SLT Fire Rescue responds to house fire and 34 other calls in 24 hours

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue has had a very busy week, from battling flooded streets, homes, businesses, downed power lines, fallen trees, stuck cars, collisions and even a house fire.

South Lake Tahoe has just two fire engine companies, so 35 calls in one day would keep a department three times as big very busy.

During Tuesday's house fire on Saddle Road, the framing around a wood stove broke down and caught on fire. The fire was in the chase, which is the box built around the stove and piping. Fire also spread into the attic space and charred the floor joist under the stove. Since the home was built, this type of stove installation is no longer up to code.

SLT Fire Chief Jeff Meston reminds residents to keep the highly flammable creosote cleaned out of their fireplaces and wood burning stoves. When creosote catches on fire, chimney fires result and can cause damage to homes.

Besides the Saddle Road fire, SLTFR also responded to a home on Echo Rd where a tree went through the roof, ending up in the house as shown in the photo above.