Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue Update

Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue (TMFR) has had a busy fire season, responding to nearly 250 wildfires to date.  Despite the cooler temperatures, the wildfire season is still ongoing, and it is up to each of us to be responsible and deter outdoor activities that could spark fires in Washoe County.  

Now that autumn has arrived, we strongly encourage residents to create defensible space; that area around your property free of vegetation and debris.  Conditions remain dry, and green waste collection is a safe way to discard your tree branches, shrubs, weeds, and other combustible plants.  Go here for dates/times and drop-off locations.  

TMFPD’s Green Waste Collection Days offer the best alternative to create defensible space.  Green waste collection allows residents to dispose of their dry and dead vegetation, shrubs, tree branches, and other wildland fuels to encourage the creation of defensible space to protect homes and property from wildfires.  This is a free event sponsored by the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District for all Washoe County residents, with support from NV Energy, Nevada Division of Forestry, Living with Fire (UNR Cooperative Extension), and Nevada Network of Fire Adapted Communities.   

The Fire District has identified key locations throughout Washoe County for convenience and access to all citizens. Residents are responsible for their own transport. 

Defensible space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects homes and property from catching fire, either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also essential for the protection of the firefighters defending your home. 

Washoe County residents should create this space by pruning or cutting back trees branches and shrubs and remove dead grass and weeds. Examples of accepted items include junipers, pines, rabbitbrush, sagebrush, and other woody vegetation.  ONLY natural vegetation, please.   

Items we will NOT accept include household garbage and trash, lumber, hazardous materials, grass clippings and stumps with root balls.  Tree stumps in excess of 8 inches in diameter will not be accepted.  Additionally, we cannot accept items in bags.  Bags must be emptied on site and removed.