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December 2025
2025-2026 Nina Terrace Firewise community renewal application was approved!
Santa Cruz County Burn Season Opens December 1st
Santa Cruz County allows residents to conduct "backyard burns" for the purposes of reducing fire danger during the fire season. The rules let you burn tree trimmings and brush during a limited part of the year, generally Dec 1 through April 30, but the actual dates can vary depending on fire risk.
Note that not everyone will qualify for a permit - there are restrictions based on location, lot size, and other criteria.
Please visit CAL FIRE Burn Permits to apply for your backyard permit.
Watch this Backyard Burning in Unincorporated Areas video for assistance in submitting the permit application.
Key Points to Remember:
Permit Jurisdiction: This permit is valid only within SRAs or where CAL FIRE has authority. Use our verification tool to confirm your burn location's eligibility.
Legal Compliance: Holding a permit does not exempt you from following state laws, county ordinances, or local fire regulations. It's your duty to burn safely and legally.
Additional Responsibilities: A CAL FIRE permit is part of your responsibility. You may also need permits from other local agencies. Remember, burning is permitted only on "Permissive Burn Days" as determined by the California Air Resources Board or local authorities.
What's Allowed and When:
Residential Burning: Defined as outdoor burning of vegetative debris from a single or two-family residence. This excludes agricultural and prescribed burns. For more information, check out the Ready for Wildfire website.
Allowed Materials: Burn only dry, natural vegetation from your property. Household trash, garbage, and construction materials are prohibited.
Burning Seasons and Conditions: Burning is seasonally permitted and subject to local regulations. Always check with your local fire station or CAL FIRE unit, and confirm with your air quality management agency before lighting any fire.
Applying is Easy:
Complete the online application form: Fill out the form with your burn location, county, mailing address, and indicate if this is a cultural burn. In certain locations, you will be prompted to enter your permit number from your local air district before continuing.
Submit & Await Approval: Once submitted, you'll receive an approval or denial via email promptly. No email? check your spam or junk folders.
Important to Know:
Verify Before You Burn: Even if "Burning Allowed" appears for your county, you must ensure it's a designated burn day through your local air quality management. Contact details will be provided with your permit.
Legal Accountability: Violations of permit terms can lead to penalties under State Law (Public Resources Code 4421, 4422, 4423, and 4425).
Stay Informed, Stay Safe:
Before initiating any burn, confirm that all conditions are met to ensure a safe and legal burn. Visit our Ready for Wildfire website for tips and the Air Resources Board website to verify burn days.
August 2025
Free Yard Waste Disposal
Removing flammable vegetation is one of the most effective ways to protect your home from wildfire.
🗓 Every Saturday in August
📍 Ben Lomond Transfer Station
💰 No cost to District 5 residents
🚛 No load limit (but each load must be under 2 tons)
Visit these websites for more information. https://cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/PublicWorks/RecyclingSolidWaste/YardWasteDisposalProgram.aspx
https://cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/PublicWorks/RecyclingSolidWaste.aspx
RCD Fall Chipping Program
Neighborhoods with a minimum of five participating households who clear defensible space around their homes are eligible for reimbursement of chipping costs up to $250 per property and $80 per 500 linear feet of private road.
General applications for all SC County residents open August 1st. Applications are first-come first-serve, and spots are limited.
Visit the Resource Conservation District website for more information
July 2025
Roadside Vegetation Clearing
Wildfire season is here! Please address overgrown vegetation where your property meets the road, and many thanks to those residents who have already done a fantastic job on this. This is a critical item required on our Firewise 3 Year Action Plan, key both for our own safety during an evacuation and for firefighter access. Firefighters will not enter to defend a neighborhood that is unsafe for them!
Per the BCFD website, we need to maintain:
1) 10ft clearance from the edge of the road, with the exception of single specimens of trees (limbed 6-8ft from ground), single specimens of ornamental shrubbery, or plants used as ground cover provided they do not form a means of transmitting fire from native growth to any structure.
2) 14ft vertical clearance everywhere above the road - firefighters cannot risk damage to engines and will not drive past areas with insufficient clearance.
RCD Fall Chipping Program
Neighborhoods with a minimum of five participating households who clear defensible space around their homes are eligible for reimbursement of chipping costs up to $250 per property and $80 per 500 linear feet of private road.
Early-bird applications open July 25th for eligible Santa Cruz County FireWise USA recognized communities.
Visit the Resource Conservation District website for more information
June 2025
Thank You For Participating!
Many residents within our community registered with the RCD Spring Chipping program and reduced fuel loads on their property. Chipping took place during the month of May. Thank you to everyone who used this opportunity to improve their defensible space!
May 2025
2nd Annual Firewise Festival:
On May 17th, I assisted at the Firewise Festival at Roaring Camp, hosted by Felton's Forest Lakes Firewise. I covered the Go Bag table and was happy to discuss the many aspects of what to include in your bag when considering an evacuation event. We had a variety of examples available for attendees to review and there was a steady flow of visitors interested in fire safety, home hardening, and defensible space services. Put it on your calendar for next year! - Lynn
April 2025
Burn Season Concludes for 2024-2025
The last day to apply for a burn permit through the Monterey Bay Air Resources District is April 30th.
Nina Terrace Firewise Community Burn Day - April 12th 8AM - 4PM
We have made great strides over the last month reducing the fuel load in our community. Thanks to all that participated and helped out, your efforts are truly commendable!
All of our volunteers showed up on time, and many enjoyed staying afterward to chat with neighbors. The weather was on our side, and we successfully burned the accumulated fuel. Looking ahead, we'll start building a new pile in December when the 2025-2026 burn season kicks off.
RCD Spring Chipping Program Deadline:
Complete the Chipping Confirmation Form by April 30th. A link to this form will be emailed to you upon completion of the initial online application. Make sure to submit this form or you WILL NOT be added to the schedule for chipping. NO LATE FORMS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Way to go Zone Two!
Way to go Zone Two!
The Daisy Place neighbors took proactive measures to reduce the fire risk in their area by hiring a crew to manage the fuel load on an easement section. Their efforts included:
Removing Ground Litter: All pine needles and leaves were cleared from the ground, which can act as kindling for fires.
Clearing Debris: Fallen branches were removed, preventing them from becoming potential fuel.
Controlling Invasive Species: Scotch broom, an invasive plant known for its flammability, was pulled from the area.
Tree Management: A tall dead tree, which posed a significant fire hazard, was cut and removed. Small, spindly, and new saplings were cut to prevent overcrowding and reduce fire risk.
Pruning and Trimming: Low-hanging branches on redwood trees were trimmed to prevent ground fires from climbing into the canopy. Small low branches from one madrone and one oak tree were trimmed and removed to further reduce the risk of fire spreading.
These actions collectively help in creating a defensible space, reducing the likelihood of fire spread, and maintaining a safer environment for the community.
March 2025
Firewise Workday Party - March 29th
The Van Ausdalls graciously hosted a delightful post-workday gathering for the Nina Terrace Firewise community. Terry captivated a small group of us in Jean's charming backyard. We all enjoyed wine, beer, and a wonderful assortment of snacks. During the event, information was shared about an upcoming community Evacuation Workshop and Fire-Resistant Landscape Workshop. Terry also equipped everyone with GMRS radios, enhancing our communication capabilities. We eagerly anticipate Terry sharing even more insights in a future class. A heartfelt thank you to the Van Ausdalls for their generosity!
Spring Fuel Reduction Workday - March 29th
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the clearing on Santa Cruz Street. This was a significant effort, and thanks to you, we now have a strong firebreak in place. The goal was to clear 10-15 feet on either side of the street, and your hard work has brought us that much closer to that target. Excessive amounts of brush was gathered, and at least twenty truck loads of fuel was removed. There is still much to be done in this area, and remains a work in progress.
I did see a few neighbors from other areas in our community drive through to dump brush. Hats off to everyone for working to keep your zone safe!
Emergency Evacuation Road Tour - March 29th
Kudos to the four neighbors who took the initiative to assess the emergency access road on private property. They recognized a crucial need for directional road signs to prevent confusion during evacuations through unfamiliar areas. To make this happen, we need to fundraise within our community, as each sign costs approximately $25. We've identified six to eight locations in need of these signs.
Register No-Cost RCD Chipping Program
Early-bird chipping registration is available through the RCD beginning March 25, 2025 through April 30th. Members of our Nina Terrace Firewise community may sign up one week early, and it is first-come first-serve. This early bird registration is password protected. I will email you the password when I receive it on March 24th. >>>Regular chipping registration for ALL county residents opens up on April 1st, and fills up quickly!
Spring Fuel Reduction Workday March 15th
A big thank you to everyone in our community who dedicated their time to reducing the fuel load in our neighborhood today! Your hard work resulted in ten truck loads of brush, and we're planning a burn day soon to safely dispose of this large pile.
Additionally, we achieved one of our Action Plan goals by ensuring all county road street signs are now clearly visible. This involved a bit of trimming to remove overgrowth that was obstructing the view.
Looking ahead, our next fuel reduction workday is in two weeks. We will be focusing on the road in our neck of the woods, and we encourage you to do the same in yours. The Van Ausdalls have graciously offered to host a post-workday gathering, so make sure to mark your calendar!
Emergency Evacuation Road Tour
Seven neighbors took the initiative to walk along the private emergency access road. As a reminder, this dirt road is on private property and should only be used in the event of an evacuation emergency when no other options to exit safely are available. Our fire chief has stressed the importance of keeping this road clear of neighborhood traffic to ensure that emergency medical service vehicles have unobstructed access when needed.
February 2025
Annual Community Request For Updated Contact Info
As part of our Firewise Education and Outreach Goals plan we are required to update our neighborhood directory each year.
Thank you to those who have already responded and helped us with this time-consuming task. If you have not confirmed your contact information yet, please take the time to do so.
2025
2025
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