These initial observations were prepared by the Nevada County Fire Safe Council following a walk-through of our neighborhood, as part of Phase 2 of our recognition milestones. They’ll inform the full Community Risk Assessment and 3-year Action Plan.
Parcels & Structures
- The community includes 72 parcels, 16 of which are undeveloped. Three parcels make up the Banner Mountain Lookout and its associated development.
- A few parcels have more than one home, and there are many outbuildings. One parcel has an occupied mobile home in addition to its main house.
- Most structures have combustible siding and asphalt shingle roofs. All appear to have metal gutters.
Vegetation & Fuels
- Fire impact to the neighborhood will likely be driven mostly by vegetation. Forest cover is mixed conifer — primarily ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and incense cedar — with a mix of hardwoods.
- Many residents have already completed commendable vegetation hazard reduction, but most parcels would benefit from additional work, and dense vegetation borders most of the community.
- Some homes still have vegetation in the 0–5 ft. zone and in the remaining zones out to 100 ft.
- On some larger parcels, heavier vegetation beyond 100 ft. could threaten homes on those and neighboring parcels in a wind-driven fire.
- Roadside vegetation along several streets — some of it heavy — is a potential threat during evacuation.
Surrounding Lands
- Banner Mountain Lookout is surrounded by other forested communities with varying levels of vegetation removal and housing density.
- A large block of forestland owned by the city of Nevada City borders the neighborhood and has had little or no hazard-reduction vegetation removal.
- These adjacent lands represent a potential threat to the community in a wildfire event.
Access & Evacuation
- The entire community is tributary to Banner Lava Cap Road, with some parcels having direct driveway access to it.
- Evacuation would route to Banner Lava Cap Road and then either west or east; once there, evacuation options are still limited.
- Many streets in the community are narrow, but most can handle two-way traffic.
Community Organization
- The community has a good start on organizing, with a communication network in place via email, phone/text, and this website.