“Andrea Irving is one of our outstanding citizens who actively educates and demonstrates wildfire preparedness in Plumas County. In 2018 she led the effort for her community at Smith Creek Ranch in Graeagle to become a nationally recognized Firewise Community. Her passion for wildfire preparedness and fuel reduction is evident by the amount of work that she and her neighbors have done around their homes, their large parcels and along their evacuation route in this community. She and her husband Mike have worked tirelessly with chainsaws in hand thinning, cutting brush and burning and helping neighbors be prepared for fires like the North Complex and Dixie Fires. Her leadership has been outstanding and is a wonderful example of how neighbors can work together under a common goal of fuel reduction and home hardening. Her community has invested $179,000 worth of hours worked and money spent in the past 4 years in Smith Creek Ranch. As the resident Firewise leader she has established excellent working relationships with her local US Forest Service fire organization, Graeagle Fire Department, the Plumas Firesafe Council and the Plumas Underburn Cooperative. Smith Creek Ranch private lands are adjacent to the Lakes Basin Fuel Reduction Project where private land backs National Forest. Andrea's leadership for her community has been successful insuring this area was included in the project as well as private landowners signing up for the upcoming Mohawk Valley Fuel Reduction Project. Both of these projects will provide a huge benefit in reducing wildfire fuel in this community. Smith Creek Ranch is an excellent example of how a community can come together to form a Firewise Community. Congratulations for all your hard work leading the effort Andrea!”