Summer fire restrictions around Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Fire season is upon us and many restrictions are now in effect where outdoor burning, campfires, and fire pits are concerned. 2020 started out with the driest February on record since the 1850s, and there is an increased fire danger posed by dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region.

It is important to understand that with all of the different fire areas around Lake Tahoe, there are different rules.

CALFIRE has suspended residential burn permits in the whole Tahoe Basin and the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has its basin-wide restrictions in place. Outside of developed campgrounds and certain permitted facilities, igniting, building, maintaining or using a fire on national forest land in Lake Tahoe will be prohibited. Charcoal barbeques are not allowed on their beaches.

Fireworks are not allowed anywhere in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The following are each different fire area's restrictions above and beyond what CALFIRE and LTBMU have in place:

City of South Lake Tahoe

There is no open burning in the City limits of South Lake Tahoe at any time of the year. This includes wood, pinecones, pine needles, tiki torches, or anything else that can cause an ember. Fire pits or BBQs that are fueled by natural gas, propane, liquid petroleum, charcoal or pellets are acceptable.

When open, the City of South Lake Tahoe Campground by the Lake allows open wood burning in the designated fire rings, as this campground is patrolled at all times. Fires in the designated rings shall be supervised by an adult at all times.

“Fire restrictions have been put into place in our City to protect our residents, visitors, and our precious forest from the threat of wildfire. Keeping good defensible space around your property has been proven to deter some wildfires from destroying property” said South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Clive Savacool.

North Tahoe Fire, Meeks Bay Fire, and Alpine Springs (Including Tahoe City and Kings Beach)

They have suspended all solid fuel recreational fires and open burning.

Only Natural Gas (NG) or Propane (LPG) outdoor fire pits and barbecues, and pellet grills/smokers are allowed year-round except during Red Flag/critical fire weather conditions. At that time, all sources of open flames, including Natural Gas (NG) or Propane (LPG) outdoor fire pits and barbecues, and pellet grills/smokers are prohibited. Red Flag Watches, Warnings and Advisories of critical fire weather in the Tahoe Basin are issued by the National Weather Service, Reno. For reports of hazardous campfires, people should call 9-1-1.

Tahoe Douglas Fire

Tahoe Douglas Fire allows the use of wood-burning appliances or fire pits with proper screening and spacing from combustible materials. Gas products need to have a permit once installed.

There are restrictions during Red Flag Warning days.

Defensible space is required in the County they the fire department will provide free evaluations and chipping on request.

With the cancelations of sanctioned firework shows the public might be tempted to take matters into their own hands, said Fire Marshal Eric Guevin. While fireworks are available on some reservations and at roadside stands in some counties, they are not legal in Lake Tahoe.

TDFPD warns there are steep fines for those caught with fireworks due to the risk of wildfire. They will have extra patrols around the Fourth of July.
"Public should know Fireworks = Huge Fire Fisk = Huge Fines," said Guevin. "They just don’t work in Tahoe outside sanctioned events."

Lake Valley Fire

Lake Valley Fire said while they highly discourage any type of wood-burning outside, fire pits with wood or gas are permitted. People are allowed to have a fire pit in the back yard of their private home. If the home is a rental, the written permission of the homeowner is required. During their inspections, vacation home rentals are told fire pits with wood are discouraged and if the fire department comes to the home on the call of a backyard fire, they will be advised.

Fire pits cannot be used on Red Flag Warning and high wind days.

All other guidelines fall in line with CALFIRE.

North Lake Tahoe Fire (Incline Village)

Prohibited:

- Fireworks (to include sparklers)
- Charcoal, solid fuel (wood) barbecues, and campfires on any beach
- Charcoal and solid fuel (wood) barbecues on US Forest Service Lands (must have a USFS permit for LP stoves)
- Floating/flying lanterns
- Tiki torches

Allowed:

- Propane or gas barbecues (must meet the clearances per manufacture recommendations or standard 36-inch clearance from combustibles)
- Charcoal barbecues (must also meet manufacture clearance recommendations or the minimum standard of 10 feet clearance from combustibles)
- Gas or propane fit pits (recreational burn permit required)