Fire restrictions expand to USFS lands in Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will start enhanced fire restrictions in national forest campgrounds on September 1, 2020 due to dry conditions.

On August 21, fire agencies around the Lake Tahoe Basin banned all open burning utilizing wood and charcoal at homes, parks, beaches and most campgrounds. LTBMU was not part of that original ban.

All areas in the Lake Tahoe Basin are now under these restrictions.

The new LTMBU ban is through November 30, or until conditions improve. Their campgrounds will be closed by mid-October so people can expect no campfires or outdoor cooking through this season.

The restrictions will be enforced with extinguishment and possible citations and fines.

If there is a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service in Reno, all sources of outdoor open flame would be prohibited in Lake Tahoe, including all outdoor propane (LPG) and Natural Gas fired appliances, and portable camp stoves.

The LTBMU campgrounds at Fallen Leaf Lake, Zephyr Cove, Meeks Bay, Bayview, William Kent are included with the others in the ban. Operators at Nevada Beach and Camp Richardson had already implemented a ban.