The County of Nevada website hosts an interactive map showing the current NFPA-recognized Firewise USA® communities (FWC), plus those "In-Training" which are being developed and sponsored through the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County. You can use this interactive GIS map (scroll down until you see the map on that webpage) to find out if you're already in a FWC. Read the directions for use below - there are no instructions on the map page.
Directions: Type your home address (or any other address) into the white box on the map and click 'enter'. This will locate and place a dot on the map showing the address location. Each FWC has a different background color - the colors are subtle and can be checked against the Legend to the left. By scrolling out SLOWLY, it will show the names of the FWC and its neighbors. If you scroll out further to the county level, only the colors are shown. Scroll IN from the address-dot level and the street name can be seen. "In Training" neighborhoods that are developing their FWC status and have an accepted map are identified with a uniform yellow background.
Click below for the most recent (as of May 2024) maps of Firewise Communities (including In-Training Communities). Thank you GIS expert Alan Doerr, Fire Safe Council board member, for these maps:
Western County Map of Firewise Communities (including Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley, San Juan Ridge and more)
Eastern County Map of Firewise Communities (including Truckee, Donner Lake area, and more)
TO leaders or committee members of a Firewise Community (FWC): could you use help in administering your FWC? Go here for information and resources.
Learn your Evacuation Zone number (a separate County program) by typing your street address in the white search box on this page at the GenasysProtect website.
An alphabetical list of CERTIFIED FIREWISE COMMUNITIES and individual FWCommunity maps can be found on this page of the Fire Safe Council website. If you have trouble locating the individual map for your Firewise Community, contact the Fire Safe Council. (Scroll down past the banner map image until you see the Contact Us form.)
What is an "In Training" Firewise Community? These are neighborhoods that are developing the steps necessary to become a Firewise Community. Many are waiting for their Hazard Assessment to be performed and documented by a qualified fire expert, with funding obtained by the Fire Safe Council (there is no cost to the neighborhood itself). The Community then creates its own 1-to-2 page Action Plan based on the Assessment, and the Fire Safe Council registers the new Firewise Community with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Prior to certification, all "in training" communities are encouraged to act like a certified Firewise Community, have one or more representatives attend monthly Coalition meetings, etc.