Portola Neighbors Team Up for Firewise Yard Cleanup Event
Volunteers will help City of Portola residents clear flammable yard waste ahead of fire season.
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PORTOLA — Portola residents will soon have extra hands available to tackle yard debris and reduce wildfire hazards. The Portola Firewise Community has scheduled a community yard waste clean-up event for Saturday, June 6, running from 8 AM until 12 PM.
Organizers are recruiting volunteers to load residential green waste and transport the material to Intermountain Disposal’s facility in Delleker. The effort takes advantage of Northern Sierra AQMD’s free green waste month for Portola residents, which runs throughout June and focuses on removing pine needles and woody debris. Plumas County Fire Safe Council will bring its tool trailer to support the workday.
Portola Rotary Club plans to feed volunteers afterward with pulled pork sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches, coleslaw, potato salad, fruit cups, and cold drinks. Early arrivers can enjoy donuts starting at 7:30 AM. In addition to tools, the Fire Safe Council will provide a limited number of home hardening assessments for residents who sign up.
All hours and work contributed toward the event will count toward the community’s annual Firewise requirements. Portola needs to document $31,032.68 in risk-reduction investments, or about $34.79 per home, to maintain its certification. Contributions can be tracked through the NFPA Firewise Portal.
Residents living within the City of Portola limits can sign up for free green waste hauling at https://tmmlink.com/02QMa9V or by calling Northern Sierra AQMD at 530-832-0102, extension 3. Organizers hope to finalize participant lists by May 29. Two teams will form: one to help gather materials at homes, and another to pick up pre-piled waste from curbsides. Branches should stay separated from pine needles and cones.
Volunteers will gather at City Park near the pool parking lot around 7:30 AM. Participants should bring gloves and personal protective equipment, though limited supplies may be available.
The group will hold a planning meeting on Thursday at 6:00 PM at the Portola Library. Anyone interested in the event or in joining the Firewise leadership team is welcome to attend.