Editor’s note: Thanks to local Amy Cooke, we were introduced to the Sierra Friends Center and Woolman School outside of Nevada City. It is a local gem. (“Sixty years ago, a group of Quaker and like-minded families came together with the dream of creating a Quaker/Friends residential high school on the West Coast and purchased a 300-acre, historic cattle ranch in the Sierra foothills, and in 1963 opened the first Quaker residential high school west of the Mississippi.“) We are saddened to read this note posted on the website:
Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report 
Our hearts go out to Amy and Chamba Cooke: https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/08/18/family-loses-house-jones-fire-nevada-county/?fbclid=IwAR2i4kcopqvtCn2MSsDDNolyQD2dP6N4cnEOlXtNJYxM6ivEXnncVb1P4-8#.Xz1xsGZXD40.twitter
A “Go Fund Me” campaign for Amy and Chamba is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/amy-amp-chamba-cooke-home-loss-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_more
Meanwhile, the fire has destroyed more of our beloved landmarks:
Here’s the statement we just issued from Bear Yuba Land Trust regarding Sequoya Challenge Preserve and Independence Trail West directly impacted by the #JonesFire:
“Like many of you, we’ve been monitoring the #JonesIncident closely. Bear Yuba Land Trust owns the Sequoya Challenge Preserve – 207 acres along the South Yuba River corridor that is in the direct line of the fire. Sequoya Challenge Preserve consists of seven separate parcels which are interspersed with California State Parks land along both the east and west portions of the Independence Trail and bisected by Highway 49. The largest parcel (100 acres) on the preserve is located at the eastern edge of Independence Trail, near Hoyt’s Crossing.
“We are deeply concerned about the western parcels and portions of Independence Trail. Images are circulating as evidence of Independence Trail West and the Rush Creek ramp and flume in flames. We hope to have word from California State Parks tomorrow of damages incurred to our beloved community treasure.
“Stay safe, friends.”
All of the devastation is so hard to take in. Do you have any photos of the Independence Trail in the fire? I was married to John Olmsted who developed the trail. We worked on it together for 9 years. MANY people did so also. There is a picture of flume 28 over Rush Creek but I can’t find it. Woolman students helped too and were wonderful. Sally Cates
Hi, It is sad indeed. Some photos are here: https://www.theunion.com/news/evacuations-ordered-for-fire-in-south-yuba-canyon-near-jones-bar-road/ -Jeff
That fire could have been much worse for Grass Valley, we got lucky the wind died down when it did. If that forward progress to the south made it to Deer Creek and the wind kept up, then it would have been both terrain and wind driven and would have run right up the slope and homes would have started going up. I would say the area from Twin Cities Church to Alta Street along Ridge Road would be looking much different today. I was up on our roof watching the smoke get closer and by 3:30 decided we are getting out. Right as we were leaving the reverse 911 call came from the Sheriff’s Dept, EVACUATION WARNING for Cypress Hill.
We got lucky Grass Valley, THIS TIME!
Independence Trail, ramp flumes destroyed in Jones fire: https://www.theunion.com/news/i-cant-believe-its-gone-independence-trail-ramp-flumes-destroyed-in-jones-fire/