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County to prioritize community evacuation routes, seek grants and fund roadside chipping
Summary
Emergency Services reported evacuation‑study findings naming Alta Sierra, Banner Mountain/Greenhorn Road, Cascade Shores, Lake of the Pines and Lake Wildwood as most at risk, and asked the board to prioritize grants, private‑road outreach and a $200,000 FY26 green‑waste/chipping program for Firewise communities.
Nevada County Office of Emergency Services presented an evacuation study and a slate of planned roadside fuel‑reduction projects supervisors described as central to improving public safety ahead of fire season. Director Alex Kibble Toll said the county has used FEMA HMGP, USFS and state grants to target the places where evacuations are most constrained.
"Our most evacuation‑impacted communities countywide are Alta Sierra, Greenhorn Road/Cascade Shores, Banner Mountain, Lake of the Pines, and Lake Wildwood," Kibble Toll said, adding that OES has removed hundreds of debris piles and is partnering with CAL FIRE crews and the Tahoe National Forest.
The county proposed a FY26 request of $200,000 to fund 70 green‑waste bins and 70 days of roadside chipping to maintain the level of service offered in prior years. Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Mike Bingham described law enforcement roles in evacuation — from door‑to‑door notifications to siren activations — and urged residents to know their zones and multiple egress routes.
Supervisors supported prioritizing grants and working with Caltrans, the Nevada County Transportation Commission and federal partners for larger corridor projects, while continuing education and outreach for private roads and Firewise communities.
Next steps: staff will pursue grant funding, finalize the alert‑platform RFP (closing Feb. 23), deploy community outreach on ZoneHaven and return with budget recommendations for roadside abatement services.
