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CalFire and county OES warn of above-average summer fire potential; county launches alerts platform and expanded green-waste days
Summary
CalFire and county emergency services told supervisors the 2026 season shows above-average fire potential through summer, highlighted new aviation and detection resources, and described county steps including expanded free green-waste collections and a new Nevada County Alerts rollout with a May 28 test.
CalFire leaders and Nevada County emergency-services staff briefed supervisors on May 19 about wildfire outlook and preparedness measures ahead of the 2026 summer season.
CalFire Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit forester Steve Garcia said a shallow snowpack at higher elevations and unusually tall grass growth have left fuels more exposed and drier than normal in many places. He said the unit expects "above-average fire potential" June through August and noted uncertainty about whether monsoonal moisture and lightning in July through September will be wet (moisture-laden) or dry (lightning with receptive fuels).
Chief Jim Hudson described expanded aviation and detection resources available to the unit: additional S-2 airtankers and a fourth C-130 air tanker becoming available regionally; new retardant-mixing equipment at the Grass Valley air attack base to speed mixing and loading; unmanned aerial systems (drones) in the unit for recon; and an array of AI-enabled cameras and growing satellite early-detection capability.
County wildfire coordinator Allesandre Zambrano summarized county-level preparedness steps: expanded free green-waste days in both western and eastern Nevada County (western last day May 25, eastern program May 29 through Sept. 4), launch of the Nevada County Alerts system (7,000 signups in 7 days), a countywide mailer planned for June to explain the new system, a youth art contest for preparedness outreach and a May 7 emergency operations center wildfire simulation.
Zambrano asked residents to verify their contact information in the new Nevada County Alerts system in advance of a countywide test scheduled for May 28; the county will run supervised tests by supervisorial district during the day.
CalFire reported operational metrics: roughly 400 ignitions in 2025 across the unit, a historically high number of lightning strikes in the region during fall 2025 but generally successful initial attack, and unit fuels work including roughly 2,590 acres treated since July 1, 2025 and 8,356 defensible-space inspections conducted countywide (figures provided by unit staff).
Supervisor comments focused on runway and airbase capacity at Grass Valley, stabilization of conservation-camp crew numbers, and the expanded season of year-round staffing for some engines. The board unanimously accepted the presentation.
Takeaway: County and CalFire officials urged residents to sign up for Nevada County Alerts before the May 28 test, finish summer preparedness tasks (defensible space, green-waste disposal) and treat the season as potentially active; officials emphasized that aviation, AI cameras and satellite detection are improving early-warning capacity.
