Small California town of Washington overrun with off-road vehicles from out-of-towners
WASHINGTON — The small town of Washington, home to roughly 150 people in Northern California's Nevada County, is facing a big dilemma when it comes to fire safety.
It's being overrun by off-highway vehicles, like ATVs and dirtbikes, mainly from out-of-towners. The biggest issue is the road where they're being launched, which provides access to a large portion of the Tahoe National Forest.
Mike Stewart, the town's fire chief, is leading an effort to educate out-of-towners who park illegally and do not follow forest etiquette.
Fire season is rapidly approaching, and Stewart said Washington has already had a couple of close calls.
Stewart noted that the town sees around 1,500 people on the weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He's calling the off-road vehicles a public safety issue.
"It's getting worse all the time. People don't understand the hazard to this. They think they're out in the middle of nowhere and can do whatever they want without risk, but they're risking their own lives and the public's lives," he said.
Earlier this month, an off-road vehicle caught fire. The chief says they suspect the cause was someone leaving a gas tank unattended and in an irresponsible place.
"They had no cell service. Let's say, if that happened on an August afternoon, that would've turned into a major wildfire. Thousands of acres, millions of dollars," Stewart said.
The trucks and trailers have also completely blocked off the road in the past, making accessing a potential fire nearly impossible.
Stewart said that while fire danger is a huge risk, it also goes hand-in-hand with forest etiquette, like knowing the forecast and taking your trash with you.
"The county Office of Emergency Services had some resiliency grant funds I put in for to start a program called trail stewards," Stewart said.
Groups of volunteers, who will be considered U.S. Forest Service volunteers, will be going out and handing out water bottles and bandanas labeled with the rules of the road to get a conversation going about education.
"But there's also the law enforcement aspect of it," Stewart said. "Law enforcement is out there and law enforcement is handing out citations."
The new trail stewards program will be kicking off this weekend.
The chief says you can recreate in Washington as long as you aren't parked illegally and you're doing it safely and responsibly. He says the best place to park would be at the campground at the bottom of the hill.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Unplugged Performance to Showcase Tesla Builds at Electrify Expo – North America's Largest EV Festival
3/4 Shot of 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance with Unplugged Performance Carbon Fiber Aero Kit, UP Forged UP-03 Wheels, and Rear Dual Wing 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance with Unplugged Performance Carbon Fiber Aero Kit, UP Forged UP-03 Wheels, and Rear Dual Wing 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance with Unplugged Performance Carbon Fiber Front Aero Kit 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance with Unplugged Performance Carbon Fiber Front Aero Kit, UP Forged UP-03 Wheels Birdseye view of a Tesla Model 3 Performance Highland with Carbon Fiber Aero Kit and UP Forged UP-03 Wheels Tesla Model Y with Leveling Lift Kit 2026 Tesla Model Y with Leveling Lift Kit and UP Forged UP-05 Wheels 2026 Tesla Model Y with Leveling Lift Kit and UP Forged UP-05 "Off-Road Spec" Wheels 2026 Tesla Model Y with UP Forged CYBRHEX Wheels Tesla Model Y Juniper with 22" UP Forged CYBRHEX Wheels Tesla Cybertruck INVINCIBLE build with 22" UP Forged CYBRHEX LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unplugged Performance, the world leader in Tesla-focused performance upgrades, is headed to Electrify Expo, North America's premier electric vehicle lifestyle event. Taking place this weekend June 21st & 22nd, Electrify Expo invites EV enthusiasts, media, and families for an immersive look at the future of electrification. Unplugged Performance will be displaying four of its latest builds at the show, each with upgrades tailored for parts performance, durability, and everyday driving. Tesla Model 3 Performance 'Red Rocket' Track BuildBuilt to dominate the track and the streets, car features our: UP Race Pro Coilovers with Adaptive Canceller UP Carbon Fiber Front Aero Kit + Rear Dual Spoiler and Wing Set Up + Rear Spats and Diffuser 18x10.9 UP-03 Forged Wheels Yokohama ADVAN A052 295/35R18 Tires Satin Red 2026 Tesla Model Y Off-Road/Street BuildAdventure-ready, this MY build includes our: UP 35mm Leveling Lift Kit Off-Road Spec 18" UP-05 Forged Wheels Off-Road Sway Bar + End Links Yokohama GEOLANDAR Tires UP INVINCIBLE® Cybertruck Street BuildThe ultimate Tesla Cybertruck to take on anything on earth and beyond with: HD Front & Rear Bumpers, Bull Bar, Rock Sliders Carbon Fiber Hood w/ 50' LED Light Bar Side Sail Panel MOLLE Rack System 22' CYBRHEX Forged Wheels Yokohama GEOLANDAR Tires Quicksilver 2026 Tesla Model Y Off-Road/Street BuildReady for the streets, this MY build includes our: 22' UP Forged CYBRHEX Wheels Moderate option Dual Rate Lowering Springs Yokohama Parada Spex-X Tires Learn more about our products at Media Contact:Bryan Benitezpress@ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Robotaxis Could Redefine Tesla or Rattle Its Stock
Tesla's (NASDAQ:TSLA) much-anticipated robotaxi pilot, set to roll out June 22 in Austin, is pivotal for the company's next growth chapter. Success could redefine its revenue model; failure could dent valuation and long-term prospects. Jacob Falkencrone, Saxo's global head of investment strategy, warns that the launchElon Musk's next trillion-dollar chapteris as much about regulatory navigation as true autonomy. Roughly ten Model Y robotaxis running Tesla's Full Self-Driving software will operate in geo-fenced zones under remote human oversight, reflecting cautious, phased deployment rather than a turnkey self-drive revolution. Skepticism lingers amid Democratic lawmakers urging a delay until new Texas safety laws kick in on September 1, and an ongoing NHTSA probe into Tesla's autonomous systems. Historically, Tesla share prices spike on hype and retreat on reality. A smooth pilot could position Tesla as a mobility services leader, slashing urban travel costs by up to 70% and potentially eclipsing its core car-sales business. Conversely, any misstepsregulatory pushback, tech hiccups, or safety incidentscould spook investors and create tactical buying windows. Early user feedback, regulatory responses, and incident reports will be key barometers. Investors should watch those signals closely to gauge whether robotaxis truly deliver transformative upside or morph into another Musk-driven mirage. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Nvidia and Foxconn Plan to Deploy Humanoid Robots at Houston AI Server Factory -- Reuters
Nvidia (NVDA, Financials) and Foxconn are in talks to deploy humanoid robots at a new AI server manufacturing plant in Houston, marking a potential first for both companies in integrating human-like robotics into mass production, Reuters reported Friday, citing two unnamed sources. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with NVDA. If finalized, the deal would be Nvidia's first use of humanoid robots in manufacturing and Foxconn's first AI server plant to utilize them on a production line. The Houston facility, which is scheduled to begin operations in early 2026, is being designed with extra space to accommodate such automation. Foxconn has tested humanoid robots made in-house and by China's UBTech, though it's unclear which model will be used in Houston or how many will be deployed. Foxconn has trained its robots to perform tasks such as picking and placing objects and inserting cables, according to a company presentation in May. Foxconn executive Leo Guo said last month the company will unveil two humanoid robot models at its November tech eventone with legs and another with a wheeled autonomous mobile base. Nvidia, which supplies the computing platforms for many humanoid robotics developers, announced in April it would manufacture AI supercomputers in Texas through partnerships with Foxconn in Houston and Wistron in Dallas. Both plants are expected to scale production within 12 to 15 months. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in March that humanoid robots would become commonplace in factories within five years. Automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Tesla (TSLA, Financials) are also investing in the space, while China has identified humanoid robotics as a strategic sector. Both Nvidia and Foxconn declined to comment. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
