Mooney Ridge named Placer County's 150th Firewise USA Community

California residents are no strangers to the dangers and risks posed by wildfires. According to CAL FIRE incident data and insurance industry estimates, since 2018 there have been approximately 11.6 million acres burned, 59,000 structures destroyed, 185 deaths, and $60 billion in direct damages statewide. With the risk of wildfire always present, especially during the summer months, another Placer County neighborhood decided to prepare. Residents of Mooney Ridge, alongside representatives from Placer County, CAL FIRE and South Placer Fire, gathered last week to mark the neighborhood's induction as the county's 150th Firewise USA community. Neighborhoods seeking recognition as Firewise USA communities under the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) organize a volunteer committee, undergo a wildfire risk assessment with their local fire department, develop an action plan, and conduct an annual wildfire risk-reduction educational outreach event. Chief Jim Hudson of CAL FIRE spoke about the strategic and tactical advantage first responders gain when communities are Firewise, citing increased time to respond when neighborhoods keep vegetation green and the supply of dry fuels low. "It allows us to sometimes engage in perimeter control when a community is not threatened, or when a structure is not threatened because the homeowners have done their part," Hudson said. "Our goal is always life and property. Once we know the folks are safe, we're going to focus on their property, and when a community is Firewise and we don't see a significant threat to a structure, we can put a heavier emphasis on perimeter control." Shawn Wolf, deputy chief of South Placer Fire, reminded everyone that "fire has no boundaries" and encouraged residents to "take a hard look at their own preparedness, consider your vulnerabilities and how you can prepare yourself for the myriad of disasters that we could face in this community." Mooney Ridge now enjoys an added layer of protection during fire season. The recognition also makes homeowners eligible for insurance discounts under California's Safer from Wildfires regulation, which requires insurers to offer credits to homes in Firewise USA communities, and residents have already begun seeking them, one resident said. Communities interested in becoming Firewise can inquire at https://www.nfpa.org.