperate, the local fire district may refer the case to the Nevada County Code
Enforcement department for remediation.
A high priority should be placed on achieving additional vegetation management for
wildfire mitigation throughout the community and specifically around structures and
along evacuation routes.
FIRE HISTORY
By living in the Sierra Nevada we must realize that we live in a fire adapted ecosystem.
What this means is that the dominant animal and plant species, as well as most
ecosystem functions, have evolved for thousands of years along with periodic fire.
By studying the evidence of past fires (i.e., fire scars, snags, tree ring analysis, lake
sediments) researchers have determined that periodic fires burned in large patches of
the Sierra Nevada, recurring about every 10 to 20 years on average in each area.
(2006. Moody, Fites-Kaufman, Stephens. Fire History and Climate Influences from
Forests in the Northern Sierra Nevada, USA. Fire Ecology. Vol. 2, No. 1.)

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An inverse relationship exists between elevation and fire return interval. Therefore, we
can estimate that the average fire frequency in the foothills is close to 10 years.
Whether the cause was natural or anthropogenic, these periodic fires kept the forest
floor relatively clear of dead debris, brush and tree seedlings, and favored those species
best adapted to this fire regime of frequent, low to moderate intensity fires.
Many early historic journals and photographs describe the pre-settlement Sierra Nevada
forests with an open and park-like condition in many places. Horse riders and wagons
could travel freely throughout most of the forests at that time. The frequent fire interval
kept forest undergrowth from building up to the dangerous condition we see today.

Downieville from Cannon Point (left) Circa 1905. Same point 88 years later
(right.) Photos from Gruell, George E. Fire in Sierra Nevada Forests: A
Photographic Interpretation of Ecological Change since 1849. Missoula, MT:
Mountain Pub., 2001. Print.

In addition to the increase in difficulty and expense to control fires, the increase in
population in the Sierra Nevada foothills has made firefighting significantly more
complex, while the risk to life and property has climbed to extraordinary levels.
Homeowners insurance companies are facing astounding levels of liability, and have
been taking measures to protect themselves.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_California_wildfires)
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & EVACUATION
The assessment team recommends that individual families develop an emergency
evacuation kit and plan in order to properly prepare well in advance of an evacuation
order. An emergency evacuation planning guide is available online at:
http://www.areyoufiresafe.com/get-fire-smart/emergency-preparedness/
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The assessment team also recommends that families register their cell phones for
emergency notifications with the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES.)
In order to be notified by the CodeRED via your cable service phone line, cell phone,
cell phone text messaging, and email, residents will need to manually add their
information. Go to the Nevada County OES website at:
http://www.mynevadacounty.com/nc/igs/oes/ and look for the CodeRED link.
Though all Emergency Notification systems are considered effective and efficient, you
should not wait for or rely exclusively on a phone call for evacuation direction. If you
think you are in immediate danger, do not hesitate to evacuate. CodeRED is only
activated by Nevada County public safety personnel.
The roads in the community are county maintained. The roadways are generally in
good condition, with the exception of some roadside vegetation management. The
assessment team highly recommends the community achieve the Nevada County
standards for emergency equipment access which is 10 feet of horizontal vegetation
management along the shoulder with a 15 foot vertical clearance. This standard also
applies to private driveways. Providing adequate roadside vegetation management is
critical for not only emergency equipment access, but also to facilitate evacuation by
residents during a wildfire event.
Additional benefits of creating the proper clearances will provide better sight distances
for vehicles, reduce the overall fuel loading in the community and allow fire suppression
equipment to enter while residents exit.
FOREST HEALTH
Sherwood Forest, and the surrounding forested areas contain predominantly fire
adapted ecosystems. What this means is that the dominant species ponderosa pine
(Pinus ponderosa), California black oak (Quercus kelloggii), and whiteleaf manzanita
(Arctostaphylos viscida) have evolved for thousands of years along with periodic fire.
Our Mediterranean climate, with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers, has also
played a role in the adaptations of these species.
The best example is ponderosa pine, which promotes fires in its vicinity by producing
and shedding flammable needles that lie loosely on the ground beneath the trees, as
well as on the competing vegetation below. This material dries rapidly and burns
readily, producing enough heat to kill any encroaching competitors. At the same time
ponderosa pine protects itself from the effects of fire by producing large buds, thick
bark and an open canopy. Its rapid growth rate allows ponderosa pine to quickly grow
above the competing plants and most of the effects of surface fires. Fire scar studies
have shown many ponderosa pines have survived dozens of fires over centuries.
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A fire regime is a combination of intensity and periodicity of fire. The fire regime in this
area originally consisted of low to moderate intensity fires burning every 5 to 15 years,
maintaining the pre-settlement forests in an open and park-like condition, as noted in
early historic journals and photographs. The frequent fire interval kept forest
undergrowth from building up to the dangerous condition we see today. During the
Gold Rush era land use practices greatly modified the vegetation and fire regime. After
the start of the 20th century fire suppression efforts became more organized, better
funded and benefitted from improving knowledge and technology, such as aircraft,
chemical retardants and bulldozers. This allowed great success in fire suppression
efforts and improved public safety. Unfortunately, these successes led to a buildup in
forest fuels never experienced in this region. In our local climate the accumulation of
vegetation (i.e., fuel) greatly exceeds the decomposition rate. This leads to an incessant
annual buildup in fuel loading. As a result, recent fires have become more difficult to
control, and, combined with the increase in population in the Sierra Nevada foothills,
more threatening to life and property.
The fire regime and fuel loading have been greatly modified since pre-settlement time.
The fire regime cannot be returned to its original conditions. Fuels, however, can be
modified through many available methods. Each landowner is responsible for fuel
management on their property. If all landowners actively reduce fuel levels and
interrupt fuel continuity, wildfires burning in the area will be easier to control and result
in less property and environmental
damage.
As a result of previous land uses
and subsequent residential
development, most of the
dominant trees within Sherwood
Forest are about 100 years old,
and the formerly open areas
contain trees about 40 to 50 years
old. Occasional older trees occur
over the landscape, many in a
state of decline, providing valuable
wildlife habitat structure.
The most important threat to
forest health observed within
Sherwood Forest is tree
overcrowding, especially ponderosa

Heavily suppressed pine saplings

in the community serving as ladder fuel.

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pines. Ponderosa pine is a shade intolerant tree and requires space around the canopy
to remain healthy and resistant to diseases and insects. When growing in an
overcrowded situation pines are in competition for the limited resources of the site (i.e.
water, soil nutrients and sunlight). During droughts bark beetle (Dendroctonus spp.)
populations build up and can devastate weakened and healthy pines alike. Thinning by
removing the smaller, suppressed trees can greatly extend the life of the large,
dominant trees.
Additionally, several forked ponderosa pines were observed. Generally, ponderosa
pines, like most conifers, maintain a single, straight stem, an adaptation to outgrow
their competitors and eventually dominate the forest. Forks can occur for many reasons
genetics, insects, snow or wind damage, porcupines but they usually develop a
weak structure and are subject to failure and can damage property. These trees should
be evaluated for safety. Gray pine (Pinus sabiniana), or foothill pine, on the other hand
grows naturally in a picturesque contorted and forked manner and should not be
removed just because it looks strange. Although these trees can fail they have adapted
to support themselves even when bent or forked.
There are some large black oaks with cavities (i.e. rotten branches or trunks). While
providing valuable nesting sites for wildlife, depending on their locations these trees can
be a hazard if they fail in a wind or snow storm. Consider removing these trees when
they could damage property if they break. The rotten portions of these trees ignite
easily and can burn intensely, increasing the risk to structures and fire protection
personnel.
Be aware that when trees are removed more sunlight will reach the ground. This will
have both positive and negative impacts. A greater variety of native plants may thrive in
the newly opened space, increasing plant and animal diversity. On the other hand, an
increase in weeds may occur. Invasions of noxious weeds, such as Scotch Broom or
yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) may need to be controlled.
The level of tree parasites observed within the area is
generally quite low. Two common tree parasites were
observed during the Firewise Assessment.
Western gall rust (Peridermium harknessii) In the
Sierra Nevada foothills western gall rust attacks only
ponderosa pines. This endemic rust fungus infects
growing tips of pines in the spring with a ball-like
swelling occurring the following year. Normally not a
significant threat to the health of the host tree, in

Western gall rust on

pine tree.

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large numbers the vigor of the tree can be reduced, allowing other agents to attack the
host. Individual pines have varying levels of resistance to the rust. The most susceptible
trees are obvious after severe infections begin to affect their health. These trees should
be considered for removal as they can attract bark beetles or deteriorate further
creating a hazard to structures and people from collapse.
True mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.) attacks California black oaks and other
hardwoods. These are the leafy clusters emerging from the trunk and larger branches.
No severe infections were observed during the Firewise Assessment. Unless the
mistletoe population in an individual host tree is large, the trees tend to grow and
remain healthy despite the parasite. The strength of severely infected branches could
be compromised, leading to potential breakage. Careful pruning can reduce mistletoe
infections in individual host trees.
Standing dead trees, also called snags, can be a fire hazard if they occur near
structures or access roads. In other locations they are valuable wildlife habitat
elements. Woodpeckers excavate cavities for nesting in the decaying wood, and are
followed in subsequent years by secondary cavity nesters, such as chickadees and
nuthatches. Many insects live in the wood and bark of dead trees, providing a food
source for foraging birds. Snags are essential habitat features and should be retained
where they do not pose a threat to structures, access roads or fuel breaks.
Forest health is important for providing long-term sustainability in forest cover, wildlife
habitat, water and soil protection, as well as scenic beauty. Unhealthy forests can pose
an increased fire danger as more trees die, creating snags and large down debris
making fire suppression more problematic. Additionally, healthy trees, in combination
with fuel reduction treatments, can better survive the stresses of a wildfire. Thinning of
forests (i.e., spacing trees wider) can reduce competition for limited site resources and
improve survival of trees in droughts and fires.
WILDLIFE HABITAT
Wildlife is valued and appreciated by residents in the SFFC. Wildlife habitat may be
enhanced through strategic vegetation management by opening up patches for foraging
while also protecting cover areas. Wildlife requires good cover from predators and
weather for nesting. Tree snags (standing dead trees) may be retained where they do
not fall within the defensible space of homes, along evacuation routes or near power
lines. Generally, one snag per every 4-5 acres will provide habitat for cavity nesters
such as owls, flying squirrels and bats. Retaining brush clumps for birds with good
spacing from over story trees will provide wildlife habitat while also mitigating
catastrophic wildfire potential. Strategically placed clumps of vegetation with good

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clearance around them will also provide privacy screening which is valued in the
community.
FUELS MANAGEMENT
Many landowners within the SFFC have already begun fuel reduction projects. In
addition to reduced fire hazard for the property, the benefits of this work are:
o Reduced fire hazards for neighboring properties the condition of each
parcel can affect the fire hazard on adjacent parcels
o More aesthetically pleasing landscapes more closely resembling early
historic conditions
o Better long-term health of residual trees and shrubs less stress from
competition
o Improved wildlife habitats
o Increase in plant diversity more sunlight to the ground improves growth of
wildflowers and grasses
o Maintain homeowners insurance policy
Fuel managements goal is to
reduce the intensity and rate of
spread of approaching wildfires
and reduce the potential of a
single structure fire developing into
a large wildfire. Fires can be
classified into three types;
o Ground fires burn along
the ground, moving slowly,
with low heat output. Many
times they only smolder.
These fires pose the lowest
danger and are carried
primarily by leaf litter or
The 49er Fire in 1988 burned over
mowed, dry grass.
33,000 acres in western Nevada
o Surface fires burn along the
County and 312 structures.
ground with greater intensity
and can move rapidly. They
can cause significant damage to structures as well as trees and shrubs. They are
carried by leaf litter, dry grasses, twigs, branches, small shrubs and trees and
downed logs. Surface fires can kill large, mature trees by girdling, crown
desiccation or cooking the roots.
o Crown fires burn from the ground to the tops of the trees. These are by far the
most destructive and dangerous fires. A crown fire cannot be sustained without a
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high intensity surface fire feeding convective and radiant heat into the tree
canopy. Large quantities of fuel on the ground combined with ladder fuels lead
to catastrophic crown fires.
We can predict with reasonable certainty which type of fire will occur in an area by
evaluating the existing fuel. Fuel is anything available for combustion in our case
vegetation, live or dead. The factors that determine which type of fire will occur include
some factors that we have no control over and others that we can manipulate with fuel
management.
Factors we have no control over:
o Topography Heat rises, so fires burn hotter up slopes. The steeper the slope
the hotter and faster a fire will burn. Gullies can channel hot gasses and fire,
causing a chimney effect. Consider these factors when selecting a building site
and in fuel reduction projects.
o Atmospheric conditions humidity, ambient temperature, wind speed and
direction. Our prevailing winds come from the southwest, therefore, most of our
fires burn toward the northeast. Primarily in the autumn dry, hot winds can blow
day and night, out of the northeast (known Santa Ana winds in southern
California). These winds, with accompanying low humidity cause the most
dangerous fires, which spread rapidly. The 49er Fire in 1988 was this type of fire.
o Fuel moisture content without irrigation, this factor is dependent on the
atmospheric conditions. Small diameter fuels (pine needles) can change moisture
content in a matter of hours. Larger fuels (logs) may take days or weeks to
significantly change in moisture content.
Factors we can manipulate:
o Amount of fuel more fuel equals greater fire intensity and rate of spread
o Type of fuels size, structure, arrangement, flammability (natural oils) all
affect fire behavior and can be targeted for manipulation
o Continuity of fuels - horizontally patchy or continuous
- vertically ladder fuels vs. open layer between ground and canopy
Planning fuel management should consider various zones surrounding the structures.
Utilizing these zones helps set priorities and bring into focus where the greatest hazards
exist.
Home Ignition Zone includes the first 10 feet surrounding structures. Fuels in this
zone frequently lead to ignition of structures. Keep fuel to a minimum, including live
plants, wood piles, and patio furniture. Refer to the Firewise Plants for Western Nevada
County guide available from the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County (online at:
http://www.areyoufiresafe.com/files/9413/0083/2949/firewise_plant_booklet_2011_110
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106.pdf) for a list of
suitable plants. Patrol this
zone periodically during
fire season to be sure
leaves or pine needles
have not accumulated
near the structures.
Defensible Space Zone
is the first 30 feet from
structures. This zone can
include irrigated
landscaping or properly
maintained native
vegetation.
Effective Defensible Space in the SFFC.
Reduced Fuel Zone
includes the area at least
100 feet from structures, sometimes greater where steep slopes occur.
In managing fuels, the most obvious thing to do is reduce the total amount of fuel. In a
forest situation this can be done by removing ground fuels by cutting, raking, burning
or chipping. This method also reduces the continuity of fuels, creating a patchy
situation.
Pruning of the trees will reduce the quantity of fuel and affect the vertical continuity of
fuels. Pruning trees to 10 feet (no more than one-third the total height though) can
greatly reduce the ladder fuels when combined with thinning and ground fuel removal.
Carefully planned and maintained landscaping can aid in fire hazard reduction. Well
irrigated, low growing plants are suitable within the Home Ignition zone.
FIREWISE PLANT CHOICES AND LANDSCAPING
Work with nature and choose plants that are climate and soil adapted. Incorporating
fire safe concepts into the residential landscape is one of the most important ways you
can help your home survive a wildfire. Creating an area of defensible space does not
mean you need a ring of bare dirt around your home. Through proper planning, you
can have both a beautiful landscape and a fire safe home.
Vegetation Arrangement - The general concept is that larger trees should be kept
furthest from your home, while lower growing shrubs and hardwood trees may be
closer. Bedding plants and lawns may be nearest to the structure. From a wildfire fuel
perspective, vegetation is often described in terms of its vertical and horizontal
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arrangement. The vertical fuel continuity is also referred to as ladder fuels.
Laddering arrangements of fuels enables fire to climb neighboring vegetation like a
ladder. Reduce the chance of fire climbing into trees by removing the lower tree limbs
from 6-10 feet from the ground (or the lower third of branches on smaller trees.)
Fire spreads on the ground from plant to plant and then onto your home. To reduce
the chance of fire spreading horizontally, space or group plants in clumps for visual
screening while providing enough space between plants to reduce the fire spreading.
Individual spacing needs depends on the height and width of the plant, but generally a
three times height for vertical separation is a good rule of thumb.

Juniper is a highly flammable plant species and may carry fire

to structures if not well managed.
Vegetation Zones - The home defense zone is within 30 feet of the house. The
reduced fuel zone lies beyond the home defense zone and extends out to 100 feet from
the house or the property boundary. Greater defense zone widths (up to 300 feet) are
necessary when your home is sited on a steep slope, surrounded by heavy fuels or in a
windswept exposure. The most intensive vegetation management lies within the home
defense zone. Objectives for the home defense zone include:

Remove any combustible materials (such as needles, leaves, dead twigs,

firewood, dry grasses, recycling, and building materials) from within 30 feet of
the home, garage, outbuildings, and propane tanks.

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Reduce the ladder effect between plants.

Replace any flammable plant species (such as juniper, cypress, or broom
varieties) with Firewise plant selections.
Maintain high moisture content in the vegetation

Where to Plant - Avoid putting plants in the following locations to minimize the
movement of fire from the vegetation to the home: immediately adjacent to the siding;
underneath vents or eaves; tree limbs over the roof; and underneath or near the deck.
Mulching - Mulch conserves moisture, but also burns. Carefully choose the location of
plants or garden beds that will need mulch. Mulches greater than 2 inches deep tend
to smolder and are difficult to extinguish. Avoid using wood or bark mulches within 5
feet of the house. Instead consider colored rock, pea gravel or other less flammable
materials. Having a hardscape immediately adjacent to your home will help protect
the structure from flying ember intrusion.
Maintenance - Maintenance is critical to fire safety. Over time, plants grow both
vertically and horizontally, mulches dry out, leaves and needles accumulate within and
around landscape vegetation. All of these fuels may help feed a fire. Conduct routine
maintenance of your established vegetation to ensure a fire safe condition throughout
the year. Remember that no plant is completely resistant to fire. Plants with low fuel
content can be the difference between safety and destruction. You will find that a fire
safe landscape can increase your property value, provide wildlife habitat and conserve
water while beautifying your home.
Highly Flammable Plants some
plant species are high in oil content
and are extremely volatile if ignited.
These include juniper, cypress, bear
clover and Scotch broom. The
hazard assessment team
recommends these species not be
used within 30 feet of structures and
caution be used when these species
are within 100 feet of any structures.
Species such as juniper may be
maintained in such a way to
minimize their hazard by removing
the dead interior of the plant and
Firewise Juniper manicured as topiary
limbing it up from the ground.
with pea gravel hardscape.

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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
EMBER INTRUSION
Even with the best individual Home
Ignition Zones providing fire protection, a
wildfire in the area will create a significant
amount of firebrands (burning embers)
which may ignite vegetation and
structures. These embers, carried by
wind, can pelt your property well ahead
of the main fire front, potentially causing
numerous spot fires. These tiny
firebrands may represent the most
significant threat of fire within the
community. The embers emulate a
military artillery barrage and not only
threaten homes but the landscape
forestland if sufficient vegetation
Ember intrusion testing by the
management does not limit the fuel
Institute for Business & Home
available for the fire to consume. The
Safety. Learn more at:
majority of homes that burn in a wildfire
http://www.disastersafety.org/
are not consumed by crown fires, but are
consumed from ember intrusion on the structure. If a single home in this community
was to ignite by firebrands during a wildfire, it would place the surrounding homes and
watershed at risk. In order to greatly reduce the ignitability of homes in your
community, residents should inspect roofs, decks and the immediate ground
surrounding these structures (within 10 feet) for fine fuels. Remember fuels may be
non-vegetative and include items such as furniture, door mats, brooms, and decorative
items such as baskets and planters. Any fuels found in this area should be removed
regularly in order to reduce the potential of a firebrand ignition. The goal of removing
the fine fuels from within ten feet of the structures is to help stop firebrands from
triggering a structure ignition from items immediately adjacent to the home.
The SFFC is interspersed amongst the forest. Trees are expected and appreciated
around homes. Hardening structures from ember intrusion will increase their
survivability in the event of a wildfire and subsequent fire branding in the community.
Results from the 1961 Belair-Brentwood Fire found that 95 percent of the structures
that survived maintained 30-60 feet of clearance and had non-flammable roofs.
Although wood shake roofs are not present in the community, roof maintenance is an
ongoing issue to homes everywhere. All roof types may ignite if allowed to accumulate
flammable material under overhangs, in gutters and other complex areas of the roof.
These materials are easily ignited by firebrands and may put the entire home at risk,
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FIREWISE COMMUNITIES / USA ASSESSMENT

Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
which in turn places the entire
community at risk. These materials are
also easily mitigated by sweeping or
blowing off and will greatly reduce the
potential for home ignition.
Some structures have wood siding or
wood construction features. Wood tends
to stand up fairly well to radiant heat,
although it can ignite when flames or
super-heated air (convection) heat comes
into direct contact with it. In the event
this flammable material ignites, it would
Firebrand testing on various
move to the structure and ignite it. In
decking material products. For
order to mitigate for this type of siding,
more information visit:
residents must ensure that direct flame
http://firecenter.berkeley.edu/
contact cannot occur. Residents should set
a high priority to remove highly flammable and dead vegetation within a minimum of 10
feet from the house. Residents should consider boxing in the eaves of the home for
increased protection from firebrand intrusion. Other flammable material such as
coconut door mats and deck furniture cushions should also be removed from this area
while away from their home during fire season. Landscaping should be well irrigated if
located within the 10 feet directly adjacent to the
structures.
Privacy screening is a common issue in most
communities. Vegetative screens that use native
trees or brush such as cedars or manzanita for
privacy from neighbors or the roadways should
be thinned and pruned in order to reduce the risk
of ignition and fire spread. Removing the smaller
trees in these areas will also promote growth in
the larger trees that are less susceptible to fire
and enhance overall forest health. When
vegetative screens are incorporated, the use of
more fire resistant trees such as black oak may
be used. Another way to mitigate the fire risk
associated with privacy screening residents desire
is to break up the horizontal and vertical
continuity of the screening by placing clumps of
vegetation to provide strategic visual barriers. Or

English laurel is an effective

privacy screen and also a
Firewise plant choice.

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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
consider planting ornamental vegetative screens with Firewise plants such as English
laurel or photinia.
Some homes in the community utilize wood as a source of heat. One of the fire risks
associated with using this type of fuels to heat homes is that the wood needs to be
stored somewhere. Some of the wood here is stored next to homes or other structures.
Wood piles are highly flammable, hence their use for heat fuel, and burn for extensive
periods of time. All wood piles should be stored at least 30 feet from all structures,
covered with a fire rated tarp, or stored in a building with fire rated roofing. Wood fuel
pellets should be treated in the same manner as natural firewood.

Firewood operation in the community.

A firewood operation was observed in the community abutting the BLM public land.
While the wood piles are stored away from the home, the hazard assessment team
recommends the landowner create a minimum 30 foot buffer zone between the
firewood storage and the heavy vegetation of manzanita with overstory of ponderosa
pines. This will aid in containing the fuel source through providing some defensible
space surrounding it.

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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
Decks help residents enjoy the natural environment as living space. However, they
pose a significant fire threat to the home if not properly maintained. Remember if its
attached to the house, its part of the house. Many decks have accumulations of
flammable materials both on and underneath them. If this material was ignited by a
firebrand, it would easily ignite the deck and then the house. All decks should be kept
free of flammable material, both above and below, in order to reduce the threat of a
firebrand ignition. Where feasible, decks should be screened with a 1/8 inch metal
mesh screening in order to reduce the amount of firebrand impingement and flammable
material build up. Other non-flammable building products may be used to enclose
decks such as corrugated steel or sheet metal for fashionable designs. Stairs may also
be screened in the same manner. A piece of metal flashing between the deck and the
house will also reduce the exposure from firebrands.
Another consideration for decks, entry ways or other wooden walkways is outdoor
furniture dcor and their potential source of firebrand ignitions. Outdoor furniture
cushions are very flammable. These cushions can ignite and put the entire structure at
risk. It is advised to store such items when not in use or while you are away from your
home during fire season. This goes for anything flammable including door mats,
brooms, umbrellas, basket of pine cones, etc.
Inadequately screened vents are a main source of firebrand ignition potential. By using
a 1/8 inch metal mesh screen on all home vents, homeowners will greatly reduce the
firebrand access to their structures. This standard is now California building code within
the Wildland Urban Interface (most all of Nevada County) for new home construction.
Double paned windows (with one tempered glass) provide a better heat shield than
single pane windows. Using this type of window provides increased insulation from the
outside elements and benefits the home through associated energy savings as well as
increased fire safety.

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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
PUBLIC LANDS
There is a parcel of land owned by the BLM which backs up to homes. This parcel is
severely overgrown with dense vegetation that falls within the defensible space zone
(100 feet) from homes.

BLM lands (in gold) abuts home development along Friar Tuckand Arrow
Point roads.

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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
The hazard assessment team recommends engagement with BLM to design a fuels
reduction treatment to provide a community scale defense zone. Prior to any
vegetation management treatment, federal agencies such as BLM must comply with the
National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA.) The act provides for a variety of studies
to be conducted to survey for archeological resources, sensitive botany, endangered
species habitat and more prior to any ground work being conducted. Due to limited
funding for this complex process, it often takes several years to enable work to be
completed. However, there are programs such as the Hazardous Fuel Reduction
Variance program that may provide for limited fuels reductions for community
protection. The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County provides assistance in developing
and implementing projects with Firewise Community volunteer support for field
operations. The hazard assessment team highly recommends the SFFC contact BLM
representatives to ascertain what may be done to address the hazardous fuel loading
adjacent to the community.
POWER & COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has power distribution lines and easements through the
community and actively addresses vegetation management within these corridors to
avoid arching of vegetation on the lines
which may cause a wildfire.
Vegetation growing in the community has
the potential to intersect communication
and power lines. Consideration should be
given to working with Pacific Gas &Electric
Company (PG&E) to avoid power
interruptions and wildfire ignitions by
supporting their utility tree maintenance
programs. PG&E is required by law to
maintain specific vegetation clearances
away from high voltage power lines and
other high voltage distribution lines
commonly found along roadways (see
figure below.)
Residents should be educated1 about the
importance of removing vegetation that could grow into roadside power lines before
they become too large for easy removal. Pruning trees next to power lines can be
1

See PG&E Tree Maintenance Program and other safety information at

http://www.pge.com/mybusiness/customerservice/otherrequests/treetrimming/ or by calling 1800-PGE-5000
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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
dangerous. Unqualified tree workers put their lives in jeopardy without specialized
training or the proper insulated tools required to work near high voltage power lines.
Hiring an unqualified tree contractor could put a contractor and homeowner at a
significant liability risk, should a worker be injured or killed while performing work.
There are a number of trees that have been topped to avoid coming in contact with the
power lines that eventually succumb to this treatment and perish. Continual trimming of
trees is paid for by rate payers in the community and therefore they have a vested
interest in working with the power company.
The powerline easement provides for ongoing review and periodic maintenance of the
vegetation which also provides a landscape fuels treatment to help break up the fuel
continuity and loading. While the maintenance crews address the smaller slash through
chipping, often there is large woody material left on site. The trees are the property of
the landowner and ultimately their individual responsibility to address.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Highly recommend everyone in the community begin with a Defensible Space
Advisory visit, if they have not had one recently. These may be scheduled by
calling the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County at 272-1122.
2) Highly recommend residents work on their individual emergency preparedness
and evacuation plan. Visit the Fire Safe Council website
(www.areyoufiresafe.com) or office for detailed information on how to plan
ahead for any emergency. Share your plan with your extended family and
neighbors. Also, register cell phones for the Nevada County Code RED
emergency notification system at: www.mynevadacounty.com.
3) Highly recommend working with BLM to implement a community defense zone
and post signs to recreational users of the high fire hazard and need for caution.
4) Recommend landowners reduce fuels on vacant parcels particularly within 100
feet of any structures. Work with Nevada County Consolidated Fire District for
enforcement under the Nevada County Hazardous Vegetation Management
Ordinance or Cal Fire for under PRC4291 (defensible space law.) Consider
adopting the Firewise Community 30-Day Courtesy Notice as a friendly reminder
of the need for fuels mitigation for community safety prior to referrals to
enforcement agencies.
5) Recommend removal of hazardous privacy screening vegetation and juniper
within 30 feet of structures or pruning to be Firewise.
6) Recommend wood lot operator be contacted regarding defensible space for
storage.
7) Recommend ongoing education to neighbors in the footprint of the Firewise
Community who are not formally part of the Sherwood Forest homeowners
association.
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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
8) Recommend SFFC Committee members become trained Defensible Space
Advisors by attending the 2-day training session offered by the Fire Safe Council
to educate themselves on the specific mitigation strategies to help educate their
neighbors and new residents on how to create and maintain effective defensible
space.
9) Continue discussions with adjacent grassland parcel owner to conduct perimeter
fire break to mitigate the hazard posed to the community.
10)Continue to monitor the North Star Property and communicate with this
landowner to conduct periodic maintenance for forest health and community
wildfire mitigation.
11)Develop community scale project for volunteer work crews or Fire Safe Council
AmeriCorps work crews.
12)Identify neighbors who may need assistance with evacuations or defensible
space clearing and work to make referrals for low-income seniors/disabled for
no-cost assistance through the Fire Safe Council.
13)Provide periodic Firewise education to residents, maintenance reminders and
minimum of annual Firewise Education Day event.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
By adopting the Firewise Communities/USA program, working with the Fire Safe
Council of Nevada County and continuing the work the community has already
accomplished, residents can create a balance that will allow them to safely co-exist with
wildfire while maintaining the natural forest setting and quality wildlife habitat the
residents desire. Most people have chosen to live in the Sierra foothills in part because
of the quality of the environment, climate, wildlife and aesthetic appeal. It is important
for the residents to understand the implications of the choices they are making
regarding fire safety. These choices, such as home siting, building materials selection,
landscaping, vegetation management and proper maintenance of the home, directly
relate to the ignitability of their home and surrounding environment during a wildfire
event.
Collaboration with the following entities will greatly leverage the SFFC efforts to achieve
goals set to address the hazards identified in this plan:
Bureau of Land Management, Mother Lode Field Office (916) 941-3101
CAL FIRE, Station 20, Nevada City (530) 265-4589
Fire Safe Council of Nevada County, Grass Valley (530) 272-1122
Nevada County Consolidated Fire District (530) 27-3-3158
Pacific Gas & Electric (800) 743-5000

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Sherwood Forest Firewise Community, Grass Valley, California
NEXT STEPS
In order to complete the Firewise Community application, the SFFC Committee needs to
accept this community wildfire hazard assessment and develop an action plan to proactively address the issues identified and track progress on the goals set. The action
plan will integrate the following:

Annual Firewise Community/USA education day event to be held each year.

Invest a minimum of $2.00 annually per capita in the Firewise Communities/USA
program. This work may be done by volunteers (valued at $23.07/hr), paid for
by private landowners, Fire Safe Council chipping services, or grant funded
contractors on priorities set by the SFFC Firewise Committee.
Submit an annual report of activities to the Firewise Communities/USA program
to retain the community Firewise designation.

Please remember that there are many actions your community may take to reduce the
effects of wildfire. Your actions directly impact whether your home will survive a
wildfire. In the event of a wildfire, there will NOT be a fire engine to protect every
home in the neighborhood. It is up to you, not firefighting agencies, to ensure the
survivability of your home and community. Take pro-active measures NOW to protect
your home and community before the fire comes. A prepared community is a safer
community.

WORKING TOGETHER YOU CAN BECOME

FIREWISE!

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