Education and Events
Firewise Presentation Sept 10th Highlights
LORI PINI, Plumas County Office of Emergency Services.
211norcal.org – Announced that this program is operational - Disaster Relief, Basic Human Needs, Health Resources, Employment Support, Support for Seniors and Disabled, Children, Youth and Families
HalterProject.org - Dog Ready Kit, Cat Ready Kit, Supplies for 7-14 days if evacuated. Lori encouraged residents to install a key pad for access to home to evacuate animals if you are away and unable to do so yourself.
CHANDLER PEAY, Plumas County Sheriff Deputy Dispatcher
Protect.genasys.com – Alerts are tailored specifically for Valley Ranch. Be sure that you are signed up. Please log in and check that your physical address and telephone number are linked. At the meeting Chandler showed a map of Valley Ranch which indicated that only 16 homes were registered. Chandler recommended that Valley Ranch residents not rely on Watch Duty or our evacuation zone for exact information.
RYAN PEDERSEN, California Highway Patrol District Commander
(and Valley Ranch Resident)
Lt. Pedersen explained that the California Highway Patrol officers would be on hand to work directly with the Plumas County Sheriff Department directing traffic and providing security for evacuated neighborhoods. Because they are a statewide agency, they can draw officers from all corners of California if needed. He also stressed that if you are told to evacuate, please do so. By refusing to evacuate, you may be hindering firefighters' abilities to effectively fight the fire and putting others in danger.
CHIEF ED WARD – Graeagle Fire Department
Chief Ward urged us to plan for a power outage with backup batteries, oxygen if needed, cords for electrical devices.
If you have a Standby Generator place a yellow instruction/warning sticker on your electrical panel. This way, when emergency responders go to shut off power at your home, if it is still on, the generator can be shut off too. For example, if the generator were left running, your automatic sprinklers will go off if they were activated. Cathy Linden has extra stickers for those that may not have gotten one at the meeting,
Volunteer Work Day
In accordance with Recommendation #3 of the Valley Ranch Hazardous Fuels Assessment done by California Registered Professional Forester #2808 Danielle Bradfield in July of 2019, the Valley Ranch Firewise Community hosted a Volunteer Work Day on July 9, 2025. The purpose was to continue work on the ingress/egress route along Valley Ranch Drive. With the help of a great group of volunteers, they were able to mow and weed whack down all the weeds and grasses along the pasture side of Valley Ranch Drive from Highway 89 to 629 Valley Ranch Drive. A big shout out to this great group of volunteers for getting up and on the job early.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors…..fuels reductions workday September 13th
On September 13, 2025, a group of 14 volunteers as well as the property owners spent a day reducing hazardous fuels on an unimproved parcel in Valley Ranch. This work was done in accordance with Recommendation #2 of the Valley Ranch Hazardous Fuels Assessment completed by California Registered Professional Forester #2808, Danielle Bradfield, in July of 2019. “Reduce hazardous fuels upon unimproved parcels within the subdivision, especially when these lots are within the 200-foot HIZ of an adjacent residence.” In addition to 12 Valley Ranch residents, Hannah Hepner and Ryan Bauer of The Watershed Group and Training Center and two of Hannah’s young daughters joined in the work party. Kudos to this amazing, hard working group of volunteers who put in 8 long hours!!! It was a very rewarding day as the transformation of Lot #30 is truly amazing!!! The owners are working with The Watershed Group and Training Center and hope to do a prescribed burn on this property in the near future.
