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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With 367 current wildfires in the state of California, fire fighting resources are spread thin. Calfire If there was a fire in South Lake Tahoe, are you prepared?

Tens of thousands of residents are evacuated from their homes in Napa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Salinas, Grass Valley, Nevada City and other cities in the state. Most of the fires were started by a massive lightning storm over Northern California Sunday where over 10,800 lightning strikes were observed.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe has released their emergency order that will require masks worn in the city limits starting Friday, August 21, 2020. Below are facts, questions and answers:

What is the mask mandate?

Governor Newsome mandated all Californians wear a mask in certain circumstances to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For more details on that order click here.

How does the administrative fine work?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and August 23, the Al Tahoe Community will participate in a Neighborhood Clean-up Work Day Event. The two-day event is from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day and is part of their efforts to become a Firewise USA certified district.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Tahoe Douglas Fire District Zephyr Chipping crews will be in Al Tahoe both days to assist homeowners with creating good defensible space around their properties and will show homeowners how to apply Firewise strategies to reduce wildfire risk.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno issued a special weather statement Wednesday, calling for widespread smoke and haze over the Sierra and northern California and western Nevada.

As of 8:00 a.m. the Air Quality measurement in South Lake Tahoe is 82, the moderate range. Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. it jumped to 161, in the unhealthy range.

Fires:
Loyalton Fire is now at 46,386 acres and is 35 percent contained
Claremont Fire near Quincy is 450 acres
North Complex Fires are near Quincy and at 5,400 acres, 5 percent contained

Douglas County has changed the process for reporting issues with vacation home rentals (VHRs) in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Effective immediately, a new third party administer, HdL, will handle general VHR complaints in Tahoe Township while the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will continue to handle noise and parking violations. The county contracted with HDL Companies to handle lodging tax for all commercial and short-term rental permitting and room tax administration.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A South Lake Tahoe man was arrested Tuesday, August 18 after hitting a woman on a Lime scooter with his car and leaving the scene.

Early Tuesday afternoon the woman, who is also from South Lake Tahoe, was near the intersection of Johnson Boulevard and Fairway Driver on the scooter when she was allegedly struck by a vehicle. The driver left the scene.

Officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) started searching

Yesterday at approximately 4:20 p.m., Carson Tahoe Health wheeled its first COVID-positive, intubated patient, Linda McCain, out of the Regional Medical Center and back home to her family.

The Gardnerville resident had been in their care for 26 days.

Staff gathered in an Honor Walk to cheer on McCain, who had been using a ventilator to assist in breathing and fighting the severe respiratory illness, COVID-19. She was brought to tears by the support of Carson Tahoe throughout her stay, as well as during her farewell, as were several staff members.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After a delay in getting materials in 2019, Caltrans has scheduled a full closure of U.S. Highway 50 for the Echo Summit Sidehill Viaduct Replacement Project for two weeks beginning Friday, Sept. 18. After the delay last year, the contractor on the project was going to install the bridge girders in June of 2020, but many wanted that timeframe postponed due to the the opening of tourist season after COVID-related closures this past spring.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Barton Foundation has awarded a record $100,000 in its annual Community Health Grant funding. This is in addition to more than $170,000 in grants given to local families and individuals from its COVID-19 Response Fund.

The 13 Lake Tahoe-based organizations that were awarded share Barton Health’s commitment to addressing the most urgent health needs in the area: mental and behavioral health, substance use, and access to care.

The organizations selected for a Community Health Grant serve the area’s most vulnerable populations and those in need:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials announced another 22 positive cases of COVID-19 in the county since Friday. Eight of those are in El Dorado Hills, seven in the Lake Tahoe region, two in each Pollock Pine/Camin/Kyburz, North County and Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, and one in South County. Of those, four are under the age of 18, nine aged between 18-49, five aged 50-64 and four aged 65 or older.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A large group of car enthusiasts on top of an already busy summer weekend created a hectic weekend for South Lake Tahoe area law enforcement.

Dubbed #Lake2o, a social media-organized group of about 300-400 modified car owners converged on the town starting Thursday and went through Monday morning, taking over parking lots, parking garages and filling city streets.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Trash has been the topic of conversation around Lake Tahoe this summer with the influx of visitors during the pandemic and much more trash found left behind. In a few stories this week we will be looking at efforts and education to keep things clean.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a chance of isolated scattered showers and thunderstorms each afternoon through Tuesday, then they'll be moving south of Highway 50 Wednesday and Thursday. Hot temperatures are forecast through the week with heat impacts possible for sensitive groups and those with limited cooling options for their homes in the valleys. Smoke and haze continues as well with ongoing wildfires in the region.

If the Lake Tahoe Region of El Dorado County were its own county, it would be solidly on the state watch list, as its new case rate is even higher than LA County’s rate. Furthermore, El Dorado County should be on the watch list, but it is not. As a result, people think it is safe in Tahoe and thousands of visitors are continuously bringing the virus into the area, overwhelming our health system, and exposing residents.

The nosebleeds usually refer to the worst seats in the house; they’re the highest up, and furthest away from the action. At any venue, the nosebleeds are also always the cheapest. The adage ‘you get what you pay for’ defines them perfectly. The Venue may be priced like the nosebleeds, but with the fun and style of the much more expensive floor seats.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just as the Eldorado National Forest managers announced last week, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) of the National Forest Service said they too have seen the same record increase in illegal campfires.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe is the vacation destination for millions of people annually, but recent behaviors of many of the tourists have the residents on edge. Trash is being left behind on beaches, trails and picnic areas, overflowing trash containers are shown daily on social media pages, stores are packed and roads are crowded, all during a pandemic while travel orders are still in place for the California.

With international travel at a standstill many are keeping their vacationing during the coronavirus to locations near their homes, and Lake Tahoe is one of those spots.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In just five years, the Tahoe Women’s Community Fund has been able to give $328,000 back to the community through 37 different non-profits on the South Shore.

Attached is their annual report for 2020.

Formed in 2015, the collective giving organization is able to support nonprofits that address pressing issues facing the community through a simple grant process. In 2020 they are awarding their most yet, $125,000.

8:30 p.m. SUNDAY UPDATE: The Loyalton Fire which originated east of the town of Loyalton and southwest of Mount Ina Coolbrith is now estimated at 29,828 acres and 0 percent contained. It is north and east adjacent to the areas of Beckwourth Pass and Hallelujah Junction.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 25 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed Friday. South Lake Tahoe did not lead the group which is the norm and had five positive cases. El Dorado Hills had 14, Greater Placerville with 3, Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue had two, and one in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz. Of the new cases, four are under the age of 18, 15 aged 18-49, three aged 50-64 and three aged 65 and older.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Originally planned for June, then postponed to September, the popular $5 Dump Day in South Lake Tahoe has been canceledfor 2020.

Organizers will return in 2021 with both spring and fall dump events planned. They said the dump days rely heavily on personal contact, and with the socially distancing requirements to keep COVID-19 at bay, they decided there was no way to hold one at this time.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The 18th annual South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge Kids’ Fishing Derby has been canceled due to the pandemic. The Lodge has sponsored the tournament at Lake Baron inside Tahoe Paradise Park for 17 years and said they feel it important to follow state and county guidelines to avoid group gatherings and the safety and protection of children is paramount.

The Lodge had been planning on having the Optimists Club as co-sponsors this September after the Optimists had to cancel their fishing derby at Sawmill Pond earlier this summer.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another nine positive cases of COVID-19 were documented on Thursday. Of those, five are in the Lake Tahoe region, two in El Dorado Hills, and one each in Greater Placerville and the North County. The new cases are eight people aged 18-49, and one aged 50-64.

Another 382 tests were administered and 373 negative test results were received.

Currently there are 155 assumed active cases and 11 assumed recoveries.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It has been a wild two weeks for the Howard family, ever since ten-year-old Maeson entered the UC Davis Children’s Hospital with what appeared to be a COVID-19-releated multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), or Kawasaki disease.

Maeson Howard is on the road to recovery and back in his Christmas Valley home with his parents and sister.