fire chief

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - During their Thursday, October 15 meeting, the Douglas County commissioners will hear a presentation about the work done by an appointed task force about vacation home rentals (VHRs) in Tahoe Township. The agenda item is listed as having possible action by the commissioners.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - 2020 is turning out to be a year of large fires in California, and the South Lake Tahoe area is not immune from the danger of wildfire. It is very important to be prepared in case you must evacuate.

Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”

Listed below are ways those in the South Lake Tahoe can start to plan, in hopes the plans never have to be used.

If there were just two things residents should know, South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Clive Savacol said it would be to "evacuate early" and "have a plan."

UPDATE 8/11/20: A 28-year-old man from Napa, California has been identified as the person who died in a tragic boat incident off shore from South Lake Tahoe on Monday. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) Marine unit responded along with South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the U.S. Coast Guard.

When the call came in around 3:40 p.m., two men were in the water and a third was inside a rental boat. One of the men, David Castorena, had a major injury to his leg and he as not wearing a personal floatation device, or PFD.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Firefighters from the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) responded to the report of another illegal campfire in Lake Tahoe, this time at the Tallac Historic Site on June 17.

LTBMU Engine 341 responded and after a careful inspection, the campfire was declared a wildfire named "The Heritage Fire."

The illegal campfire was constructed on top of a dry stump within the foundation of a historic feature at Tallac Point near Kiva Beach.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Valley Fire Protection District didn't have to search far for its new chief to replace the retiring Tim Alameda. Brad Zlendick, who has been in the interim chief role since March 18, is now officially the LVFPD fire chief.

MEYERS, Calif. - Starting Wednesday, March 18, Lake Valley Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Brad Zlendick will be moving into the role of Interim Fire Chief. The current chief, Tim Alameda, will be retiring starting May 9, but he will be using accrued vacation and sick time until then.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A we say goodbye to 2019, 2020 is on the horizon with hopes, dreams and a list of wishes for the new year.

Instead of taking a look back at 2019 let's take a look forward to 2020 in South Lake Tahoe. What does this year have in store for us?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the City of South Lake Tahoe in need of both a city manager and fire chief, the City Council today discussed the best route to take on their recruitment.

The Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation has announced a donation of $18,057 to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD) to enhance wildfire suppression capabilities on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. This donation will result in the expansion of strategic and tactical Wildfire Pre Attack plans covering the entire Lake Tahoe Basin. Pre Attack Plans help first responders by identifying critical infrastructure, vulnerable population groups, evacuation routes, water sources, Temporary Refuge Areas, and locations where forests have been thinned before a wildfire strikes.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Ken Harrison has been hired to take the helm of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue. The former battalion chief with the Orange County Fire Authority is bringing years of experience to the lake.

The City hasn't had anyone in the permanent fire chief position since the departure of Jeff Meston retired in February of this year. Battalion Chief Jim Drennan and retired Chief Bruce Martin have shared the duties over the past eight months.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There continue to be harsh words aimed at Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Superintendent Dr. James Tarwater over his handling of the fire, reconstruction and now repopulation of Sierra House Elementary.

There are many issues facing the West Shore of Lake Tahoe in the coming weeks and months and District V Supervisor Sue Novasel will hold a series of town hall meetings to discuss them. Topping the list are the fire stations operated by the Meeks Bay Fire Protection District, vacation home rentals, the lack of an El Dorado County Sheriff's deputy living in the area, County road work, snow removal, and fire insurance.

The first meeting will be on Wednesday, September 11 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Marie Sluchak Community Park in Tahoma.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be another fire in California, but when and where cannot be predicted and is unknown - but what is known is there will be another community that is devastated by wildland fire.

Residents around Lake Tahoe and the Sierra know this all too well and have been talking about concerns of wildfire threats in and around the Tahoe Basin. Those conversations have turned into plans and the City of South Lake Tahoe has just released an interactive website to help both residents and visitors map out an evacuation plan based on their neighborhood.

El Dorado County unveiled their pilot plan Tuesday evening, one that is designed to help alleviate traffic congestion on Meyer's back roads during two holiday weekends this summer.

El Dorado County Department of Transportation (EDCDOT) Director Rafael Martinez joined other staff members in presenting the traffic congestion circulation alternative to the approximately 25 people in attendance. There will be a hard closure in place on Sawmill Road near Highway 50, and on North Upper Truckee near Highway 50 during the July 4th and Labor Day holiday weekends as part of a pilot project.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Since its arrival, the 2013 model Ferrara ladder truck the City of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) purchased has been been a "lemon," and now they have reached a settlement with the manufacturer, Ferrara Fire Apparatus of Holden, Louisiana.

In 2014, City of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) took possession of a 2013 model Ferrara ladder truck at the tune of almost $1,050,000. It was purchased to replace the aging ladder truck SLTFR had from 1982 and was paid for with funds from California sales tax money devoted to public safety.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There have been three sets of interviews this week for the six candidates interested in being the next fire chief for the City of South Lake Tahoe.

The different interview panels consisted of a group of City department heads and area fire chiefs, another of fire department senior staff and union members, and the final interview was with City Manager Frank Rush.

All six are quality candidates according to Rush and fire personnel.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Besides shoveling snow from walkways and driveways, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) is reminding residents to shovel out their gas meters.

Twice in a 24-hour period, SLTFR had to respond to two gas leaks caused by snow piled on top of gas meters. While this is a normal occurrence during a storm like what South Lake Tahoe is experiencing now, it is entirely preventable.

As we close out a challenging year for California’s fire service, leadership from California Fire Chiefs Association, Fire Districts Association of California, League of Cities Fire Chiefs Department and Metro Chiefs met this week with Governor-Elect Newsom’s staff to set the stage for 2019 and establish a working relationship with the incoming administration.

Over 80 local nominees will be celebrated during the 11th annual Blue Ribbon Awards on Thursday, Nov. 8 at MontBleu Resort starting at 5:30 p.m.

The public is invited to join the Tahoe Chamber in celebrating the businesses and individuals that make the South Shore a great community to live, work and play.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Chief Jeff Meston is now the president of the California Fire Chief's Association (CalChiefs). The 925 voting members of the association voted in Meston and he just completed one year as president-elect. On Friday, September 28, he was sworn into the position with some from South Lake Tahoe making the trip to Sacramento to be there for the big day.

This is not only the first time a chief from South Lake Tahoe has been elected to the state's top spot for fire chiefs, but also the first time anyone has from cities along the Sierra Nevada.

September 11, 2001 - It's been 17 years since America experienced a tragedy that will never be forgotten. 2,983 people, ages 3-to-79, died that day in New York, Virginia and Philadelphia. In 17 years, time has not lessened or dissolved the sense of loss that occurred that day.

To honor 9-11 in South Lake Tahoe, the American Legion held their annual ceremony Tuesday with first responders, veterans and the community present to remember a day that not only was a time of death and destruction, but also a day of courage, heroism and love.

The El Dorado County District Attorney's Office has released their review of Councilmember Brooke Laine's allegations in April that there was a "complete disregard on the part of politicians and appointed officials for state law, transparency, and honesty to the public."

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue welcomed four new firefighter paramedics to their family during a pinning ceremony at the airport Thursday. They also celebrated the promotion of Kevin Van Kirk to Engineer and honored retired Batalion Chief Tim Spencer.

"Fire service is really about family," said Chief Jeff Meston and he opened the ceremony. "This is a special day for South Lake Tahoe."

He explained how tough it is to get a new firefighter on board. There are tests, boards and interviews.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue has invited the public to their Fire and Life Safety Protection meeting on Tuesday, July 24 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Fire Training Center located at 1195 Rufus Allen Blvd.

Fire Chief Jeff Meston will present the community’s risk assessment and fire operations "Standards of Cover" document.

There will be time for questions and answers and refreshments will be served.