campfire

Perched around a secluded campfire in the Rocky Mountains, Glenn Martin jerked forward, said, "Ow," and died. The wayward bullet that struck him in the national forest has campers and other users calling for changes in recreational shooting policy.

Martin, 60, died July 3 in the Pike & San Isabel National Forest, 30 miles southwest of Denver. The 3.1-million-acre forest holds the record for the most gun-related violations reported in the country, a review of federal records by the USA TODAY Media Network shows.

With the passing of the 4th of July we find ourselves right in the middle of summer here in the Tahoe Basin. Locals and visitors alike recreating in many different ways, from camping to mountain biking, to boating, Lake Tahoe has something for everyone. This summer and particularly this summer due to continued drought conditions, it is important to remember just how fragile the Tahoe Basin is, and that there is a persistent threat of wildfire. Everyone needs to take steps to ensure they are being fire smart in everything they do. Doing the right thing, the wrong way can start a wildfire.

With illegal and unattended campfires the cause of over 90% of wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin, new fire restrictions go into place on July 1, 2015. Campfires and charcoal barbecues will be restricted to designated recreation sites, and other fire-related activities are prohibited until the end of fire season.

“Increased fire danger due to the ongoing drought combined with warmer and dryer weather is a big concern for the basin," said U.S. Forest Service fire management officer, Kit Bailey. "Fire restrictions help reduce the possibility of human caused fires.”

An illegal campfire at Granite Lake in Desolation Wilderness started a wildfire on Tuesday according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). With the lack of a deep snowpack and high winds in the area this week, the fire could have easily spread had it not been for the quick response by USFS firefighters.

Illegal and unattended campfires cause over 90 percent of wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Fire managers are concerned about the impact from illegal campfires as we are in our fourth year of drought and forest conditions are already as dry as they would be in June.

Smokey Bear and the Tallac Hotshots teamed up with local South Lake Tahoe Cub Scout Pack 592 to teach them about campfire safety. The scouts and their parents learned how to safely prepare and extinguish a campfire. Several Tallac Hotshots were on hand to show the parents how to put out a campfire using the “Soak, Stir, Feel, Repeat” method. Learn more about campfire safety and help Smokey Bear prevent wildfires at http://www.smokeybear.com/campfire-safety.asp.

9/29/14 update: Heavy precipitation over the weekend allowed firefighters to achieve 90 percent containment of the Cascade Fire near Snow Lake in the Desolation Wilderness. Crews will begin repairing impacts from fire suppression activities and will monitor the fire to detect any renewed activity later this week due to drier, warmer and windier conditions.

Bayview Trailhead and Campground and TaylorCreek Sno-Park on Hwy. 89 have reopened. The cause of the 20-acre fire is under investigation, but it has been determined to be human-caused.

One of the largest fires in California history, as well as being one of the costliest, was started by an illegal campfire started by a bow hunter according to a federal grand jury indictment returned Thursday.

8/5/14 9:15 a.m. update: Rains in Northern California on Monday did little to penetrate the canopy of the raging fires according to Bald Fire Inicident Command, but the fire did burn less actively. As of Tuesday morning, the lightening caused fire has consumed 39,850 acres and is 30% contained. Nearly 1,000 fire fighters are on the fire.

The other large fire near the town of Burney, the Eiler Fire, is now 20% contained and it has burned 28,600 acres. The estimate date for full containment is August 20th and for the Bald Fire, August 17th.

The 402 square mile Rim Fire is now 100% contained, 69 days after it was started by an illegal campfire near Yosemite. The cost to put out this fire has cost $127.35 million to date, has destroyed 98 outbuildings, 11 homes and 3 businesses.

There are still 42 fire personnel on the scene to continue efforts to put out the fire. The potential for more growth is low and there is a 1000 acre pocket that still has the potential to burn.

UPDATE: Beginning Monday, July 1, fire restrictions will go into effect in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Campfires and charcoal barbecues will be restricted to designated recreation sites, and other fire-related activities will be prohibited until the end of fire season.

“Weather patterns this winter and spring are similar to conditions in 2007, the year of the Angora Fire,” said Fire Prevention Officer, Beth Brady. “Even with the rain we have received, at this point, it won’t alleviate this summer’s high risk of wildfires.”

We have had a strong start to 2013 in Lake Tahoe. Homes continue to sell at a strong pace and now the median price is starting to rise. With a continually reducing inventory of homes on the market and the interest rates still at an all time low, I believe we'll continue to see strong sales.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed Thursday a district court ruling upholding Lake Tahoe area environmental analysis for the Angora fire area fuels reduction project.
The Angora Restoration Project was designed to protect wildlife habitat as well as reduce long-term wildfire risk to Lake Tahoe area communities. Two environmental groups, Earth Island Institute and Center for Biological Diversity, tried to stop arguing it would harm the black-backed woodpecker.

With an extremely high threat of forest fire at Lake Tahoe and the Sierra this summer, Heavenly Mountain, Northstar California and Kirkwood resorts have put a number of precautionary measures in place, including banning all smoking on their respective mountains for the summer.

Fire restrictions for the Carson and Bridgeport districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will begin on Monday, June 18. The combination of a particularly dry winter and spring, parched vegetation, lingering drought conditions, increasing daytime temperatures, and recent human-caused fires forced the Forest Service to implement the conditions.

Update 12:22PM: A small brush fire on Cold Creek Trail in South Lake Tahoe is contained and burned about one-quarter of an acre, reports U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Cheva Heck. Fire personnel from Lake Valley Fire Protection District and South Lake Tahoe and U.S. Forest Service brought the fire to containment. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Heck said. Initial reports that came in said the fire started as a backyard burn pile.

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Douglas County sent out an update this morning on the TRE Fire, which they say is now 6,600 acres. They also believe the fire was caused by a private residential open burn.

Press release:

The fire has grown to 6,600 acres burned. 2 homes and 17 outbuildings have been reported damaged or burned from the fire. No personnel injuries have been reported or discovered.

Fire crews responded to two fires this afternoon, one near the boat ramp at Vikingsholm and the other in the Upper Echo Lakes area. Both fires were reportedly small and didn't pose immediate hazard.
A Lake Valley Fire Protection District captain said that crews were sent to the Vikingsholm fire at around 3 this afternoon after a power line went down. The status of the fire was it was about a 10 foot by 10 foot fire and was reportedly knocked down.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two 15-year-old boys who admitted setting a campfire that led to the 3,895-acre Ray May fire in the Pine Nut Mountains were ordered Tuesday to perform 500 hours of commun...

MINDEN, Nev. - Two 15-year-old boys admitted to setting the campfire that eventually sparked the 3,895-acre Ray May fire that threatened homes in the Pine Nut Mountains.Both boys appeared in Dou...