Extension and partners offer sessions on preparing for wildfire and evacuations

RENO – Wildfire dangers are increasing each year in the West requiring residents to be more prepared to face fire emergencies such as evacuations. University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program in June hosts two events to help Nevadans prepare for wildfire and evacuations.

The sessions will be hosted in person at Topaz Ranch Estates south of Carson Valley June 7 and Elko June 16 and geared toward those communities. People living elsewhere or who cannot attend in person can also watch the sessions online.

Residents of Topaz Ranch Estates evacuated their homes in summer 2021 during the Tamarack Fire, which burned 68,000 acres.

“We have to be realistic,” Christina Restaino, assistant professor and Living With Fire Program director, said. “We know we are going to have wildfires in Nevada this summer, and that evacuations will be necessary. It’s not a matter of ‘if,’ it’s just a matter of when and where.”

Information shared during the “Preparing for Wildfire and Evacuation” presentations include details on evacuation routes, receiving local alerts, packing go-bags, evacuating animals and other topics.

“There will be a lot of good information at these sessions that many Nevadans can tune into online and benefit from, but we really wanted to come in and do some presentations during this year’s Wildfire Awareness Campaign at some of the high fire hazard areas in the state,” said Jamie Roice-Gomes, Living With Fire Program manager. “There’s information specific to these communities that residents need to know, so we’ve partnered with local fire departments, sheriff’s offices and others, to try to make sure residents are as informed as possible to keep them safe when wildfires occur.”

Following the presentations attendees will be able to ask questions.

Details of the events include: 

Evacuation and Wildfire Preparation for Topaz Ranch Estates, June 7
When: June 7, doors open at 5:30 p.m., presentations run 6 – 8 p.m.
Attend in person: At the Topaz Ranch Estates Community Center, 3939 Carter Drive, Wellington. Admission is free but limited to the first 60 people who register. Registration is required at bit.ly/TREWildfireReadyLIVE. Appetizers will be provided.

Attend online: Via Zoom at: bit.ly/TREWildfireReady.

For more information: Call the Extension office in Douglas County, 775-782-9960.
Presentations include:

• Opening Remarks – Jamie Roice-Gomes, Extension’s Living With Fire Program
• East Fork Fire Protection District’s Jurisdiction, Small Animal Evacuation Tips and Packing a Go-bag – Chief Todd Carlini and Deputy Fire Chief Amy Ray, East Fork Fire Protection District
• Evacuation in Douglas County – Undersheriff Ron Elges, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
• How to Register for Emergency Alerts and Where Residents Can Get Updates – Melissa Blosser, Douglas County Community Relations and Public Information
• Large Animal Evacuation Tips – Lindsay Chichester, University of Nevada, Reno Extension – Douglas County office
• Defensible Space and Home Hardening – Jamie Roice-Gomes and Christina Restaino, Extension’s Living With Fire Program
• Public Safety Outage Management and Fuels Reduction – Paul Washam, NV Energy
• What is Fire Adapted Nevada and How to Join the “FAN” Club as a Fire Adapted Community – Kelli Nevills, Nevada Division of Forestry – Fire Adapted Nevada
• Fuels Reduction and Shared Stewardship – Duncan Leo, U.S. Forest Service – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; Ryan Elliot, Bureau of Land Management

Evacuation and Wildfire Preparation for Spring Creek, June 16
When: June 16, doors open at 5:30 p.m., presentations run 6 – 8 p.m.

Attend in person: At Spring Creek High School, 14550 Lamoille Highway, Spring Creek. Admission is free but limited to the first 50 people who register. Registration is required at : bit.ly/SpringCreekWildfireReadyLIVE. Appetizers will be provided.

Attend online: Via Zoom at: bit.ly/SpringCreekWildfireReady.
For more information: Call the Extension office in Elko County, 775-738-7291.
Presentations include:

• Opening Remarks – Jill Baker Tingey, University of Nevada, Reno Extension – Elko County office
• What Evacuations Look Like for Residents, and Alternative Routes – Undersheriff Justin Ames, Elko County Sheriff’s Office
• Fuels Work, Infrastructure, and Community Protection and Defensible Space Inspections – Chief Matt Petersen, Elko County Fire Protection District
• Public Safety Outage Management and Fuels Reduction – Chief Mark Regan, NV Energy
• Defensible Space and Home Hardening – Jamie Roice-Gomes and Christina Restaino, Extension’s Living With Fire Program
• Fuels Reduction and Shared Stewardship – Rich Martinez, U.S. Forest Service – Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; Clint Mothershead, Bureau of Land Management – Elko District; Marcus Lesbo, Nevada Division of Forestry

Source: UNR Extension