Nevada County Task Force 4101: Winter Storm Response & Rescue Efforts

Nevada County, California, faced a significant weather event in February 2026, prompting a robust response from local and regional agencies. Nevada County Task Force 4101, comprised of six engines and one task force leader, mobilized to address a wide range of emergencies.

Coordinated Response

The task force drew personnel and equipment from Nevada County Consolidated Fire, Peardale Chicago Park Fire, Grass Valley Fire, Ophir Hill Fire, North San Juan Fire, and Higgins Fire. This coordinated effort was made possible by funding from the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), which provided increased staffing for the prepositioned task force.

Did You Know? Task Force 4101 responded to 89 separate incidents during this weather event.

Variety of Incidents

Units responded to a diverse set of challenges, including gaining access to patients in the snow, battling three separate structure fires, and responding to a structure collapse involving trapped horses. The task force also assisted in opening roads within a community and providing basic public assistance, such as helping a bus driver resolve broken tire chains.

The task force’s support extended beyond Nevada County’s borders, providing assistance to surrounding counties as needed. A YouTube video documents some of the response efforts.

Expert Insight: The breadth of incidents addressed by Task Force 4101 highlights the cascading effects of major weather events, requiring a multi-agency response to address both immediate life safety concerns and essential infrastructure needs.

Extensive Agency Collaboration

The successful response involved a broad coalition of organizations. Penn Valley Fire, Sierra Nevada Ambulance, Nevada County OES, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, and Nevada County Search and Rescue all played key roles. Additional support came from Nevada County Animal Control, CAL FIRE, the US Forest Service, Grass Valley Police, Nevada City Police, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), PG&E, Caltrans, NID, County Roads, AT&T, Race Communications, and local towing and snow removal contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of emergencies did Task Force 4101 respond to?

Units responded to incidents including access to patients in the snow, three working structure fires, a structure collapse with trapped horses, road openings, and basic public assistance.

Which agencies contributed to Task Force 4101?

Nevada County Consolidated Fire, Peardale Chicago Park Fire, Grass Valley Fire, Ophir Hill Fire, North San Juan Fire and Higgins Fire staffed up an engine for the task force.

Did the task force provide assistance outside of Nevada County?

Yes, the task force was able to extend support to surrounding counties as needed.

As communities prepare for future weather events, what lessons from this coordinated response could be applied to enhance preparedness and resilience?