Lake Tahoe Holiday Crowds Keep Law Enforcement and Fire Departments Busy

"It's a challenge to make sure they are all safe," said Eric Guevin, Tahoe Douglas Fire Marshall. He was commenting on the increased number of calls his department received on the the 4th of July when tens of thousands of visitors come to the Lake Tahoe basin to celebrate. When more people come to Lake Tahoe the fire department sees a large increase in service calls.

"Our rescue crews were kept busy," according to Guevin.

There were three small fires started at Round Hill Pines Resort by non-sanctioned, festival style fireworks on Friday evening. As boaters were coming into the resort after the show above the lake they spotted the fires. Three local residents ran up the hill and put out the fires before fire crews arrived.

In Douglas County there were 26 arrests, mainly due to the DUI and Traffic Safety check point on Highway 50 Friday. One arrest for stabbing and a few for drunk and disorderly.

In South Lake Tahoe the police department was kept busy with almost 300 calls for service during a 24 hour period starting at 5 a.m. on July 4. . This consisted of 40 fire and medical related calls for service and the rest were police related calls. There were 18 arrests; 7 arrests for public intoxication, 3 arrests for driving under the influence, 2 drug related arrests, and 6 miscellaneous arrests.