Grass Valley highlights Measure B hires and launches defensible‑space inspections; neighborhood seeks ivy removal near water treatment plant

Fire Chief Mark Busch told the Grass Valley City Council on Tuesday that six new firefighters hired under Measure B completed a 10‑day academy and are now staffing engines, and staff have begun rolling out a defensible‑space inspection and vegetation‑management program.

The hires, Busch said, included a replacement for an internal promotion and a paramedic who trained with the recruits: “They’ve completed that 10 day academy and they’re now out on fire engine staffing city stations,” Busch said. The recruits trained on EMS, auto extrication, hose movement, ventilation and live‑fire exercises at Yuba College Fire Academy, he said.

Busch said the city has purchased a fireside inspection program to provide interactive inspections and homeowner reports and that Dwayne Strawser, the city’s new community risk‑reduction manager, has started and will oversee defensible‑space inspections and other wildfire mitigation work. “Duane is going to oversee many things related to wildfire mitigation and preparation, including defensible space inspections through a fireside program,” Busch said.

The chief also recounted recent mutual‑aid work: Grass Valley engines and personnel were deployed to the Palisades and other Southern California incidents in January. Battalion Chief James Drummond was assigned as a division supervisor and served 18 days; firefighter Tyler Thomason was assigned as a Public Information Officer trainee and conducted media interviews and helped establish FEMA centers, Busch said.

During public comment, Alta Hill neighborhood resident Lily Marie Mora urged the city to use newly available tax revenues to make the area around a cell tower and the southeast end of the water treatment plant fire safe, asking the council to remove ivy from trees and perform minimal brush work. Mora said volunteers from her neighborhood would help: “We request that some of the new tax monies that have become available be used for this purpose. We as a neighborhood would be glad to get a team of 5 to 10 volunteers to help assist with this process,” she said.

Council members thanked the fire department for mutual‑aid deployments and for the Measure B staffing gains. No formal action was taken on the neighborhood request during the meeting; Mora said the neighborhood will follow up with staff and provided contact information for coordination.

Why it matters: The Measure B hires increase local fire‑engine staffing and add a dedicated community risk‑reduction position to lead defensible‑space inspections. Neighbors’ requests for targeted vegetation work intersect with the new program and possible use of Measure B or other local funds.

What’s next: Staff will continue implementing the fireside inspection program under Community Risk Reduction Manager Dwayne Strawser and coordinate follow‑up with neighborhood volunteers regarding ivy removal and brush management. The council did not vote on specific funding or a timeline at the meeting.