“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!”