campfires

Dear Editor;

In writing this letter, I am only expressing my own opinion and not that of
any organization or entity.

Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) in the County are out of control. As is
evidenced by the number of residents complaining about noise, parking, trash,
over-occupancy, etc, it is time for our government representatives to act and
change the current ordinance to respect our rights to live in peaceful
neighborhoods.

There are many issues surrounding VHRs that need to be addressed, but I

On September 15, 2017 the annual Nevada bear hunt season opens, and this year 45 hunters have been issued tags to participate in the season that lasts until December 1, or until the quota of 20 black bears has been met. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) calls this the "Black Bear Harvest."

In protest of the hunt, a "peaceful, educational" demonstration has been planned by NoBearHuntNV.org and Compassion Works International on September 16 in Reno. Participants will be meeting at the intersection of South Virginia and McCarran in front of Reno Star sculpture at 11:00 a.m.

The following is from the office of Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado):

Senator Gaines this week recognized the 10th anniversary of the devastating Angora Fire and pledged his continued efforts to increase fire safety in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team is reminding the public that fire danger in the Lake Tahoe Basin remains high due to the ongoing drought and lack of precipitation. Illegal campfires and warming fires continue to be a concern for fire officials and are the major cause of wildfires in the basin. Fire restrictions are still in effect on National Forest land and will remain in effect until the official end of fire season.

Depending on where you live on the South Shore, you may be able to have a wood fire in your outdoor fire pit, or, maybe not.

Restrictions differ between Tahoe Douglas Fire Department and the City of South Lake Tahoe and Lake Valley Fire Departments.

Cal Fire and the U.S Forest Service also have fire regulations to be aware of.

The Red Flag Program has been initiated in South Lake Tahoe for the third year to inform and educate the public when the weather adds to the existing fire danger.

Sout Tahoe Fire Rescue crews will monitor the weather, and when it reaches a red flag warning, they will do the following:

STFR will raise a RED FLAG at each fire station.

STFR will add extra personnel to staff a Type 3 (Brush) engine for an aggressive fire attack. The staffed engine will have a Red Flag Banner to help alert the community. The Banner will say “Red Flag Day- Critical Fire Weather”.

To keep Tahoe cherished and known for its beauty, locals try in their best efforts to “keep Tahoe blue.” Sadly, negative effects in our ecosystems come from humans which could damage the clarity of the lake and the air quality. Bad air quality comes from numerous sources, such as car emissions, uncontained fires, and contributors to toxic runoff into the forest; these sources of pollution must be stopped.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) lifted fire restrictions on National Forest System lands on Friday, October 30, 2015.

“While conditions have allowed the Forest Service to lift fire restrictions, wildfires can still occur,” said Fire Management Officer, Kit Bailey. “Visitors to our National Forests need to educate themselves about how to safely build and extinguish a campfire, and should continue to be careful and remember that campfires are only allowed in certain areas.”

It may seem like lyrics from the Five Man Electrical Band: Sign, sign, everywhere a sign; Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind' Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

Everyone wants to enjoy the South Lake Tahoe area on the 4th of July holiday weekend. In order to keep everyone safe there are rules and regulations in place to do so.

1. Portable Charcoal Grills Prohibited on All Forest Service Beaches. You can use the limited number of Forest Service provided grills.
2. Campfires are not permitted on National Forest beaches or in the general forest.

The aftermath of the thousands of people who flocked to South Lake Tahoe's beaches last Fourth of July was a ghastly sight. South Lake Tahoe made headlines around the world for the embarrassing amount of trash left on the beaches. It took hundreds of volunteers days to pick up the thousands of pounds of garbage left on the beautiful beaches.

With illegal and unattended campfires the cause of over 90% of wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin, new fire restrictions go into place on July 1, 2015. Campfires and charcoal barbecues will be restricted to designated recreation sites, and other fire-related activities are prohibited until the end of fire season.

“Increased fire danger due to the ongoing drought combined with warmer and dryer weather is a big concern for the basin," said U.S. Forest Service fire management officer, Kit Bailey. "Fire restrictions help reduce the possibility of human caused fires.”

It’s Wildfire Awareness Month at Tahoe, and with the summer tourist season around the corner, we must all remember that drought has left our Region with severely dry forest conditions and an extreme risk of wildfire. This summer we need to think about “when” not “if” another fire will happen. All of us have important roles to play in preventing the next wildfire, and in making sure our homes, families, and communities are prepared for it.

An illegal campfire at Granite Lake in Desolation Wilderness started a wildfire on Tuesday according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). With the lack of a deep snowpack and high winds in the area this week, the fire could have easily spread had it not been for the quick response by USFS firefighters.

Illegal and unattended campfires cause over 90 percent of wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Fire managers are concerned about the impact from illegal campfires as we are in our fourth year of drought and forest conditions are already as dry as they would be in June.

9/29/14 update: Heavy precipitation over the weekend allowed firefighters to achieve 90 percent containment of the Cascade Fire near Snow Lake in the Desolation Wilderness. Crews will begin repairing impacts from fire suppression activities and will monitor the fire to detect any renewed activity later this week due to drier, warmer and windier conditions.

Bayview Trailhead and Campground and TaylorCreek Sno-Park on Hwy. 89 have reopened. The cause of the 20-acre fire is under investigation, but it has been determined to be human-caused.

Fire restrictions have gone into effect in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Campfires and charcoal barbecues will be restricted to designated recreation sites, and other fire-related activities will be prohibited until the end of fire season. “With record drought conditions in the West, agencies in both California and Nevada are anticipating increased fire activity,” said Fire Management Officer, Kit Bailey. “Fire restrictions help reduce the possibility of accidental human caused fires.”

On National Forest System land fire restrictions mean:

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will lift fire restrictions on National Forest System lands beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, September 24, 2013. “The arrival of cooler, wetter weather brings safer conditions and has allowed us to lift restrictions on Forest Service managed lands,” said Forest Service fire chief Kit Bailey. “Even though restrictions will be lifted, we still need hikers and campers to use caution with campfires, stoves, barbecue grills and cigarette smoking.”

UPDATE: Beginning Monday, July 1, fire restrictions will go into effect in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Campfires and charcoal barbecues will be restricted to designated recreation sites, and other fire-related activities will be prohibited until the end of fire season.

“Weather patterns this winter and spring are similar to conditions in 2007, the year of the Angora Fire,” said Fire Prevention Officer, Beth Brady. “Even with the rain we have received, at this point, it won’t alleviate this summer’s high risk of wildfires.”

With the arrival of cooler, wetter weather, the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will lift fire restrictions for Forest Service managed lands Wednesday, October 23, 2012. Additionally, Forest Service fire chief Kit Bailey, in conjunction with local fire chiefs, will open residential burning the same day.

Fire restrictions will go into effect Monday, July 9, in the Lake Tahoe Basin.A forest order has been issued to provide for public safety through the end of the official 2012 fire season.Campfires,...

Residents and visitors are urged to help protect public safety and the environment during the Fourth of July holiday by keeping wildfire prevention in mind.
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management unit reminds folks that having fireworks of any kind — and sparklers are considered fireworks — is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Campfires are not permitted on Forest Service beaches or in the general forest. For Wednesday, July 4, 2012, only, personal barbecues are allowed at Nevada, Pope and Baldwin beaches but are not permitted on any other Forest Service beaches or in the general forest.

Update 12:22PM: A small brush fire on Cold Creek Trail in South Lake Tahoe is contained and burned about one-quarter of an acre, reports U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Cheva Heck. Fire personnel from Lake Valley Fire Protection District and South Lake Tahoe and U.S. Forest Service brought the fire to containment. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Heck said. Initial reports that came in said the fire started as a backyard burn pile.

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“We ask that that people remember that campfires and warming fires generally are not allowed on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.” The chart shows fire ...www.laketahoenews.net/.../fire-officials-...