New fire restrictions start June 1 in South Lake Tahoe city limits, other agencies expected to follow

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - 2022 fire season restrictions are now in place for the City of South Lake Tahoe and will remain in place until further notice.

Starting Wednesday, June 1, no charcoal or wood fires are permitted in the city limits. The use of natural gas (NG), propane (LPG), or pellet BBQ grills, smokers, and firepits are permissible unless a red flag warning is issued.

“We ask that residents and visitors follow these fire restrictions to help minimize the potential of fire starts,” said Interim Chief Jim Drennan. “With the increase in dry fuels and high temperatures, there is a significant risk for fire danger and this is one way to prevent a wildfire.”

Tahoe Douglas Fire and Lake Valley Fire are expected to release restrictions for their jurisdictions in the near future.

On May 19 CALFIRE NEU suspended burn permits for the season, and on Monday, May 24 CALFIRE AEU followed suit, resulting in full suspension of residential burn permits in the Tahoe Basin. These are the triggers that prompted North Tahoe Fire Protection District, Meeks Bay Fire Protection District, and Alpine Springs County Water District to activate local fire restrictions that suspend the outdoor burning of solid fuels, including wood and charcoal. Their suspensions also took effect June 1 and will remain for the duration of fire season.

As a reminder, during a "Red Flag Warning" or critical fire weather conditions, an open flame is not allowed which includes natural gas, propane, and pellet BBQ grills, smokers, and firepits. Additionally, open flame devices such as tiki torches and fireworks, including sparklers and firecrackers, are prohibited in California year-round. If you witness the illegal use of fireworks or campfires, please call 911.

To learn more about fire prevention and creating defensible space, visit www.tahoelivingwithfire.com

“The National Weather Service will issue a Fire Weather Watch roughly 3-5 days in advance of critical fire weather conditions, including strong winds and low humidity,” said Chris Smallcomb, NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist/PIO. “Once confidence levels are high enough, this is upgraded to a Red Flag Warning, usually 1-3 days in advance. Our fire service partners use the alerts to help guide staffing and resource decisions not just locally but over regional and multi-state areas.”

To find out if a red flag warning is issued, visit https://www.weather.gov/rev/.