Goals
2023 - Year 1
Working together as a Firewise Community on our Three-Year Action Plan
Education & Outreach
Educate residents on Ready Set Go evacuation procedures and defensible space and focus on Zone 0
Develop, maintain and promote the Kingvale Firewise website
Canvass all residents to participate in the program, particularly those outside KPOWU but within the Firewise boundary map for Kingvale
Initiate discussions to coordinate fuel reduction plans with adjacent communities
Home Hardening
Complete Defensible Space Advisory Visits for 40% of homes
Promote fire resistant firewood storage
Encourage homeowners to add soffit vents or 1/8" or finer mesh screening over vents
Encourage planning of home hardening basics following Calfire Low-Cost Retrofit List
Truckee Fire Protection District offers free defensible space inspections
Sign up here!
Fuel Reduction
Encourage participation in all Measure T programs and coordinate chipping days
Organize at least 2 community work events dedicated to green waste clearing of communal land and roads
Aim for over 25% of residents to clear first 5 feet around homes and overhanging vegetation from electric service lines
Develop a plan to find grants to reduce vegetation fuels for undeveloped parcels
Evacuation Planning & Wildfire Preparedness
Encourage registration for CodeRED
Work with KPOWU on standardizing and purchasing street signs
Work with residents on standardizing and purchasing address signs
Host annual community event at July 4th meeting on fire prevention, evacuation preparedness and defensible space requirements
Create and distribute a flyer on evacuation procedures and creating emergency kits
Work on emergency access plan to roads and bridges with neighbor PlaVada
2024 - Year 2
Education & Outreach
Ongoing education of residents on Ready Set Go evacuation procedures and defensible space and focus on Zones 0 & 1
Continue to maintain and promote the Kingvale Firewise website, email list and materials
Work with adjacent communities and Sierra Pacific on fuel reduction plans
Ongoing canvassing of residents with focus on new residents
Home Hardening
An additional 40% of homes will complete Defensible Space Advisory Visits
Aim for over 25% of homes to have soffit vents or 1/8" mesh screening over vents
Encourage homeowners to install skirting or 1/8" wire mesh around decks
Encourage regular painting/treating of home siding
Ongoing promotion of fire-resistant firewood storage
Fuel Reduction
Encourage participation in Measure T programs
Organize at least 2 community work events dedicated to green waste clearing of communal land and roads
Aim for over 50% of residents to clear first 5 feet around homes and vegetation overhanging electric service lines
On county roads in Kingvale considered primary exit routes clear 10' on at least one side where possible
Evacuation Planning & Wildfire Preparedness
Ongoing distribution of a flyer on evacuation procedures and creating emergency kits
Host annual community event on fire prevention, evacuation preparedness and defensible space
Evacuation preparation drill for residents in cooperation with fire and police departments
Work with KPOWU on adequacy of water supply for fire response
Work with KPOWU and TFPD to plan for areas which may not be easily accessed by fire fighting equipment and how these can be served
2025 - Year 3
Education & Outreach
Ongoing education of residents on Ready Set Go evacuation procedures and defensible space and focus on all Zones
Continue to maintain and promote the Kingvale Firewise website, email list and materials
Ongoing work with adjacent communities and Sierra Pacific on fuel reduction plans and continue to explore grant opportunities
Ongoing canvassing of all residents
Home Hardening
95% of homes will have completed a Defensible Space Advisory Visit
Over 50% of homes to have soffit vents or 1/8" mesh screening
Over 25% of homes with decks to install skirting or 1/8" wire mesh
Encourage regular painting/treating of home siding
Fuel Reduction
Encourage all residents and owners of undeveloped lots to participate in all Measure T programs
Organize at least 2 community work events dedicated to green waste clearing of communal land and roads
Over 75% of residents to clear first 5 feet around homes and vegetation overhanging electric service lines
On county roads in Kingvale that are exit routes clear 10' on both sides where possible
Evacuation Planning & Wildfire Preparedness
Ongoing flyer distribution
Host annual community event on fire prevention, evacuation preparedness and defensible space
Ongoing work with PlaVada to maintain additional means of egress
In the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Donner Summit and two miles west of Soda Springs along Donner Pass Road, Kingvale sits at an elevation of around 6100 feet. Kingvale is well served with all-season access with two exits on Interstate 80. The area was once used for summer grazing with meadows of natural grasses. Now Kingvale is mostly mixed coniferous forestland. Many of the cabins (both wood frame and rock structures) date back to the 1930s. Primarily a second home community with unpaved roads, few homes are occupied year-round or rented.
The proposed Wildfire Action Plan was developed in 2022 alongside the Firewise Assessment completed by representatives from Truckee Fire Protection District and Nevada Firesafe Council. The goal is to help residents who have worked individually on green waste clearing projects to become strategic in managing their defensible space and to work as a community to reduce fuels and prepare for evacuation in the event of a wildfire.