Dozens of Skyland residents evacuated during fire drill

Every year, South Lake Tahoe fire agencies prepare to fight fires around the basin but they rarely get to practice evacuations of residents.

That opportunity came on Monday when the Tahoe Douglas Fire District and Skyland Fire Adapted Community executed an inter-agency wildfire evacuation drill in the Skyland neighborhood.

The drill simulated a real evacuation event to give residents the opportunity to practice evacuating from their homes and getting to the designated safe zone.

At 10:30 a.m., the drill started when a call about a fire came into dispatch. Once the first engine responded to assess the situation, a reverse 911 call to Skyland residents was activated. Nevada Highway Patrol and Douglas County Sheriffs responded and went door to door, knocked on doors and told people to evacuate. Once law enforcement went to the home they tagged the door with either a green or red tag; green meaning the occupants were evacuated and red mean they were still in the home.

As part of the drill, white cloths were placed at a few chosen homes to represent fire. Firemen then "put out the fire" at those homes.

"The drill is going well," said Tahoe Douglas Fire Marshal Eric Guevin. "Reverse 911 worked."

Guevin said of the 200 residents in Skyland, over 40 chose to participate in the drill. "We had two residents who needed help getting into their vehicles," Guevin added."

Fire trucks and crews from Lake Valley Fire, South Lake Tahoe Fire, Cal Fire, Forest Service and Fallen Leaf Lake Fire all joined Tahoe Douglas Fire Department in the drill.

At Zephyr Cove Park there was an evacuation center set up. Here, residents signed in and provided their contact information which is what they would do in the case of a real fire. Members of the Douglas County Emergency Response teams were at the site, helping residents.

Informational booths were set up by NV Energy, Lake Tahoe Humane Society, Southwest Gas and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). Here, residents learned valuable information about disasters.

As residents were being evacuated they had to go from room to room in the homes to figure out what to save. "It was eerie going through the home," said Kate Warner, Tahoe Douglas Fire Office Manager and Skyland resident. "How do you evaluate what to take?"

All Douglas County residents can take part in the free 21-hour CERT training. They'll be trained on preparing themselves and family for a major disaster. There are currently three such teams in the county, but all in the valley. Besides being trained, all participants received a bag full of items to be used in a disaster. Contact Ronna Hubbard, CERT Coordinator if interested at 775-790-2019/dccertcoordinator@gmail.com.

Southwest Gas informed residents of what they do with gas in case of fire. The main line will be shut off, then crews will go home to home an shut off the individuals meters. Once the emergency passes, crews will then go back to each home when residents are there to turn gas back on.

NVEnergy said they won't shut off each home's power but are there to restore power (and rebuild poles and lines if necessary).

The Humane Society had their pet emergency kits to hand out to those interested. In the case of a fire they would show up with their trailers to aid in animal evacuation.

The drill will serve to remind all residents that in the event of a wildfire, if the situation permits, they should make certain all windows and doors are tightly closed as embers can enter the home though small openings. Turn on all lights so firefighters can see inside your home. Close all interior doors. Remove lightweight curtains and drapes as they may catch fire from radiated heat. Put all patio flammable furniture inside the home; the cushions can catch fire and start the home on fire. Open the gates to fences attached to the home; the opening will act as a firebreak.