SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A series of five small fires started in the Lake Tahoe area due to the thunderstorms that passed over the Sierra this week, four on the south end of the Tahoe Basin, and one on the north end. Two small fires have been reported near Luther Pass, one at Martis Peak and one to the west of Luther Pass. One was also reported near Dardanelles Lake but it hasn’t been located yet.
So far, they all appear small and involve under 1/4 acre or involve a single tree. Mop up in underway on the Benwood and Grassy fires. Mop up means to make a fire safe, reduce residual smoke by extinguishing or removing burning material along or near the control line, felling snags, and/or moving logs so they won’t roll downhill.
USDA Forest Service, Tallac Hotshots, Slide Mountain, CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit, CAL FIRE NEU and local fire district/department firefighters, and helicopters responded to the fires on National Forest lands.
More of these natural fires may be discovered throughout the day and forest visitors are asked to pay attention in the backcountry and report any fires/smoke immediately to 911.