fire department

STATELINE, Nev. - It was a much quieter holiday at Stateline this year with a decrease in calls for service, five arrests, and the lowest number of New Year's celebrants in a few decades.

US 50, the highway that runs from South Lake Tahoe into Stateline was not closed due the low number of people in the area. Law enforcement was able to keep those wanting to bring in the new year outside to the sidewalk or they stayed inside the casinos.

"The celebrants were well behaved and embraced the New Year’s Eve celebration," said Douglas County Undersheriff Ron Elges.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a special ceremony November 6, 2020, one that honored the police service of K9 Tara as she left her home for the last time. After surviving cancer surgery that resulted in the loss of one leg two years ago, K9 Tara was put to sleep after being hit by the disease once again.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce Board recently asked the nine City Council candidates ten questions they felt were of most importance to its members. The questions focused mainly on topics relating to things that will or may affect both the local small businesses and the community in general.

Their board made the decision to not endorse a specific candidate this election, but instead rank them based on how much they align with the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce goals based on their answers to the questions below.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It will be hard to find someone in favor of taxes, but with them being the reason many things in this world are funded, they are accepted to some degree.

On November 3, the City of South Lake Tahoe will be asking voters for support of a one-cent local sales tax known as Measure S.

South Tahoe Now reached out to all nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and provided the same list of questions to each one of them. Once a day their answers will be published in the order received.

Today's candidate is Scott Robbins

Profession: National Security Analysist

How many years in SLT: 4

Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe (SISLT) awarded scholarships to a group of local students from South Tahoe High, George Whittell High, the Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy and Lake Tahoe Community College. The club, serving the community since 1959, has given out over one-million dollars to local graduates over the years.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue recently held ceremonies for the hiring of three new firefighter/paramedics and the promotion of three to the rank of captain. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, ceremonies were small and held at the fire station during their shifts.

Captain/Paramedic Mike Taormina

UPDATE 7:335 p.m.: Douglas County officials say the Numbers Fire has now reached 18,000 acres and is 0% contained. The recommended evacuations for the Bodie Flats and Pineview areas have been lifted. Only residents are allowed to these areas. Please drive safely, watch for emergency vehicles, and be ready for possible future instructions in an ever-changing situation.

Multiple local, state, and federal agencies continue to work on containing the fire using dozers, hand crews, and aircraft.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A homeless man suffered burns over 50 percent of his body after he fell asleep next to a warming/cooking fire in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday.

On June 4 at approximately 3:42 p.m., South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue responded to a call of a fire between Smart & Final and Christian Science Church on Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

The unidentified man was airlifted to the burn unit at UC Davis. His current condition is unknown at this time.

5/22 update 11:00 a.m. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) has released a few more details about Thursday's death of a local man.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The new fire chief hired for South Lake Tahoe is no stranger to the Sierra Nevada and El Dorado County.

Clive Savacool, the former chief of the Garden Valley Fire Protection District, will be taking the helm at South Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, a position vacated when Jeff Meston retired in February 2019.

Another tax. Another agency short funds. Every year someone needs more money. I get it, it gets old. Why didn't they budget better? They have a multi-million dollar budget, why can't they make it work?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During Thursday's annual South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue's annual awards ceremony, seven were honored for their milestones in length of service, three were given special citizen's awards and another four were given the dispatcher, firefighter and meritorious awards.

Award Winners

Engineer Paramedic Mike Taormina was given the Firefighter of the Year award

Melissa Dube was given the Dispatcher of the Year award

Captain Leslie Asbury and Battalion Chief Karl Koeppen were given the Fire Chief Meritorious awards

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On March 3, 2020, voters in the Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) boundaries will decide if Measure B should pass, a measure that would give the fire department funds for much-needed equipment, apparatuses, and supplies.

Members of Lake Tahoe Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) joined groups from across the country on Saturday, December 14 for a Wreaths Across America ceremony. This was the first time it was held in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The public is invited to attend the first Wreaths Across America ceremony in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, December 14 at Happy Homestead Cemetery. Join the Lake Tahoe Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution at 9:00 a.m.

The ceremony will begin with a moment of silence.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 2008 Douglas High School graduate is the newest member of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD).

Ryan Brown was sworn in by SLTPD Chief Brian Uhler in front of family, fellow officers, members of the SLT Fire Department and other staff members on Monday afternoon. He comes from the Alpine County Sheriff's Office where he spent four years as a deputy. Ryan has also been with the Nevada Air National Guard for six years.

Pet food and pet supplies are being collected for those displaced and affected by the fires in Sonoma County.

There are several local drop-off locations but make sure items aren't left outside a closed business. Things left out would attract bears and other wildlife. Below is a list of times and locations:

South Lake Tahoe Fire Department
Station 1 on Ski Run & Station 3 on Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Lake Valley Fire Department on Keetak St in Meyers
Monday thru Thursday 9L00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An active shooting training at South Tahoe High School last week gave local, state and federal agencies the opportunity to use their collaborative skills in responding to an emergency at the school.

In the simulated event after school, a call went over the radios on a secure channel to alert all first responders of a shooting at the high school and with the shooter still on the loose. At the first call, there were seven "victims" (volunteers acting for the training).

The death and destruction caused by terrorists at the World Trade Center and Pentagon 18 years ago remained close to people’s hearts and memories on Tuesday during a memorial event at Western Nevada College in Carson City.

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. - The popular outdoor music festival SnowGlobe will be returning to South Lake Tahoe for at least 2019 after a new two-year contract was received by the City this week. MTV/Viacom, owners of the festival, has signed the contract approved by City Council during their June 18, 2019 meeting.

Organizers originally asked for a ten-year contract starting with their ninth annual event in 2019.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An observant Harrah's Tahoe hotel guest helped firefighters attack a South Lake Tahoe fire late Thursday night, allowing them to catch it early and keep it small.

At 11:45 p.m., South Lake Tahoe emergency dispatch received a call about a fire in the area of the gondola. A guest on the hotel's 19th floor had seen fire and called it in.

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) went to the hotel to get the height advantage and better pinpoint where the fire had been seen while South Lake Tahoe Fire Department (SLTFD) headed to Van Sickle Bi-State Park.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is more to do in South Lake Tahoe on the 4th of July than watch one of the top fireworks shows in the west.

To start off the holiday, the City of South Lake Tahoe is organizing the annual 4th of July parade down Highway 50 from Ski Run Boulevard to Bijou Community Park on Al Tahoe Boulevard starting at 10:00 a.m.