Washoe COUNTY FUEL Reduction PROJECTs planned for mt. rose-Galena Creek area
Reno, Nevada. September 25, 2007. Sierra Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Michael Heikaa announced today that two wild land fuel reduction projects are planned for the Mt. Rose/Galena Creek area. These projects are planned to reduce hazardous fuels on Washoe County open space that potentially threaten the communities of Rolling Hills and Galena Forest Estates. The goal of these projects is to provide a fuel break and better access for firefighting equipment and personnel to defend the public and structures from the threat of wildfires.
The first project is located in the Rolling Hills subdivision and is scheduled to begin on October 1st. This project will involve mechanical thinning of brush located in the common areas and surrounding open space. This project will also begin to locally address one of the great issues facing the Fire District, which is the unnatural build-up of fuels on County open space that increases the risk of a catastrophic wildfire.
The second project is located along Galena Creek in the Galena Forest Estates and will reduce high hazardous fuels along Galena Creek. This work is to be completed with a combination of hand and mechanical equipment and is aimed at reducing the threat of wildfire in the Galena Forest Estates.
The Sierra Fire Protection District (SFPD) was formed on July 1, 2006 as the result of Washoe County assuming the Sierra Forest Fire Protection District from the State of Nevada. The newly formed SFPD is comprised of 50 paid, professional firefighters, 5 Volunteer Fire Departments and 50 pieces of firefighting apparatus working from 9 Fire Stations located in West Washoe Valley, Galena, Verdi, Anderson Acres and the west side of Cold Springs.
For more information contact Sierra Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Michael Heikka at (775) 849-1108. Email mheikka@washoecounty.us