Department History

Nevada County Consolidated Fire District (NCCFD) is the product of merging smaller fire districts into one entity. Notable dates include the following:

July 1991 - Gold Flat and Bullion Fire Districts consolidated into one District, forming the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District. It consisted of six fire stations, covered approximately fifty-six square miles, had a population of approximately 17,000, and responded to approximately 850 calls per year. The new Fire District included a combination of paid and paid-call staff. The new seven-member Board of Directors hired a career Fire Chief from outside of the area. Staff included a full-time Fire Marshal, six full-time Firefighters, one Administrative Assistant, one Financial Officer, and 40 volunteer Firefighters. The career Firefighters provided initial response twelve hours per day, seven days per week from two fire stations.

January 1993 - NCCFD completed consolidation with the Alta-Oaks-Sunset Fire District (AOS).  AOS covered approximately nine square miles, had a population of approximately 3,000, and responded to 400 calls per year from its one fire station. It was a combination department with one full-time employee (the Chief), a Firefighter trainee, a volunteer Assistant Chief, and 12 volunteer Firefighters.

January 1998 - NCCFD consolidated with Watt Park Fire Protection District (WPFPD). Established in 1958, WPFPD provided emergency service to approximately 2,500 people from two fire stations. There were four full-time employees and fifteen volunteer Firefighters who responded to over 318 calls in 1996.

October 2003 - NCCFD consolidated with 49er Fire Protection District (49er). Established in 1956 as a volunteer Fire Department. 49er Fire served the areas of Cement Hill, Wet Hill, Newtown Road, and the areas around Nevada City.  In 1962, the volunteer Fire Department became a Special District, which allowed for the collection of taxes for fire protection. It became known as the 49er Fire Protection District ("49er FPD" or "49er").  In 1973, the area known as Cascade Shores and Lake Park Estates was annexed into 49er FPD.  Due to the passage of Proposition 13, 49er FPD received no new revenues from the annexation.

Each merger increased the level of service to their community and set the foundation for our current success.

1 - Fire Chief

2 - Division Chiefs (Operation/Prevention)

3 - Battalion Chiefs

1 – Fire Prevention Officer II / Captain

9 – Captains

6 – Lieutenants

15 – Firefighter/Operator

2 – Fire Mechanics

1 – Administrative Services Manager

1 – Finance Administrative Assistant

1 – Administrative Services Assistant / Board Secretary (part-time)

These employees have a strong commitment to fire and life safety for the community. Their compensation is equivalent to other Fire Districts in the Sierra Foothills with the same demographics. The district covers 150 square miles, provides emergency service to a population of over 25,000 people, and responded to over 3,000 calls in 2022 from four fire stations. Besides the residential and wildland areas, included in the district are commercial areas, the Nevada County Air Park, the Loma Rica Industrial Area, the Nevada Union High School, the Nevada County Waste Transfer Station, and the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

NCCFD is currently governed by a 7-member Board of Directors, elected at large by the people of the district, and oversees the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 General Operating Fund Budget of approximately $7,416,904 million.

FIRE STATIONS:

Station 81 – 16528 Pasquale Road, Nevada City. Located near the intersection of Pasquale Road and Banner Quaker Hill Road in Cascade Shores. This station is unstaffed and houses 1 Fire Engine.

Station 82 – 18969 Scotts Flatt Road, Nevada City. Located at Hwy 20 and Scotts Flat Road. This station is unstaffed and houses the Fire Investigation trailer and 1 reserve Water Tender.

Station 83 – 14700 North Bloomfield Graniteville Road, Nevada City. Located on North Bloomfield near Blue Tent Road. This station is unstaffed and houses Fire Prevention trailer and a 1950’s antique fire engine.

Station 84 – 640 Coyote Street, Nevada City. Located Hwy 20 and Coyote Street. Station serves as the administrative headquarters for NCCFD. The station is staffed with 4 personnel each day (1 Battalion Chief, 1 Company Officer and 2 Firefighters). Station 84 houses 1 Engine, 1 Water Tender, 1 UTV, 1 Light Rescue and 1 Command Vehicle.

Station 86 – 12337 Banner Lava Cap Road, Nevada City. Located on Banner Lava Cap Road and Valley View Road. This station is staffed with two personnel each day (1 Company Officer and 1 Firefighter). Station 86 houses 1 Engine and 1 Squad with snowplow capabilities.

Station 88 – 14400 Golden Star Road, Grass Valley. Located near Hwy 49 and Allison Ranch Road. This station is staffed with two personnel each day (1 Company Officer and 1 Firefighter). Station 88 houses 1 Engine, 1 Water Tender and 1 Cal OES type VI.

Station 89 – 11883 Tammy Way, Grass Valley. Located next to the Alta Sierra County Club. This station is staffed with two personnel each day (1 Company Officer and 1 Firefighter). Station 89 houses 1 Engine, 1 Reserve Engine and 1 Wildland Type III Engine.

Station 91 – 11329 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley. Located across from the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Station serves has the primary meeting place for all NCCFD board and special meetings. This site also serves as a substation for Nevada County Sheriff Office and headquarters for their Search and Rescue Team.

Station 92 - 14811 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley. Located across from the Nevada County Transfer Station. This location is staffed with certified mechanics Monday-Friday and serves as the main repair facility for all District vehicles.

Equipment: 6 Type I Fire Engines, 1 Type II Fire Engine, 1 Type III Fire Engine, 1 Cal OES Type VI Engine, 3 Water Tenders, 2 repair service trucks and 8 command/utility vehicles.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Forty-Niner Firefighters Association was a non-profit 501c3 organization that consisted of paid and volunteer staff of the Agency. Their purpose was raising funds to support the Fire Department’s mission. The primary source of funding was the annual Spaghetti Feed held in October. This event was extremely popular within our community and was well attended. The proceeds went to purchase a variety of tools and protective clothing to support personnel. The Association was dissolved, and the remaining funds spent on fitness equipment at Station 84 prior to consolidation with Nevada County Consolidated Fire District. Much of that equipment is still in use today.

Forty-Niner Fire Auxiliary was a citizen driven non-profit made up of members at large from the district service area. Their purpose was to raise funds to supplement the firefighters and the district with needed equipment and training. They supported the annual Spaghetti Feed with quilts and ice cream sales. Additionally, the group sought donations independently. This was a robust group of citizens who was greatly appreciative of their volunteer staff. The Auxiliary was dissolved upon consolidation and the funds contributed to the new fire station’s fitness room, furnishing the day room, and stocking the kitchen.