Nevada County needs its own wildfire protection plan in order to receive federal money for fire prevention projects, said David Ganz, a consultant hired by the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County.

In a meeting on Tuesday, Ganz and officials of the Fire Safe Council, federal Bureau of Land Management and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection stressed the importance of a plan that details fire fighting priorities. The area fire leaders want a citizen group to craft the wildfire protection plan, perhaps by year-end.

The citizen group will address numerous concerns, including setting priorities for protecting residents, buildings, infrastructure and ecosystems, Ganz said.

Some residents who attended the meeting at the L.O.V.E building said they were worried the plan wouldn't be used.

"I'm concerned about how this plan relates to all these others," said Nancy Weber, a Nevada Irrigation District board member. "What do we get when we get this done?"

Ganz responded, "We can't apply for federal funds without it."

A wildfire protection plan is tied to future budgeting, said Ken Hood, division chief of the federal Bureau of Land Management. Hood's division covers 14 area counties and without a plan for Nevada County he wouldn't have direction where to reduce potential fire hazards, he said.

ooo

To contact Staff Writer Greg Moberly, e-mail gregm@theunion.com or call 477-4234.