fire stations

The year 2020 started out with the driest February on record in California since the 1850s, and this combined with warming temperatures and recent winds are resulting in quickly drying grass.

The increasing fire danger posed by dead grass and hotter, drier conditions

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue's (SLTFR) annual Open House will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Both of their fire stations (1 & 3) will be open to the public with tours, hands-on demonstrations, light refreshments, safety information and giveaways.

Fire Station #1 1252 Ski Run Blvd.
- Participate in Fire Extinguisher prop and hands-only CPR training
- Life safety info, tours, static displays of apparatus, & giveaways
- Learn home safety tips with the Ember House

Fire Station #3 2101 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
- Smokey Bear visit

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was on this day in 2001 when a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks against the United States left 2,996 people dead, over 6,000 injured and causing at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage.

South Lake Tahoe joined communities around the country in honoring those who jumped in to rescue the survivors and joined in the fight against terrorism. At the American Legion, firefighters, police officers, veterans and community members gathered for a ceremony hosted by members of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Fire Chief Jeff Meston is retiring from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) on February 28, five years and five months after he came out of retirement to head up the department.

On Friday, February 1, Meston submitted his resignation to the City.

"When I was hired by CM (City Manager) Kerry I promised to spend between 3-5 years with the City Fire Department and bring them as far as I could to be a “world class” fire department," Meston said in his resignation letter.

He feels he's accomplished what he set out to do.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It takes a tragedy to bring people together, no matter their politics, their income or twitter handle.

Many in the South Lake Tahoe and Meyers community remember where they were at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2007 and what happened in the days that followed. The Angora Fire quickly tore through neighborhoods, destroying 251 homes and burning 3,100 acres. While it seems small in comparison with the monster fires of 2017 and 2018, it took everything from so many local families.

The community came together to help their friends and neighbors.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - October 7-13, 2018 is National Fire Prevention Week, and the two local fire stations will be celebrating with each having an open house along with a Firefighter Halloween Costume Contest for K-3 graders on Saturday, October 13.

From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., take a tour of the stations, learn how to escape a fire in your home, learn about the water-safety vest loaner program and get information and giveaways.

Kids who come in a public safety/firefighter costume will be entered to win a future breakfast with the crew!

There is a very warm, wet storm heading to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra and western Nevada, bringing with is gusty winds and significant rains beginning Friday and continuing through Saturday. There is a flood watch in effect from Friday, April 6, 05:00 p.m. until Sunday, April 8 at 5:00 a.m. The main concern is the potential for flooding along creeks, streams, rivers and in urban areas.

Snow levels may rise as high as 11000 feet, keeping the bulk of the precipitation in the form of rain. Rainfall totals between 2 to 4 inches are expected along the

The use of life jackets saves lives, especially on Lake Tahoe where Cold Water Shock can kill a person in minutes.

It has been a deadly year on the lake, and the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) department has started a new program to help save lives in the future.

California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) has partnered with SLTFR in making life jackets available to the public on a loan basis. They have infant, child and adult sizes.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is hosting a “Coats for Kids Drive” during the month of January and they are looking for donations from the community.

Be a hero and help children of the South Lake Tahoe community stay warm this winter by donating gently used coats. All donations will be distributed to children in need within South Lake Tahoe.

Drop donations at any of the three fire stations at:
Fire Station #1, 1252 Ski Run Blvd.
Fire Station #2, 2951 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Fire Station #3, 2101 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

In honor of National Fire Week October 4-10, the City of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Department held an open house at all three of their fire stations on Saturday. The public was invited to get information, learn about fire safety, get free swag and win raffle prizes.

STAT members were on hand at all three locations as well. STAT, which stands for South Tahoe Action Teams, is a program is designed to incorporate trained citizens in the field with the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department and other first responders during times of crisis.

The Tahoe Douglas Fire District and Skyland Fire Adapted Community will execute an inter-agency wildfire evacuation drill on Monday, June 8, 2015 between the hours of 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The drill will simulate a real evacuation event to give residents the opportunity to practice evacuating from their homes and getting to the designated safe zone. Situations which could cause a neighborhood evacuation would be a wildfire, earthquake, hazardous spill or some other catastrophic event.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department hosted their first annual open house on October 11th in recognition of National Fire Prevention week. Visitors toured all three fire stations and learned about the importance of having and checking smoke detectors, hands only CPR, using a fire extinguisher and also completed a passport card for entry into a grand prize drawing for of a dinner for four prepared by the firefighters. The Gower family of Eric, Jamie, Rowen, and Abby were the winners of the Open House dinner.

Lake Valley Fire Protection District and South Lake Tahoe Fire Department are joining efforts in a “Fill the Boot” style fundraiser for the 19 Firefighters from the Granite Mountain Hotshots who perished in the Arizona fires. The fundraiser will be held this Sunday, July 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Highway 50 near the Bug Station in Meyers.

A benefit has been formed by the Prescott Fire Department and 100 percent of the funds collected in South Lake Tahoe will be donated towards to families of the 19 firefighters who lost their lives in the Arizona fires.

South Lake Tahoe City Manager Nancy Kerry announced the appointment of Bruce Martin as South Lake Tahoe Fire Departments Interim Fire Chief at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

“I am very excited to welcome Chief Martin to lead, encourage and support our dedicated team of fire fighters,” said Kerry. “Chief Martin’s long and exemplary career in fire service provides him with a platform to be an excellent leader as the Interim Fire Chief.”

UPDATE 3:27PM: KOLO Reno Channel 8 reports the brother of the registered owner of the Piper that crashed in South Lake Tahoe Saturday night says all five people aboard died. Javier de la Mora says his brother, Francisco de la Mora, of Fresno was in the airplane when it crashed. Francisco's wife and daughter and two other people were on board as well. Go here for the full story.

UPDATE 2:56PM: The City of South Lake Tahoe issued the following news release and photos this afternoon:

A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Saturday, August 25th at 9:48 pm from Lake Tahoe Airport. The crash ignited a fire in the meadow just past the airport off of Winnemucca Avenue. The fire burned approximately one acre and took an hour and a half to extinguish.
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department reports that the plane had been heard by witnesses to have apparent engine problems, and was seen to dip downward into the ground while attempting a turn.
According to Federal Aviation Administration, there were multiple victims and no survivors of the crash. The names of victims are not being released until notification of families is confirmed.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those that perished in this tragic accident. Thanks to the quick and cooperative efforts by multiple agencies; the fire caused by this crash was put out quickly,” said Mayor Claire Fortier.
Earlier in the day, the 23rd Annual Lake in the Sky Air Show was held at Lake Tahoe Airport. This plane was not affiliated with the air show in any way.
The location of the plane crash is within El Dorado County limits and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency of this investigation. FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials arrived on site today to perform an investigation and to identify the cause of the crash.

UPDATE 1:46PM: There are multiple victims to Saturday night's plane crash in South Lake Tahoe, confirmed El Dorado Sheriff's Office Lt. Pete Van Arnum. Investigators were processing the wreckage to confirm how many victims and their identities. Investigators do not believe the victims to be locals from the South Lake Tahoe area, he said. No information concerning the identity of the victims, or the plane will be released until positive confirmation has been made, he said. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are assisting with the investigation.
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10:36AM: Lake Tahoe News is reporting that it has exclusively learned from federal authorities that up to five people died in the plane crash on Saturday. Go here for the story. Meanwhile KOLO TV Channel 8 in Reno reports that an FAA official confirmed the plane was a Piper PA32.

UPDATE 6:55AM: A small airplane crashed in the Barton Meadows area in South Lake Tahoe sparking a wildland fire on Saturday night. Presumably there are no survivors. The crash was reported at 9:48 p.m. after the plane took off from Lake Tahoe Airport, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Pete Van Arnum early Sunday morning. Witnesses reported the plane was experiencing engine trouble and was seen moving downward before it crashed into flames, he said.