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.

July 2026 - Ophir Hill Fire Protection District consolidates with NCCFD.  Established in 1956, Ophir Hill Fire Protection District proudly served the Cedar Ridge community with a legacy built on dedication, professionalism and and unwavering commitment to public safety. The name is derived from the original fire station that was at the base of Ophir Hill in the Union Hill area. The Volunteer Fire Department became a Fire Protection District in 1963. The first fire engine the department put in service was a 1940 Dodge purchased for one dollar from the Empire Mine upon its closure in 1956. The District has transitioned over the years from an all-volunteer agency to a combination of full-time career and paid call agency. This consolidation reflected a shared vision for the future - one that preserved the past traditions while evolving to meet the dynamic changes in the fire service.

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

Today, the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District is a full-service emergency response agency providing emergency services to a population of over 37,000 people.  NCCFD is a full-time paid staff department,  covering 160 square miles of residential, commercial, industrial, and rural areas in the areas of Nevda Conty surrounding the City of Grass Valley and the City of Nevada City.  Our communities include Alta Sierra, Banner Mountain, Cascasde Shores, Highway 49 Corridor, Cedar Ridge and Scotts Flat. There are 5 staffed District-owned stations, our Fleet Shop and three unstaffed Stations. Our field staff consists of 1 Chief,  1 Division Chief, 3 Battalion Chiefs, 1 Fire Marshal, 12 Captains, 4 Lieutenants, 15 Firefighter/Operators, and 2 Mechanics. The administrative staff consists of a Administrative Services Manager, Finance Assistant and two Administrative Services Assistants.