Lake Tahoe Basin fire suppression successes since the Angora Fire

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Those of us living in Lake Tahoe know all too well the dangers of wildfire, but we also know the positive outcome a collaborative effort to be better prepared can do.

Residents across the West have been given their "wake up call" over the past few years as record-breaking fires have burned through communities, leaving devastation and death in their wake.

In Lake Tahoe, the "wake up call" came in 2007. The Angora Fire that hit the South Shore on June 24, 2007 was also devastating, burning 3,100 acres and destroying 242 residences and 67 commercial structures. 2,180 firefighters helped fight the fire until it was fully contained on July 2.

As the community recovered the conversation started to figure out how to prevent another Angora Fire from happening.

There were some positive outcomes since that time, something two local fire districts want the public to be aware of.

Meeks Bay Fire and North Tahoe Fire Protection Districts released a statement Thursday in response to a series in the Sacramento Bee and USA Today called "Destined to Burn." The series focuses on recent California fires and puts a spotlight on policy issues in the state meant to encourage policies supporting defensible space and safer building standards.

"The story failed to tell that the Tahoe Basin had our wakeup call in 2007 after the Angora Fire. It missed the opportunity to share the successes that the Basin has experienced as a result of the collaboration, policy changes, code enhancements, and other efforts that were borne of Angora’s devastation, and
should serve as a road map for the rest of the state," said Erin Holland of North Tahoe Fire in a press release.

In 2007 the California-Nevada Tahoe Basin Fire Commission was formed and the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) was organized as a result of Angora. For the past 12 years, steady progress has been made in the Basin through the implementation of a multi-jurisdictional fuel reduction and wildfire prevention strategy.

"An unprecedented level of cooperation by federal, state, and local entities has been instrumental to achieve progress through a continuous cycle Fire Adapted Community approach; creating a fire-resistant built environment, increasing the amount of defensible space in Tahoe’s communities, expanding fuels reduction treatments, and improving efficiency in the use of prescribed fire. As a result, over 33,000 acres of Defense Zone Initial Entry Projects have been treated with approximately 3,000 acres treated each year since these efforts began," added Holland.

Through TFFT, free defensible space inspections are offered to homeowners as well as education and resources to keep homes fire resistant. The large number of visitors to Lake Tahoe can make their efforts a challenge, especially when trying to inform them about fire restrictions when camping and hiking. Since the 2017-2018 season, the District has doubled its efforts developing preincident attack plans, evacuation guides, and notification systems.

Holland said they hope the Bee articles achieve its intent.

"The work that we’re doing in the Tahoe Basin is improving our odds, but there is much work to be done. Waiving building restrictions in the interest of the state’s housing crisis is waiving safety," said Holland. "Insurance companies need customers. Rather than abandoning California, we hope to see insurers incentivize homeowners to retrofit homes with fire-resistant material, and we hope to see grants that will also help with these efforts."

More information on how to get prepared, get informed and get involved in Lake Tahoe fire protection can be found on the TFFT website, https://tahoe.livingwithfire.info/.