lake valley fire department

MEYERS, Calif. - The El Dorado County Department of Transportation (DOT) is asking voters in Meyers and the county areas of South Lake Tahoe for money to replace their aging snow removal fleet and equipment.

On March 3, voters will be deciding whether or not they want to pay $60 more a year via their property taxes to fund CSA3 (from Strawberry to Meeks Bay to South Lake Tahoe City Limits). Measure M, if passed, will supply an extra $540,000 annually for the sole purpose of buying and leasing snow removal equipment. The funds could not be used for salaries, pensions or any other purpose.

The Kiwanis Club of Tahoe Sierra in conjunction with the El Dorado County Sheriff's office, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, Lake Valley Fire Department, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, California Highway Patrol, Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition and Blue Zone Sports will be hosting a bike rodeo at South Tahoe Middle School on Saturday June 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

10.3.18 update: The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department has released their final report on the September 22 fire at a Sonora Avenue home.

According to their report, the exact cause of the fire could not be determined except that it started on the couch on the first floor.

Property loss is estimated at $200,000 with an additional $50,000 in contents loss. Smoke detectors were installed at the home and all went off when the fire started.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Emergency crews responded to two South Lake Tahoe fires on Saturday, one a house fire and another a brush fire.

In an ever more vitriolic, self-centered and money hungry culture, the magnificent moments appear to be farther and fewer between. However, in Tahoe, a constant bright spot has been found over the past several years with Ms. Lisa Maloff’s numerous charitable donations. Illustrated by the exhaustive list below, it is overwhelming to envision the impact she has had on our little community. And, while most would argue that the money has all the power to change everything, I disagree.

If you drive through Meyers on a Sunday you've most likely come across gridlock traffic through the neighborhoods as vehicles trying to head west after their South Lake Tahoe weekend look for the quickest route, courtesy of smart phone apps.

El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel held a Town Hall meeting on February 28, providing a forum for residents, law enforcement and staff to discuss solutions. One suggestion that came out of that meeting was put into place on Sunday, March 4 and was fairly successful.

"It was so frustrating and only so much we could do," recalled Kit Bailey of the U.S. Forest Service during Saturday's Angora Fire First Responder Remembrance Ceremony. "Its miraculous nobody got hurt."

On the 10th anniversary of the devastating fire that destroyed 254 homes as it burned quickly through 3,100 acres in the Meyers area of the South Shore, fire responders gathered at the Lake Valley Fire Department to honor those who served that day, and to honor the resilient community that supported them.

Lake Valley Volunteer Firefighter’s Association held its 55th annual Fire Fighters Ball on March 10, 2017. The Ball was given a new theme this year as the fire fighters hosted a sold out elegant event at the Edgewood Tahoe which included fine dining, a presentation by Lake Valley FD Honor Guard, auctioning of firefighters skills such as yard cleanup, car detailing to name a few, an ongoing silent auction packed with dozens of items that were so generously donated to Lake Valley by our community and live music and dancing.

Lake Valley Fire Department (LVFD) crews responded to a roof collapse off of Nahane Street Wednesday morning. The flat roof and deck collapsed over the garage of the Meyers area home had due to a heavy snow load.

A neighbor saw the damage March 22 and called it in, but they are unsure of when the incident actually occurred.

Crews immediately shut off the gas to the property and notified Liberty Utilities, Southwest Gas, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department and Building Department.

There is a full schedule of activites on the South Shore this weekend, plenty to do for the younger set as well as adults. Busy Santa can be found all over town!

Family Friendly -

Cruise with Santa aboard the M.S. Dixie II - Sunday, December 11, 2016, 12:00 – 2:00 pm, Cruise with Santa aboard the M.S.Dixie (530) 543-6191

On Friday, Dec. 2 the Meyers Community Foundation (MCF) will hold the sixth annual Tree Lighting at 5:00 p.m. in the Divided Sky/Downtown Café parking lot. The MCF will serve popcorn, hot chocolate and other goodies.

The Christmas fire truck and Santa will return via the CALSTAR helicopter (weather and circumstance permitting). The event is free and open to the public.

The Meyers Community Foundation (MCF) is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving life in Meyers, California through its support and promotion of creative and sustainable local projects and community-enhancing events.

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Update 5:00 p.m. 9/7/16: The man killed in Monday's hiking incident near Cascade Falls has been identified as Airman 1st Class Tyler Oimoeon of Beale Air Force Base. He from Mt.Horeb, Wisconsin.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Airman Oimoen's family, coworkers and friends," Lt. Col. Matthew Mountcastle said. "During this difficult time, we are caring for his family and coworkers with the support of the Beale community."

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A 21-year-old man died at Cascade Falls on Monday afternoon after taking a fall off granite rocks in the area.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue recently promoted three men to the position of Battalion Chief, a move that Fire Chief Jeff Meston says will improve safety for both citizens and personnel.

Jim Drennan, Tim Spencer and Karl Koeppen are all now Battalion Chiefs for the City of South Lake Tahoe. Between them, they have over 61 years of firefighting experience.

An Incline Village woman was rescued from the cliffs above Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay on Thursday after she slipped while climbing down the mountain.

Jane Rylander had been climbing in the steep cliff bands from Vikingsholm parking lot down towards the main castle. She slipped and slid down the embankment becoming stuck on the cliff band. She was not injured but could not climb up or down and was in the need of rescue.

It has been about 18 months since the Cal Tahoe JPA voted to spend $192,000 on badly needed EKG monitors for the nine ambulances that serve the South Lake Tahoe and Meyers area. As of March 31, not a dime has been spent due to a division between the two fire departments that are part of the JPA.

"I don't want public safety to get in the way of politics," said SLT City Councilman Tom Davis at Thursday's emergency JPA meeting. Davis is one of two Council representatives on the JPA board. The other is Mayor Wendy David.

The Lake Valley Fire Protection District announced the swearing in of new Apprentice
Firefighter-Paramedic, Dylan Yuzbick, was given the oath of office by Board President Dave Huber and was welcomed to the District during their October 8 board meeting.

Two different backcountry hikers needed to be rescued by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team on Monday, June 8.

The first incident was at 12:43 p.m. when an adult male hiker fell at Cascade Falls, resulting in traumatic injuries. With the assistance of ground personnel from Lake Valley Fire Department, USFS and Cal Fire, rescuers were able to provide care and get the hiker hoisted out on a California Highway Patrol helicopter. The CHP helicopter transferred the hiker to a CALSTAR medical air ambulance, and then transported to Renown Medical Center in Reno.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department has been unable to keep up with completing the duties of fire inspections due to reduced staff and an increased work load for the busiest fire department in the basin.

When the position of Fire Marshall was eliminated during 2011 budget cuts the tasks fell upon the fire department. SLT Fire Chief Jeff Meston said that his department currently lacks the expertise to complete the fire inspection duties.

It was another packed house meeting on Thursday night for the Tahoe Paradise Resort Improvement District.

The last few meetings have been full of anger, dysfunction, arguing and mis-information. Many came to this board meeting hoping to have answers and a clear understanding of what the future holds for the Tahoe Paradise Park, which the board oversees.

It was clear early on that this meeting was going to be more of the same.

The 2014 Fall Aging & Caregiver Series will be given for the next six weeks in South Lake Tahoe. This six week series of classes are designed to provide instruction and support for caregivers who are, or are planning to, care for a family member or friend age 60 or older.

All classes are held at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel (formerly Embassy Suites) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Participants must register by calling 530-621-6369 or 800-510-2020. Free in-Home respite is available to qualified caregivers. Pre-authorization is required for respite services.

There are an estimated 500 unpermitted, illegal marijuana grow houses on the South Shore according to local law enforcement. In the city limits, South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler estimates there are 300 houses where marijuana is growing illegally with another 200 in the El Dorado County portion of the South Shore according to SLEDNET’s Matt Underhill. (SLEDNET stands for South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team, a joint drug enforcement task force)

The El Dorado County Grand Jury has released their final report for the 2013-14 year and several South Lake Tahoe situations have been brought to light.

According to Jury Foreman Neil Cunningham, the jury compiled 20 reports and recommendations which were created as they followed up on inquiries from citizens and Grand Jury required inspections.

Nine year old Bode Bierdneau of Marin County is credited with saving his father after a snowmobile accident near Blue Lakes in Alpine County on Sunday.

The two were each riding their own snowmobiles when Bode's father, John Taylor (JT), lost control and crashed into a tree and was partially ejected. He was partially trapped under his Skidoo as his left leg became entangled with the machine. Bode dug out his father, but with his dad's femur broken he couldn't walk.

A Wednesday night house fire in South Lake Tahoe has turned into a criminal investigation.

South Lake Tahoe Police officers and fire fighters responded to a residential fire in the 1100 block of Long Valley Avenue at 6:10 pm. They found the home fully engulfed in flames with fire starting to spread to nearby trees, though they were able to contain the fire to the area of the burning home. It appears the house is likely to be a total loss.

The house has received the attention of the police and fire department prior to Wednesday night's fire.

A single engine Mooney airplane crashed shortly after take off from the South Lake Tahoe airport at approximately 11:10 AM today.

The plane was observed by numerous witnesses begin to lose altitude after take off, and bank sharply into a wooded area east of the airport. The plane crashed into some large pine trees and flipped over.

The male pilot, Steven Lefton 67 years of age of Palo Alto, CA was killed on impact. His wife, Karen Lefton sustained moderate injuries and was pinned in the wreckage of the plane.