firefighters

The Perry Fire burning between Reno and Pyramid Lake has now burned 25,600 acres and is now 15 percent contained. It started Friday evening and the cause is unknown at this time.

Some smoke from the Fergason Fire burning west of Yosemite is still making its way into the Lake Tahoe Basin Thursday, and more of the same hazy conditions are expected Friday.

The fire grew by 1,723 acres overnight to a total of 43,299 acres and firefighters have been able to get a line around 27 percent of the fire. 3,686 personnel are currently engaged on the fire which includes 241 engines, 47 water tenders, 18 helicopters, 94 crews, and 63 dozers. South Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Fire and North Tahoe Fire all have sent crews to help in the efforts.

Even though firefighters gained some ground Monday on the Ferguson Fire, Yosemite National Park has announced they are closing Yosemite Valley and Wawona on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at noon to all visitors due to the ongoing impacts of the fire. These closures include all hotels, campgrounds, and visitor services in Yosemite Valley and Wawona. Park visitors currently staying in park campgrounds and lodging facilities are asked to be out of these areas by noon as well. With the ongoing closure of Highway 140, park visitors can exit the park via Highways 120 and 41.

Smoke from the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite continues to move into the Lake Tahoe Basin. On Sunday, that smoke will be joined by clouds and a 50 percent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms starting after 12:00 p.m. and going into the evening.

On Saturday, hail and rain was very scattered, with people in the Kingsbury Grade and Heavenly Valley area seeing several minutes of a hail storm accompanied by heavy rain, with areas west of Ski Run Boulevard not seeing a drop of rain.

A house fire in Meyers brought out crews from multiple agencies on Friday, July 13.

Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) responded to a structure fire call at approximately 11:04 a,m. Crews arrived to the scene on Kiowa Drive to find smoke and flames coming from the lower lever of the home. Firefighters initiated a fire attack and with the help of CalFire, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and North Tahoe Fire, crews were able to knock down the flames and extinguish the fire.

9:14 p.m. update: The James Loop Fire was reported at 12:45 p.m. at the James Canyon Development near Carson City, Nevada. Tonight, the fire was mapped at 260 acres and is currently 30 percent contained. The fire was caused by heavy equipment working on a new home under construction The fire burned 163 acres of private and 107 acres of Bureau of Indian Affairs lands, but threatened lands
managed by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The East Fork Fire Protection District was in unified command with the U.S. Forest Service.

UPDATE 11:09PM: A voluntary evacuation order was placed Tuesday night for the Carson Colony area off of Curry Street in South Carson City. The Voltaire Canyon area is also voluntary evacuation. Plans are in the works to open a shelter for those displaced.
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UPDATE 10:54PM: Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said Tuesday night's fire at Voltaire Canyon was started by campers who were burning excrement and toilet paper.

There were two campers detained and were cooperative, said Furlong. There were up to eight individuals who were camping in the area who were taken off the hill.

Lake Valley firefighter Larry Stewart was on his way to a fire at Camp Richardson on Friday July 3, 1964 when the water tender truck he was driving ran into a tree. He died two days later.

On Memorial Day, 2018, Stewart will be dedicated on the Public Safety Wall of Honor during a ceremony at Happy Homestead Cemetery. The ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m.

In 2017, the first ceremony was held and the names of US Forest Service-Tahoe Basin Firefighter Mikey Hallenbeck and Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) irefighter Mitch Underhill were permanently etched on the Wall.

The Tahoe-Douglas Rotary Club held their annual Community Heroes Awards luncheon at the MontBleu Resort on Friday, April 27. In the past the club has honored firefighters, law enforcement and dispatch employees. This year, the awards went to local teachers from five schools: Whittell High School, South Tahoe High School, South Tahoe Middle School, Bijou Community School, Sierra House Elementary and Zephyr Cove Elementary.

Whittell High School: The winner is Susan Van Doren who has taught Engligh and Computer Science. She has taught for 20 years.

Captain Leslie Asbury of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) was honored during Tuesday's City Council meeting after graduating from the United States Fire Administration National Fire Academy Managing Officer Program. It was a two-year commitment for Asbury.

"We are very fortunate to have a committed and dedicated fire officer within our organization," said SLTFR Chief Jeff Meston. "We are honored to work with her."

Mountaintop cameras from the University of Nevada, Reno spotted or tracked 240 fires in Nevada and California in 2017. This helped to keep firefighters more situationally aware and able to mount appropriate responses more rapidly over tens of thousands of square miles of forests and rangelands, including rural communities.

This is a new and expanding tool for fire managers who oversee the wildland and wildland/urban interface.

4:15 p.m. 2/12/18 update: Family members say the man who died in Sunday's house fire is Dean Eastin. His former sister-in-law Mimi Bertrand told South Tahoe Now that it was Dean who died. His two adult children, Lori and Gregory, moved from South Lake Tahoe and now live in Grants Pass, Oregon.

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8:00 p.m. update: The cause of the deadly fire in South Lake Tahoe today was the result of smoking materials on a couch. The deceased is a 58-year-old male. There is an ongoing investigation by the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Police departments. No name has been released.

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There were no injuries after an early morning fire consumed an Incline Village vacation home on Sunday, February 4.

At approximately 5:33 a.m., firefighters from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD) responded to the call of a structure fire at 530 Spencer Way. They were able to quickly contain and extinguish the fire.

Eight adults, eight children and two dogs were at home when the fire broke out. One of those adult was treated for a medical issue on the scene, and released.

An overflowing crowd of family, friends and community members filled the City Council chambers Monday as South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue held their 5th annual awards ceremony.

The staff was honored for their service doing a job that protects the lives, homes and environment of the South Lake Tahoe community and its visitors.

"Your recognition is well deserved, and well earned," said Mayor Wendy David.

SLTFR Fire Chief Jeff Meston led the ceremony which honored the following:

Firefighter/Medic of the Year: Dustin Winter
Dispatcher of the Year: Jillian Gard

For 37 years, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) Battalion Chief Rich Nalder has served the community, and now, he's retiring.

Nalder’s service to the Lake Tahoe community began in 1980 and he soon became instrumental in the design and implementation of TDFPD Special Service programs such as rope rescue, confined space and water rescue.

The longstanding tradition of a decorated fire engine continues in South Lake Tahoe as the SLT Fire Rescue team sets out on nightly travels through neighborhoods December 10-24. Each nigh the South Lake Tahoe Christmas Engine will leave Station 3 at the Y at 5:00 p.m. and the firefighters will be passing out candy canes to everyone who comes out to see them!

Sunday December 10 - Keys/Venice Blvd
Monday December 11 - Glenwood area
Tuesday December 12 - Keys Blvd/State streets
Wednesday December 13 - Barton/Tahoe Island park
Thursday December 14 - South Y / Tata Lane area

Chief Jeff Meston of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is the recipient of the Ed Bent Training Excellence Award in recognition of being the Outstanding Fire Instructor of the Year at the California Training Officers Symposium held this week in Fresno, California.

The award was created many years ago on behalf of Ed Bent for his contribution as a founding father of statewide training and curriculum for the California Fire Service.

For over four decades, Robert Rossi has served the community in several positions from volunteer firefighter to battalion chief to board member.

Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) honored outgoing Director Robert Rossi, a position he's held since 2010.

Before that question can be answered, we need to understand what a mega fire is. To be a mega fire it needs to meet these five points:

1. Starts near or in a high fire danger area during approaching or actual red flag conditions,
2. Escapes the initial attack,
3. Develops into a campaign fire covering a large area,
4. Requires thousand of firefighters and extensive additional resources to bring final containment,
5. Often cause huge property and other cultural losses in addition to vegetation destroyed.

The Table Fire burning west of Lake Tahoe near Ice House Reservoir has now burned 110 acres and firefighters have it 15 percent contained.

Fire officials from the U.S. Forest Service say the updated acreage (up from Wednesday's 50 acres) is mostly due to digitally mapping the fire line. The fire is in remote country and not threatening any structures. The fire is in a sheltered location so the predicted winds on Saturday are not expected to have a significant effect.

9:30 AM update 10/11: Perimeter is lined and held through the night. Firefighters are mopping up the interior today. The fire is 50 percent contained and has burned about 30 acres. The cause is under investigation

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There was a new fire start on Tuesday across the river from Bridal Veil Falls in El Dorado County.

Dubbed the "Ice Fire" it is burning about two miles west of the Ice House Road/White Meadows Road intersection.

Multiple air tankers and helicopters worked the fire immediately. There were some voluntary evacuations in place but they have since been lifted.

Location

9:30AM Update 10/11 - Fire was active last night as it slowly backed down the mountain towards the indirect check lines. The fire is in remote country and not threatening any structures.

So far, 50 acres have burned and it is 10 percent contained.

The smoke from the Table fire is visible from Highway 50 and the Tahoe Basin. This is a lightning start from a previous storm that Sunday's high wind event activated.

Note: the smoke blanketing the Placerville and Pollock Pines areas is not from the local fires.

7:00PM UPDATE 10/4 - The Cutter Fire burning in the Pine Nut Mountains of Douglas County has now burned through 1,697 acres of brush. A chainsaw started the fire which started on October 3 at 12:19 p.m. Several firefighters are on the scene according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

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The Cutter Fire in Douglas County has burned 650 acres since starting just after noon Tuesday, according to Sierra Front. The brush fire is burning in the area of U.S. 395 in the Pine Nut Mountains near Leviathan Mine Road in Douglas County.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Helicopters, fire trucks, K-9s and demonstrations are just a few of the activities planned for 23rd annual Fire Fest on Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. outside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe.

Admission is free and the event is a great opportunity for families to have fun while learning about safety and conservation.