south lake tahoe fire rescue

The driver of a Pontiac Grand Am was unharmed after his car caught on fire in the Sierra Tract neighborhood Tuesday afternoon.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue responded to the call near the corner of Reno and Osborne streets at 1:15 p.m. Upon arrival they found flames coming from the car's engine. The driver has been heading down the street when he noticed smoke coming from the engine and pulled over.

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from January 9 - January 31 , 2017.

1/9: 9 calls: 5 EMS, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 public service call, 2 no incidents found

1/10: 19 calls: 8 EMS, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 CO detector deactivation, 1 lock out, 4 power lines down, 1 no incident found, 2 public service calls, 1 building fire

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) had their annual awards ceremony on Friday January 27 to celebrate their accomplishments in 2016 and honor staff and volunteers.

Firefighter of the Year - Brenan Davis
Paramedic of the Year - Kim George
STAT Volunteer of the Year -JoAnn Conner
Dispatcher of the Year - Melissa Dube
Citizen's Award - Jack Francis

Fire Chief Jeff Meston's Meritorious Awards went to Tyler Jack for his work on the department's social media accounts and to the City's Press Information Officer Tracy Franklin.

The historic building that housed a liquor store and other businesses in South Lake Tahoe suffered significant damage after a heavy snow load contributed to the collapse of the building's roof early Monday morning.

Two South Shore fires and one near the Strawberry Lodge kept crews from Lake Valley Fire Department (LVFD) busy this week.

On Tuesday about 11:30 a.m., a home on Alice Lake Road in the Montgomery Estates neighborhood suffered smoke damage after a fire started in the garage. The fire started in the garage near the furnace and hot water heater and flames were contained to the garage.

LVFD was assisted by South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue has had a very busy week, from battling flooded streets, homes, businesses, downed power lines, fallen trees, stuck cars, collisions and even a house fire.

South Lake Tahoe has just two fire engine companies, so 35 calls in one day would keep a department three times as big very busy.

A fire broke out in a furnace room at the South Lake Tahoe TJ Maxx store just before 7:00 p.m. Monday night, resulting in the store filling up with smoke and water.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue personnel responded, and found the store's sprinkler system was able to keep the fire from spreading and it was contained to the one room.

The furnace was located above the store's dressing rooms. With all of the water used to put out the fire, the ceiling collapsed and created quite a mess in that portion of the store.

12/27/16 update 11:45 a.m. - Pioneer Trail in South Lake Tahoe reopened and the water was turned back on at 1:00 a.m. this morning after a car struct a fire hydrant on Frontier Court Monday evening.

South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) was at the scene until 3:00 a.m.

A 32-year-old man was killed Saturday, December 10, 2016 after being struck by a car as he ran across Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe near the Town and Country Center.

At approximately 11:23 p.m., officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) responded to the vehicle versus pedestrian call.

8:00 p.m.update 12/7/16: South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue has ended their command at the 10th street apartments that suffered major damage in a blaze earlier today. The loss is estimated to be $250,000.

The unit where the fire started is uninhabitable, upper units received some water and heat damage as the fire spread up to the second floor by lapping up the outside of the structure. The fire did not extend into the attic space.

Red Cross is helping the fire victims with temporary housing.

South Lake Tahoe firefighters responded to the Happy Homestead Cemetery on Johnson Blvd. Wednesday evening to put out a fire that started in the bed of an older model Ford truck. Crews quickly extinguished the flames.

No injuries were reported.

The fire is under investigation according to SLT Fire Rescue and amount of damage has not been reported as of yet.

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from October 12 to November 8, 2016.

10/12/16: 11 calls: 4 EMS, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 woodland fire, 2 water or steam leak, 1 no incident found, 1 smoke scare/odor of smoke, 1 CO detector activation

10/13/16: 11 calls: 5 EMS, 1 police matter, 1 call to assist invalid, 1 smoke detector activation-no fire, 1 good intent call, 1 canceled en route, 1 interfacility transfer

For the Halloween season, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is reminding parents and children of some lifesaving hints when planning costumes and a special day of trick-or-treating.

When buying costumes for Halloween:

Check the labels and make sure they are made of flame retardant materials.

Materials made of 100% Polyester are best suited for a Halloween costume.

The use of commercial flame retardant sprays is not recommended.

Avoid Halloween costumes that are loose or baggy to prevent fabric from coming in contact with any open flames.

On Halloween:

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from October 1 - 11, 2016.

10/1/16: 10 calls - 5 EMS, 1 interfacility psych transfer, 1 person in distress, 2 illegal attempts to burn, 1 alarm sounded - no fire

10/2/16: 7 calls - 3 EMS, 1 building fire, 1 vehicle accident with injuries, 1 interfacility psych transfer, 1 chimney or flue fire

10/3/16: 8 calls - 4 EMS, 2 interfacility transfers, 1 gas leak, 1 good intent call

10/4/16: 7 calls - 5 EMS, 1 no incidents found upon arrival

One man was transported to Barton Hospital Sunday morning after the motorcycle he was on collided with a Chevy Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe.

Personnel from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) responded to a call that came in at 10:19 a.m. on October 2 on Highway 50 between the Raley's shopping center and Mc Donalds.

There have been two more small fires around South Lake Tahoe in the last four days, the most recent Tuesday night.

On Saturday, September 24 at 6:30 p.m. there was a small wildfire on National Forest land off Park Avenue. It was approximately 20 feet by 20 feet and the cause is under investigation.

Tuesday, September 27, there was a small wildfire near the same location reported at 10 p.m. It was approximately 50 feet by 50 feet and also remains under investigation.

I was invited to take part in training with South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue in the demonstration fire trailer on Tuesday, an experience I won't soon forget, even though the temperatures I experienced were far below that of a real fire.

As I put on my fire pants, jacket, boots and head gear, my respect for firefighters instantly grew (even though it was already high on the scale). The heavy clothing protected my skin and clothing as I was exposed to 500 degrees, something most of us will never feel.

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from September 1 to 7, 2016.

9/1/16 - 8 calls: 4 EMS, 1 interfacility transfer, 2 public service, 1 smoke detector activation

9/2/16 - 10 calls: 3 EMS, 2 assist invalid, 2 wildland fires, 1 canceled en route, 1 alarm activation - no fire, 1 vehicle accident no fire

9/3/16 - 14 calls: 6 EMS, 2 interfacility transfers, 1 smoke detector activation - no fire, 1 power line down, 1 water problem, 2 unauthorized burning, 1 brush fire

A Cesna 182 airplane with two people on board crashed as it was landing at the airport in South Lake Tahoe Monday afternoon at 1:22 p.m.

Numerous agencies, including South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Police Departments and the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, all responded.

One person was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries according to the SLTFR. The names, ages and hometown of those on board are not known at this time. People inside the Flight Deck restaurant were waiting for the people on board to arrive and immediately rushed to the scene according to bystanders.

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from August 26 to August 31, 2016.

8/26/16- 13 Calls: 7 EMS, 2 interfacility transfers, 1 good intent call, 1 alarm sounded - no fire, 1 vehicle accident with injuries, 1 medical assist

8/27/16- 14 Calls: 9 EMS, 1 detector activation-no fire, 1 smoke detector malfunction, 1 heat detector malfunction, 1 no incident found, 1 interfacility transfer

8/28/16- 7 Calls: 4 EMS, 1 canceled en route, 1 passenger vehicle fire, 1 interfacility transfer

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from August 19 to August 25, 2016.

8/19/16: 17 calls: 8 EMS, 1 interfacility transfer, 3 dispatch errors, 1 vehicle accident with injuries, 3 canceled en route, 1 public service assist

8/20/16: 14 calls: 8 EMS, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 smoke scare/odor of smoke, 1 gasoline spill, 3 canceled en route

8/21/16: 12 calls: 4 EMS, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 interfacility psych transfer, 3 dispatch error, 1 vehicle accident no injuries, 1 false alarm, 1 alarm sounded-no fire

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from August 1 to August 10, 2016.

8/1/16: 15 calls - 6 EMS, 2 interfacility transfers, 1 ring or jewelry removal, 1 public service, 1 wildland fire, 1 arcing or shorted electrical equipment, 2 no incidents found, 1 unauthorized burning

8/2/16: 8 calls - 1 EMS, 1 carbon monoxide detector activation, 1 medical assist, 1 good intent call, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 citizen complaint, 1 call to assist invalid, 1 barbeque, tar kettle issue

8/3/16: 6 calls - 6 EMS

The following are incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue department responded to from July 13 to July 31, 2016.

7/13 - 14 calls: 9 EMS, 1 psych interfacility transfer, 3 smoke scare/smell of smoke, 1 canceled en route.

7/14 - 11 calls: 7 EMS, 1 public service call, 2 interfacility transfers, 1 no incident found.

7/15 - 8 calls: 5 EMS, 2 interfacility transfer, 1 smoke detector malfunction.

7/16 - 17 calls: 14 EMS, 1 citizen complaint, 1 interfacility transfer, 1 canceled en route.

7/17 - 10 calls: 8 EMS, 1 grass fire at rear of 1030 Al Tahoe Blvd, 1 canceled en route.

1:30 p.m. 7/20/16 update: The man who died while kayaking in Lake Tahoe on Tuesday has been identified as 43-year-old Paul Anthony Aguirre of Rio Linda, Calif. Aguirre was in South Lake Tahoe with his family, his fiancée, and his fiancée's family.

Aguirre had been paddling in a privately owned kayak in the area of El Dorado Beach when family members lost sight of him and a call went out for help at 4:49 p.m.

The victim was located at the water’s surface, approximately 300 yards off of the shoreline of El Dorado Beach, where the depth was approximately 10 feet.