SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – An early morning fire in South Lake Tahoe has led to the arrest of one person and displaced residents.
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, at approximately 4:47 a.m., South Lake Tahoe
Dispatch received a 911 call of a possible structure fire in the 3300 block of Treehaven Dr. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) and South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, public safety resources found the second story of a residence fully involved in flames.
SLTFR, with the assistance of Lake Valley Fire Protection District and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, was able to extinguish the fire prior to it spreading into any trees or neighboring residences.
SLTPD began an investigation and learned this was a domestic violence incident and the fire had allegedly been intentionally set. The investigation led to a suspect being identified as Jeremy Nichols of South Lake Tahoe. Nichols had fled the scene of the fire before law enforcement’s arrival and was not initially able to be located.
As the investigation continued, it was determined that Nichols had a hotel room at Harrah’s Casino. With the assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, it was confirmed that Nichols was inside a Harrah’s hotel room and refused to come out.
SLTPD detectives had since taken over the investigation, and a warrant was issued for Nichols’s arrest for the following charges:
- Two counts of malicious arson to an inhabited structure
- Domestic battery
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office made entry into the hotel room and safely took Nichols into custody on the arrest warrant. Nichols was booked into the Douglas County jail, where he will be held without bail pending extradition back to California.
There were no injuries to any people or pets from the fire. There were no occupants present in the side of the duplex that was on fire, and the resident on the other half safely evacuated and is staying with family. His side suffered smoke damage.
The building has been tagged for the time being until the structural stability can be assessed.
SLTPD detectives and SLTFR arson investigators remain on scene, continuing their investigation. Also responding to the scene to assist is an arson investigator from Sacramento City Fire Department.
No other information is available at this time.
SLTPD and SLTFR would like to thank their neighboring public safety agencies: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Valley Protection District and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District for their assistance on this incident.
Photos of the scene by South Tahoe Now:
