Critical Partnership Prevents Fire from Spreading in Tahoe National Forest by Placer County Water Agency Jul 28, 2021 Member Submitted News On July 21, six employees of Placer County Water Agency (“PCWA”) helped successfully contain a small fire in the Tahoe National Forest. Nate Wood, Jordan Helm, and Josh Rodarte, of PCWA’s Power Systems Division, spotted the fire around 9 a.m. near Duncan Diversion, a tributary to the Middle Fork American River. After reporting the fire to local authorities, the three employees took action to contain the fire using water and equipment from their truck. They were quickly joined by three other PCWA employees, David Barley, Jonny Anthony, and Daniel Schwall. The actions of the six employees are emblematic of a long-established partnership of cooperation with the United States Forest Service within the footprint of PCWA’s Middle Fork American River Project (“MFP”). Employees who work on the MFP receive training in wildfire mitigation and equipment for incidents like the one on July 21. “It was a smart decision by PCWA to equip and train its employees in wildfire prevention, as they frequently travel into remote areas of the watershed” said Mary Grim, District Ranger for the Tahoe National Forest, American River District. “This proved to be a worthwhile investment this week, with the detection and suppression of the fire in Duncan Canyon. I am grateful for the partnership with PCWA and its continued commitment to the vitality of the Middle Fork American River Watershed. “ PCWA General Manager Andy Fecko, stated, “I’m really proud of our crew who used their training and took quick action to make sure the fire didn’t become something much bigger. The threat of wildfire remains constant, and our partnership with the Forest Service is critical to protecting our resources and investments in the watershed.” Dry conditions throughout California have increased the likelihood of catastrophic wildfires this year. PCWA urges visitors to follow all local safety guidelines when enjoying the MFP’s recreational facilities. ### About PCWA Placer County Water Agency is the primary water resource agency for Placer County, California, with a broad range of responsibilities including water resource planning and management, retail and wholesale supply of drinking water and irrigation water, and production of hydroelectric energy.