Celebrating progress of making greater Auburn area more fire resistant

While wildfire risk will always be with us in California, let's celebrate the combined efforts of community members, organizations and individuals in our area. Much more needs to be done, but progress is worth celebrating. Here are a few of the highlights: · CA Fire Foundation provided $20,000 for fuel reduction below Borland Avenue. · The City of Auburn right-of-ways totaled approximately seven acres. · The Baltimore Ravine project is 120 acres. · Placer County has 115 Firewise Communities, the most of any county in the entire U.S., with at least 25 more forming. · Nevada County has the second-most Firewise Communities at 102 or so. · The Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council (GAAFSC) supports 19 of those Firewise Communities in Bowman, Auburn, Newcastle and Penryn. · GAAFSC facilitated nine new Firewise Communities getting certified in 2024. · GAAFSC is working with 12 additional communities planning for Firewise certifications in 2025. · The North Auburn/Colfax/Ophir Fire Safe Council area has 15 Firewise Communities. · The Foresthill area has 14 Firewise or Firewise-like Communities. · The City of Auburn is working with Union Pacific to clear brush on Union Pacific land near the railroad tracks. · The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has been using goats and other means to clear vegetation in the Auburn State Recreation Area bordering Auburn, Cool and along the Canyon adjacent to the American River. · CAL FIRE completed many educational assessments of rural properties in Placer County in 2024 to help property owners understand what they can do to protect their rural homes and structures. · Caltrans has cleared vegetation along roadsides over many miles of Interstate 80 and others. All of this helps make our area more resistant to wildfires. A huge thank you to the agencies, organizations and citizens who have contributed to these efforts. It takes a village to mitigate our risks. What have you done to make your property more fire safe? For more information, email AuburnFireSafeCouncil@gmail.com.