Latest Stories
Evacuation orders lifted in many areas of Tamarack Fire - some roads remain closed
Submitted by paula on Sun, 07/25/2021 - 1:13pmEvacuations for the Topaz Ranch Estates and Topaz Lake lifted at 2:00 p.m. today, July 25, residents are allowed to return to their homes. Non-mandatory evacuations remain in place for the Holbrook Junction/Highlands area and Spring Valley areas.
Tamarack fire at 27% containment, 66744 acres burn. Escorts into evacuated area Sunday
Submitted by paula on Sun, 07/25/2021 - 8:51amNew mapping of the Tamarack Fire was done overnight, and it is now measured at 66,744 acres and is 27 percent contained. 1,557 personnel are on the fire that originally started on July 4. Estimated complete containment date is August 31.
Smoke from the 190,625 acre Dixie Fire north of Lake Tahoe has moved into our area and may affect air quality and visibility, thus preventing some water and retardant drops from the air.
Bliss Experiences opens in South Lake Tahoe with unique retreats, wellbeing activities and yoga
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/24/2021 - 9:28pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Bliss Experiences is taking the yoga experience to the next level and have opened in the Tahoe Village/Crescent V Plaza in South Lake Tahoe. The have created custom curated experiences for renewal and reconnection through adventures, workshops, lectures, and guided explorations All are led by Lake Tahoe area professionals and small business owners sharing their passions and love for self-care and the great outdoors.
Column: Five facts you may not know about skin cancer
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/24/2021 - 9:08pmYour skin has many important jobs, such as protecting your body, helping to maintain your temperature, and generating vitamin D. Yet sometimes your skin doesn’t get the care and protection it needs.
While some sun exposure helps the body make vitamin D and improve your mood, more than a small amount can damage skin cells and lead to skin cancer.
Consider these lesser known facts about skin cancer:
Lake Tahoe area roadwork July 25 - 31, 2021
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/24/2021 - 8:47pmSeveral different agencies have roadwork projects around the Lake Tahoe Basin from spring to fall. Each week we publish projects planned by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the County of El Dorado, and the City of South Lake Tahoe.
CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
Lake Tahoe Boulevard from Viking Way to the Y Intersection - Work begins July 14 and goes through mid-August.
Pioneer Trail from the intersection of Pioneer Trail and Black Bart Avenue to Blackwood Road - July 26-end of August
Tahoe Art's Project's Music on the Beach returns
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/24/2021 - 7:25pmEvent Date:
August 19, 2021 - 6:00pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Tahoe Arts Project's Music on the Beach fundraiser is back! This year it will be held on Thursday, August 19 at Lakeshore Lodge and Spa. Niall McGuiness, the New World Project and the Wesley Orsolic Band will perform on the scenic shores of Lake Tahoe.
The doors open at 6:00 p.m., music from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. A suggested donation of $20 covers entry and one raffle ticket. Bring low back chairs, food and drink.
All proceeds benefit arts education to the children in the community.
Douglas County assembles Tamarack Fire assessment team
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/24/2021 - 2:51pmDOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County is currently conducting preliminary exterior damage assessments of structures including homes, outbuildings, wellhouses and barns in areas where fire activity has been observed.
All evacuations for Douglas County remain in place and US395 remains closed for public safety concerns. A preliminary survey of the area south of Leviathan Mine Road determined that 13 structures have been damaged or lost.
Alpine County Sheriff lifts evacuation order for Mesa Vista
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/24/2021 - 2:23pmThe Alpine County Sheriff's Office has removed the mandatory evacuation order for Mesa Vista.
Residents must have proof of residence such as identification or utility bill. Either must show the residence address to bypass the road closure. SR88 will remain closed and only residents from the Mesa Vista area may enter.
Those re-entering are urged to use caution and to not leave residences except for necessities. Additional evacuations are possible due to fire activity.
Road Closures
Highway 88 is closed from the Nevada state line to Pickets Junction
Saturday Tamarack Fire update: Now at 65,152 acres, remains 4% contained
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/24/2021 - 6:45amThe Tamarack Fire that starts in Alpine County on July 4 is now 65,152 acres and remains at 4 percent contained.
Firefighters working on the fire that has now spread to east of US-395 expect extreme fire behavior on very dry terrain. If the smoke and conditions allow, fire attack will continue including the arrival of two "Super Scoopers." Their plan:
Branch I - Hold fire south of China Spring. Secure Hwy 395 slopover. Secure structures along Hwy 395, Topaz Ranch Estates, and Smith Valley.
Two more deaths from COVID-19 in El Dorado County, cases continue upward trend
Submitted by paula on Fri, 07/23/2021 - 11:08pmEL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Since July 13 there have been 237 new cases of COVID-19 in El Dorado County and two new deaths. If the State of California that would put the region in the red tier and close to the very restrictive purple tier in place in November, 2020.
Cases since July 13, 2021:
Pollock Pines, Camino, Kyburz - 559 cases - +14 - The 14-day new case rate is 17 with 125 per 100,000 residents.
El Dorado Hills - 2395 cases - +56 - The 14-day new case rate is 67 with 158 per 100,000 residents.
Next Coffee with the Mayor to focus on fire safety, emergency preparedness
Submitted by paula on Fri, 07/23/2021 - 9:03pmEvent Date:
July 28, 2021 - 9:00am
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The second Coffee with the Mayor will be held on Wednesday, July 28 at 9:00 a.m. at Fire Station #2.
Mayor Wallace will join South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Chief Clive Savacool and other local and federal agency representatives to discuss wildfire preparedness, defensible space and Reverse 911 notification systems.
The public is invited.
Fire Station #2 is located across from South Tahoe Middle School at 2951 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.
Mobile vaccine van in South Lake Tahoe this weekend
Submitted by paula on Fri, 07/23/2021 - 5:12pmEvent Date:
Repeats every day until Sun Jul 25 2021 .
July 24, 2021 (All day)
July 25, 2021 (All day)
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The State of California's mobile COVID-19 vaccine van will be in South Lake Tahoe at the Lake Tahoe Community College, One College Drive.
Vaccines will be given at Lake Tahoe Community College on Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The will be administering both the J & J and Pfizer vaccines.
Column: Safely exploring Lake Tahoe's shoreline
Submitted by paula on Fri, 07/23/2021 - 4:25pmLake Tahoe’s sunny days and 72-miles of shoreline offer the perfect summer playground. Spending time outdoors can have many health benefits, and movement in the water can provide physical benefits. Water activities are also calorie-burners and can help you tone up, unconventionally.
One of the most peaceful ways to experience the lake is to paddle. Kayaking and paddleboarding engage your core and, depending on your fitness level and exertion, can get your heart pumping. Boats and boards can be launched on most public shorelines, and rental shop options are abundant.
One dies, five injured in three-car collision on Echo Summit
Submitted by paula on Fri, 07/23/2021 - 3:52pmUPDATE 7.27.21: The deceased woman has been identified as Ms. Meriem Amimi out of Sparks, Nev.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - One person died and several suffered major injuries in a three-vehicle head-on collision on Echo Summit Thursday that closed lanes of the highway for over two hours.
At 5:14 p.m. July 22, 2021, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) was called to US50 east of Tamarack Pines Road. They found one car in two pieces, one vehicle on fire, and several injuries.
Douglas County declares state of emergency as Tamarack Fire grows to over 59,000 acres
Submitted by paula on Fri, 07/23/2021 - 11:45am9:30PM UPDATE: More firefighting resources are headed to the Tamarack Fire including two "Super Scoopers" that can pull out 1,600 gallons of water from lakes in just 20 seconds. There are now 1,425 personnel assigned to the fire.
Sample the Sierra farm-to-fork festival returns to South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Fri, 07/23/2021 - 6:54amSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Sample the Sierra returns in 2021 and the farm-to-fork festival will be held at Bijou Community Park in South Lake Tahoe Sept. 18 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The 12th anniversary of the popular foodie even will feature regional cuisine, wines, spirits, beers along with artisans and live music.
Interactive map created for Tamarack Fire
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 9:08pmHumboldt-Toiyable National Forest officials have created an interactive map to help the public better understand where they are in proximity to the perimeter of the Tamarack Fire, or if they are in an evacuation zone.
The map will be updated once or twice a day or as the perimeter changes, but is not in real time.
The map display can be adjusted by toggling on and off layers located to the left of the map. You can also use the search bar to enter a specific address and the ruler to measure from that location to the edge of the fire.
Fundraising campaign started for South Lake Tahoe with brain tumor
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 8:31pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Fundraising is underway for a South Lake Tahoe woman who is facing surgery and recovery of a brain tumor. Two weeks ago, Heidi Munnecke had an MRI after ignoring symptoms for a long time that she wrote off to stress.
The MRI showed a meningioma and met with Dr. Yu at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and they decided on surgery to remove the tumor, which was successfully done on July 21.
Many know Heidi as a realtor, first with Century 21 and currently with ReMax, specializing in real estate in South Lake Tahoe and the American River Canyon.
Live at Lakeview starts August 5 with Boot Juice and Preacher’s Pickers
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 12:59pmEvent Date:
August 5, 2021 - 4:30pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The ninth season of the Live at Lakeview Summer Music Series will start on Thursday, August 5 at 4:30 p.m. After a year hiatus due to the pandemic, the popular event at Lakeview Commons will host five Thursday evenings of music through September 2.
The weekly even is possible due to a partnership with the City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Wellness Center, and On Course Events.
City of South Lake Tahoe opens survey for whole South Shore on how to spend $5.3M in ARPA grants
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 12:20pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe has launched its participatory budget survey to assess community priorities in identifying which of 20 proposed projects should be funded by $5.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants. During the last "Community Conversation," department heads unveiled the projects they'd each like to see completed with this funding.
Caltrans reminds public of overnight controlled traffic on SR-28 in Tahoe City next week
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 11:39amCaltrans is alerting motorists to scheduled overnight utility work on State Route 28 (SR-28) in Tahoe City, requiring one-way traffic control next week.
Caltrans will be digging holes to locate underground utilities along the highway shoulders ahead of future SR-28 roadway improvements. The utility work is scheduled nightly Monday, July 26 through Friday, July 30 between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A one-mile section of SR-28, from the SR-89 South/SR-89 West Shore separations to the Tahoe State Recreation Area Campground, will be under one-way traffic control during work periods.
Road Beat: Tested - 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge is a Super Swede
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 11:30amThis expensive plug-in hybrid SUV from Volvo is more Crate & Barrel than Ikea. Luxury and Volvo are historically not what people associate together. Safety is what comes to the minds of many first, with their indestructible station wagons from the 80s and 90s. An 'old-person's car' is another that might be thought of, unfortunately, but Volvo wants to change that with the swag and vigor infused into their current lineup.
Tamarack Fire over 50,000 acres but firefighters gain 4% containment
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/22/2021 - 10:35am5:30PM UPDATE: The spot fire east of Hwy 395 near Holbrook Junction has been growing rapidly despite firefighters’ diligent efforts to contain it. Aerial resources estimated the spot at about 2,500 acres as of 4:10 p.m. Firefighters on the ground and aircraft continue to battle the growing spot under exceptionally difficult weather and fuel conditions.
4:10PM UPDATE: The Tamarack Fire has jumped US395. Evacuations have been issued for all residents in the Topaz Ranch Estates and Topaz Lake areas. All residents are being asked to evacuate to Smith Valley High School.
Voluntary evacuations issued for Topaz Lake and Topaz Lake Estates
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 10:13pmDOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Voluntary evacuations have been issued for all residents in the Topaz Ranch Estates and Topaz Lake areas due to the Tamarack Fire that led to the closure of US395 Wednesday.
All residents are being asked to evacuate to Smith Valley High School.
Emergency warnings are being sent to cell phones followed by emergency personnel directing evacuations. Highway 395 is now closed from China Springs Rd. to the NV/CA state line, and at 395 and SR208.
The TRE evacuation center is being closed due to the fire. There is a new Evacuation location set up at:
Three years and 5,000 hours of volunteer work create Stanford Rock Trail at Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 10:04pmLAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Three years of hard work creating more than five miles of hand-built singletrak trail construction has paid off with the completion of the Stanford Rock Trail on the Lake Tahoe West Shore.
Through a partnership between Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) and and the U.S. Forest Service, the project was completed yielding over 2,200 feet of elevation gain, and increases trail access for non-motorized users including mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians alike, who seek to enjoy the beauty of Lake Tahoe.
Ice machine returned to the American Legion in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 9:29pm8:30AM UPDATE: Someone thinking the ice machine was junk left outside took it. but has returned the ice machine.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Thieves visited the American Legion Post 795 on Wednesday, stealing their commercial ice machine between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
The Manitowoc ice machine is heavy, and is stainless steel with a large black hood cover. It had been placed behind the legion building at 2748 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.
Tamarack Fire not only one in area being fought by firefighters
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 9:07pmThe Summit Fire is one of several lightning ignited fires associated with recent thunderstorms in the central Sierra Nevada. The fire is burning in the Mokelumne Wilderness on the Eldorado National Forest in remote, steep terrain. An aggressive full suppression strategy is being used due to extreme drought conditions, and the extensive values at risk in the area.
It started on July 20 at about noon and has burned 16 acres. One hundred personnel are assigned to the fire that is burning three miles south of Kirkwood.
Whittell grad featured on new season of NBC's "Making It"
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 6:56pmNBC’s show “Making It” is bringing creativity to television with a fantastic batch of Makers in a fun and lighthearted competition for the third summer. This season, 2010 George Whittell High School graduate Adam Kingman is part of the show that airs every Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
Tamarack Fire grows to 43,900 acres - evacuations and road closures in place
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 6:15pmALPINE COUNTY, Calif./DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Tamarack Fire continues to burn south of Lake Tahoe in the Markleeville and Woodfords areas. It has crossed into Nevada and heading toward US395. The highway is now closed between SR 208 and China Springs Road in Douglas County. The fire is still south of the CA-88 road and west of the CA-89 road. Crews will continue to work in this area to keep the fire from crossing the road.
So far, 43,900 acres have burned since the fire started July 4.
South Tahoe High grad returns as new football coach
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/21/2021 - 1:54pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - From the gridiron at South Tahoe High School (STHS) and Boise State, then through the ranks of coaching football at NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA, Junior College, and High School Jeffrey Cheek is returning home.
The 1996 STHS graduate has been hired as his alma mater's new football coach.
Jeffry Cheek knows football.
The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) made the announcement Wednesday after a search to replace Louis Franklin who left the District to work in Clovis, California.
Water main project in Tahoe Sierra; Do not use water while crews flush water mains
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 9:04pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The South Tahoe Public Utility District will be flushing water mains in the Tahoe Sierra neighborhood between July 26 – August 6, 2021. The District recommends residents not use water while the District is flushing the waterline on their street, as the water may be
cloudy or discolored. District staff will distribute door hangers one to two business days before the work is planned and will knock on doors the day the work will occur.
Voluntary evacuations issued for Holbrook Junction and Leviathan Mine Road areas
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 8:02pmDOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Voluntary evacuations have been issued for all residents in Leviathan Mine Riad and Holbrook Junction areas. All residents can utilize the Topaz Ranch Estates (TRE) Community Center as an evacuation site.
Emergency warnings are being sent to cell phones followed by emergency personnel warnings.
The evacuation location for livestock:
State Routes 88 and 89 remain closed near Tamarack Fire
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 3:54pmRoads in and near the Tamarack Fire area are closed due to the wildfire and possible expansion of evacuation zones.
As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, State Route 88 is closed from Pickett's Junction to the Nevada state line, and State Route 89 is closed from the junction of State Route 88 to the junction of State Route 4.
Closures can change at any time so it is best to keep informed. For California roads, visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ and in Nevada, https://nvroads.com/.]
TRPA Board to vote on updating rules to allow ADUs and other affordable housing initiatives
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 3:02pmLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Updated rules and the removal of some barriers that prevent more affordable housing will be considered for adoption at the next meeting of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Board on July 29, 2021.
The Lake Tahoe Regional Plan amendments being considered are an initial outcome of the housing initiative TRPA launched last year and include updates intended to remove barriers to creating accessory dwelling units (ADUs), such as adding mother-in-law units on single-family parcels, or re-purposing existing space as an independent living area.
New fire restrictions in South Lake Tahoe - no charcoal, no wood until further notice
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 2:38pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to current conditions and the Tamarack Fire burning out of control not far away, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Chief Clive Savacool has ordered new fire restrictions for within the city limits until further notice. This order starts at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
NO- Charcoal BBQs
NO- Pellet BBQs
NO- Wood fires,INCLUDING THE CAMPGROUND
YES- Propane Fire pits and grills
YES- Liquid petroleum or gas camp stoves.
Should it be a Red Flag Warning event, all sources of flame including gas is banned.
A Picnic with Mark Twain at Sugar Pine Point
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 12:25pmEvent Date:
August 6, 2021 - 5:00pm
TAHOMA, Calif. – The Sierra State Parks Foundation (SSPF), the local nonprofit park partner, will host a “Picnic with Mark Twain” at Sugar Pine Point State Park located at 7595 Hwy 89 in Tahoma, Calif., on August 6. Join the SSPF and MacAvoy Lane as Mark Twain for this evening of magical story telling. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Douglas County officials ask residents to prepare for evacuation in some neighborhoods
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 12:13pmDOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County is asking the following communities to be on the alert and start preparing for potential evacuations. Evacuations HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED AT THIS TIME, in Douglas County, however there is potential for the Tamarack Fire to reach the following communities.
• Fredricksburg Rd.
• Foothill to Centerville Rd.
• Holbrook
• Double Spring
• Ruhenstroth
• Leviathan Mine
• Pineview Estates
• China Springs
New command takes over at Tamarack Fire - No containment, 39, 045 acres burn
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 11:56am6:00PM UPDATE: Woodfords, Markleeville and Mesa Vista continued to be evacuated. Conditions over the fire continue to be drier and hotter than normal this time of year with a mass of unstable air, creating acceleration of the Tamarack Fire.
Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care opens Outdoor Learning Center - weekly events planned
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/19/2021 - 10:40amSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Long before Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) broke ground on its new facility on Al Tahoe Boulevard an outdoor learning center was planned.
That has now become a reality thanks to Tahoe Fund donors including the Mathman Family and a matching donation from Tahoe Blue Vodka.
Precautionary boil water order for East Valley Water System customers in Douglas County
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/19/2021 - 9:41amDOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for the East Valley Water System in the Skyline Service Area, effective Immediately. This precautionary boil water notice is being issued due to a loss of pressure in the Skyline service area. You may experience low water pressure but the water supply is not being shut off. Do not drink the water without boiling it first. Bring all water to a boil for two minutes and let it cool before using or use bottled water.
Over 39,000 acres burned in Tamarack Fire, no containment at this time
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/19/2021 - 9:24am9:00PM UPDATE: The Tamarack Fire has now burned through 39,045 acres and is 0 percent contained. There has been extreme fire behavior in the form of crowning, spotting and surface runs along active perimeter of the fire. Fire is burning in mixed conifer, heavy mountain brush/grass, sage and juniper.
There are currently 796 personnel working on the fire.
The fire has reached the East Fork Fire burn scar.
Power outage in Al Tahoe neighborhood
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/19/2021 - 8:52am10:00AM UDPATE: Power has been restored in South Lake Tahoe.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is currently a power outage in the Al Tahoe neighborhood and surrounding area in South Lake Tahoe.
Liberty Utilities is reporting 2,471 customers are without electricity and their estimate for restoration is 12:06 p.m. At this time the cause is unknown.
Half of Liberty customers in the Tamarack Fire area have had their power restored and they are working with fire command on the rest of the customers, 329 homes.
Go Fund Me account set up for second Markleeville family to lose everything in Tamarack Fire
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/19/2021 - 8:29amA Go Fund Me account has set up for a Markleeville family who lost their home in the Tamarack Fire.
The Galvez family of five was able to grab a few items of clothing and some family photos before evacuating. Their daughter Elissa Galvez started the fundraiser for her mother, father and three siblings who are ages 12, 14 and 16.
"Their house, my childhood home, has been destroyed in the Tamarack Fire near Markleeville," said Elissa. "As of this morning July 18, the house was burnt to the ground with almost everything inside."
South Lake Tahoe forecast: Haze, chance of thunderstorms and zephyr winds this week
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/19/2021 - 7:31amSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Smoke and haze from the Tamarack and Dixie fires will produce areas of reduced visibility and air quality in western Nevada and the Sierra. Thunderstorms today may be strong with heavy rain, hail, gusty outflow winds and possible flooding. Thunderstorm chances decrease Tuesday onward, but could return next weekend. Seasonable summer temperatures continue through the week with typical afternoon breezes.
The pattern for the remainder of the week will feature typical mid/late July heat through next weekend. Typical afternoon zephyr breezes will prevail each day.
Go Fund Me account set up for Markleeville family who lost everything in Tamarack Fire
Submitted by paula on Sun, 07/18/2021 - 8:39pmDuring the afternoon of July 16, with the Tamarack Fire growing quickly and bearing down on their neighborhood, Chris and Marshauna Mikelionis and their two young children packed up in the car and fled.
The following morning they saw a video of the fire on television and found out the hard way that they lost their home, its contents, and a vehicle to the Tamarack fire.
Chris is a Tahoe area musician who supports his family playing music. He has lost the majority of his instruments.
Air quality in South Lake Tahoe ranges from good to very unhealthy due to Tamarack Fire
Submitted by paula on Sun, 07/18/2021 - 8:14pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The winds pushed smoke from the Tamarack Fire into the Lake Tahoe Basin on Sunday afternoon, bringing unhealthy air quality to many on the South Shore.
As of 8:30 p.m., the reporting IQ Air stations showed a wide variety of readings from the "good" range in Meyers to pockets of "very unhealthy" through South Lake Tahoe and Stateline/Kingsbury.
For up-to-the-minute recordings, visit https://www.iqair.com/us/.
Green - Good - 0 to 50 - Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
South Lake Tahoe issues 48-hour fire ban in city limits
Submitted by paula on Sun, 07/18/2021 - 3:24pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City of South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Clive Savacool has instituted a 48-hour burn ban effective immediately in the city limits.
In addition to existing fire restrictions, all outdoor cooking and any outdoor burning – from any source, in any location – is strictly prohibited through Tuesday, July 20 at 3:00 p.m.
This information is current as of 3:00 p.m., July 18 and may change as the situation warrants.
Those living in other areas of the Lake Tahoe Basin are under different rules, though all outdoor burning is not allowed.
Over 700 kids signed up for South Lake Tahoe AYSO
Submitted by paula on Sun, 07/18/2021 - 3:03pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The board of South Lake Tahoe AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) is thanking the community for their support of the program. There are over 700 kids from ages 3-17 signed up to play soccer this fall.
Coach Administrator Kelly Meyer said they've never had enough volunteers step up to coach the kids this early, saying it is a great reflection of the community and the unity in South Lake Tahoe.
Tamarack Fire mapped at almost 19,000 acres, some evacuation orders still in place
Submitted by paula on Sun, 07/18/2021 - 9:21am11:00PM UPDATE: The Tamarack fire is estimated at 18,299 acres according to the nightly update on Inciweb by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, with no containment. Earlier in the day, people speaking at a press conference at the Douglas County Senior Center reported 26,000 acres had burned. An infrared-equipped plane is scheduled to fly the fire overnight, to provide more accurate information about the fire’s size and location.
Lake Tahoe area roadwork through July 18 - 24
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/17/2021 - 10:52pmSeveral different agencies have roadwork projects around the Lake Tahoe Basin from spring to fall. Each week we publish projects planned by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the County of El Dorado, and the City of South Lake Tahoe.
CITY OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
Lake Tahoe Boulevard from Viking Way to the Y Intersection - Work begins July 14 and goes through mid-August.
CALTRANS - Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County
LONG-TERM PROJECTS