TOWN CORNER: Preparing for Wildfire in Truckee

From Truckee Magazine, Connections Quarterly, Fall 2026

Article Provided by the Town of Truckee

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Living in Truckee means living with wildfire. Elevated fire weather, smoke from fires across the region and nearby wildfire activity are reminders that conditions can change quickly. Preparedness starts well before smoke is visible or an evacuation warning is issued. 

September was National Preparedness Month and some of Northern California's largest, most dangerous, and most destructive fires have historically happened in the fall. We are grateful that all of our regional fire professionals were able to contain the recent Floriston Fire.

Preparedness happens at many levels. As individuals, we can make sure our households are ready to respond. As your local government agency, the Town of Truckee is working with our public safety agencies and regional partners to strengthen the systems, planning, and infrastructure that support our community before, during, and after an emergency.

Start With Your Household

There are several important steps every household can take now. Start by making sure you are registered for Nevada County Alerts. Emergency alerts are one of the primary ways you may receive critical information about an incident affecting our community. Don’t assume you are already registered. Take a few minutes to make sure your contact information is current.

Know your evacuation zone. Truckee and Nevada County use pre-established evacuation zones to help communicate which areas are under an evacuation warning or order. Knowing your zone before an emergency makes it easier to quickly recognize when instructions apply to you. Knowing your zone does not mean relying on one predetermined evacuation route. Follow official evacuation instructions and be prepared to use an alternate route based on emergency conditions. 

Next, develop a wildfire action plan for your household. Think through how you would leave, where you would go, how you would communicate if family members were separated and what you would need to take with you. Consider children, older adults, family members who may need additional assistance, pets and large animals.

Keep emergency supplies and a Go Bag ready, including medications, important documents, water, food, clothing, chargers and other essentials. Keeping basic supplies in your vehicle can also help you respond quickly.

Red Flag Warning days are an especially important time to be ready. Consider loading your Go Bag, keeping your vehicle fueled and positioned so you can leave easily, keeping pets nearby, and making sure everyone in your household knows the plan. 

Maintaining defensible space and taking steps to harden your home against embers can make a meaningful difference in reducing wildfire risk. The Truckee Fire Protection District website is a great resource to support your home preparedness.

Looking at Evacuation Across Truckee

Truckee’s mountain setting, limited routes in and out of town and neighborhoods, wildfire risk, and seasonal increases in population all make large-scale evacuation challenging. That is why the Town of Truckee, in coordination with Tahoe Donner Association, launched a Comprehensive Large-Scale Evacuation Study earlier this year.

The study is looking closely at how people could move safely out of harm’s way during a major emergency. While wildfire is the primary focus, the study is also considering other incidents that could require a large-scale evacuation covering neighborhoods throughout the Town of Truckee.

This is not simply a study of maps. The project examines roadway capacity, traffic movement during different emergency scenarios, potential bottlenecks and other constraints affecting residents, visitors, and emergency responders. Importantly, the process also incorporates something a computer model cannot provide on its own: local experience and input.

Earlier this summer, to help inform recommendations, the Town invited residents, second-home owners, employees, businesses, and visitors to identify locations where they have experienced or anticipate congestion, limited access, or other evacuation challenges.

Through the fall, the project team will continue analyzing findings and identifying potential actions. A community town hall will provide an opportunity to share what has been learned and discuss proposed recommendations before the study is finalized. The goal is not to create one evacuation plan or predict exactly how every future emergency will unfold. Instead, the study will help the Town and regional partners identify constraints and establish priorities for future improvements. 

Preparedness Is Something We Build Together

The Town will continue working with our public safety agencies and regional partners to prepare for emergencies, improve our systems and plan for the future. Community resilience also begins long before an emergency, with actions taken by individual households. 

Sign up for alerts. Know your zone. Make a plan. Prepare your Go Bag. Reduce wildfire risk around your home. Talk with your family and neighbors about your exit plan. When both households and our community systems are prepared, Truckee is better positioned to respond when conditions change. 

For preparedness information, evacuation resources, and updates from the Town of Truckee, visit townoftruckee.gov/ready.

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