New home for CalTahoe JPA ambulances preparing to open in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Emergency Services Operations Authority, better known as the CalTahoe JPA, will soon be moving into its new home in the center of South Lake Tahoe.

For two years they have been operating out of rented homes in the area, but they will soon be able to have operations based in one central location. The new location started out as the El Dorado County Jail in the 1950s, was decommissioned as a jail in the 1970s, later housing the South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority.

Due to its age, extensive renovations had to be made to the building to become the base of emergency services. Phase 1 should be completed this week, and once it passes inspection the CalTahoe JPA will be moving in. There are now bedrooms, restrooms, kitchen, and dining area. The contractor also had to put in new plumbing, HVAC, and electrical.

The originally planned completion date was months ago but the project experienced delays with the Caldor Fire, then supply chain issues. The showers had to be ADA compliant, and ADA showers were non-existent and months behind on delivery. Then there was the heavy snow in December.

The contractor was granted two extensions due to those delays but they had to be done a month ago or be charged the amount of house rent the CalTahoe JPA had to pay due to the delay, $7,500.

So far, Phase 1 of the new base of operations is costing about $550k-$575K, depending on the final bill.

The next phase will be a garage that will fit four ambulances and an addition to the front that will include office space that meets the requirements of essential service building codes. The original jail cell door and original key have been kept safe during the transition and plans are being made to have it as part of the front office addition. If it can't be used the Lake Tahoe Historical Society has offered to add it to the museum.

"We needed to be centrally located and have quick access to the community," said CalTahoe JPA Executive Director Ryan Wagoner.

wagoner said they rented two houses for the ambulance staff until a year ago when they moved into one larger home. The neighbors benefited as the EMTs and paramedics staying in the home blew out their driveways during snowstorms. They also had offsite parking most of the time so they wouldn't impact the neighborhood.

The CalTahoe JPA is made of partners Lake Valley Fire Protection District,
City of South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, El Dorado County EMS, and the Fallen Leaf Lake Community Service District.

Just as with every other business, staffing levels have been low for Wagoner but they plan to be up to two ambulances going seven days a week, 12 hours a day by summer, in addition to the current three full-time ambulances that already cover the community 24/7.

The JPA building is located near the intersection of Lake Tahoe Blvd. and Tallac Avenue on the edge of the 56-acre project. The storage PODS in front will stay until they can complete the new offices. Start date for Phase 2 is unknown at this time.