us forest service

South Tahoe Now, the US Forest Service and the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team communicate to the public whenever there is a prescribed burn operation planned for the Lake Tahoe Basin. Spotting smoke can always be a concern so its helpful to stay informed when prescribed fire operations are underway.

6:00 p.m. Update - The Thunder Fire is contained and is in mop-up status thanks to a quick response by local, state and federal firefighters. No structures were threatened and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Note: Mop-up means to extinguish or remove burning material near control lines, fell snags, and trench logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to make a fire safe, or to reduce residual smoke.

The US Forest Service has extended its emergency fire restrictions across all National Forest lands in California. This involves all USFS land in the Lake Tahoe Basin on both sides of the state line.

Smoking and all recreational fires, including campfires, bonfires, warming fires, wood fires, charcoal fires, or any other kind of outdoor fires, involving solid fuels are prohibited.

With the ongoing threat of wildfire and a very dry season, the danger of fire remains too high to allow recreational fires.

The USFS regional emergency closures have created a lot of questions from forest recreational users. Here are the frequently asked questions (FAQ) provided by the Forest Service:

Q) Is there an imminent threat of fire, are we in immediate danger?

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - In a unified move, all fire agencies around the Lake Tahoe Basin have banned all open burning utilizing wood and charcoal for the remainder of the summer, or longer if needed. This includes campgrounds with fire rings, fire pits at homes and all charcoal barbeques whether at home or at public and private facilities.

The suspension takes effect at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2020 and will be enforced with extinguishment and possible citations and fines.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Numbers Fire is now at 18,340 acres and 98 percent contained.

The fire started on July 6 at approximately 6:50 p.m. near the Pine View Estates area south of Gardnerville. Investigators found several fires along Highway 395 that they believe are related to the Numbers Fire.

Investigators with the East Fork Fire Protection District, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Land Management, and the US Forest Service worked together over the past week to determine the origin and cause of these fires.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be a public presentation from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24 on the Bijou Park Creek Watershed Restoration Project.

The project is three phases, the first beginning with the removal of the Knight's Inn and addressing flooding issues in that area. The objectives of the complete project are to improve stormwater quality, decrease flooding, restore the Bijou Park Creek SEZ (stream environmental zone), and to install a series of stormwater quality and flood control improvements.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a perfect day, at a perfect location, at a perfect celebration to wrap up what wasn't such a perfect senior year of high school.

On Friday afternoon, one by one, the South Tahoe and Mt. Tallac High School seniors stepped out of their decorated cars amidst cheering from teachers and staff. They sent the students onto the red carpet, down the stairs to more cheering, and dancing, and more red carpet, as they made their way onto a ski lift at Sierra-at-Tahoe.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Everyone has seen the pictures, piles of broken plastic sleds left behind in the snow, trash left behind on the beaches and even pet waste disposal bags left along the trails.

Shared on social media, these photos of irresponsible people enjoying the beauty of Lake Tahoe have spread like runny pancake batter. The reason most visit and live around the Lake Tahoe Basin is for the natural beauty everywhere one looks. The majestic peaks and pine-tree filled mountains, the crystal blue water, beaches lining much of the 72-mile circumference of the pristine Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Thanks to a triple match from Vail Resorts’ EpicPromise guest donation program at Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood, completion of the Lily Lake Trail will be a reality in 2020. Earlier this year, the planned 2.1-mile multi-use trail designed to provide new access to Fallen Leaf Lake and Desolation Wilderness faced a $75,000 funding gap.

The Historic Pope and Baldwin Estates have once again been turned into South Lake Tahoe's most haunting Halloween experience, Tahoe Terror.

South Tahoe High students have transformed the estate into unimaginable scares, yet unsolved historical mysteries and ghoulish thrills that can't be found anywhere else. This event has all the ingredients of a truly spectacular outdoor Halloween experience, and the public can "enjoy" them (if they dare) nightly October 18, 19 and 20.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The tests are back and there is no visible or laboratory evidence of toxic blue-green algae in Lake Tahoe.

On August 21 it came to the attention of authorities that the owner of a dog said his pet died after swimming in water behind the Tallac Historic Site on Kiva Beach in South Lake Tahoe. Even though there was no evidence of toxic blue-green algae, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board took samples and submitted them for testing.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What would happen if fire-fighting agencies could stop a wildfire before it gains momentum and wipes out homes, communities and/or forests? That is being answered with well over 100 fire cameras now in place across the west, all because of foresight of Dr. Graham Kent, the Director of the Nevada Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada Reno (UNR).

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, CAL Fire, and the US Forest Service will be hosting a community evacuation drill for the Golden Bear Residential Tract on Saturday, May 18. The drill will take place from 8:00 a.m. to about 12:00 p.m.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It is being called #FebruBURIED for a reason, record snowfall on the slopes of Lake Tahoe and in the communities in the basin that never stopped. Resorts have broken records for the month, prompting Vail Resorts to announce today they are extending the 2018-19 ski season.

Heavenly Mountain Resort - Plans to extend the season through April 28, with a bonus 3-day-weekend May 3-5.
Northstar California Resort - Plans to extend the season through April 21, Easter Sunday.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If you want to cut down your Christmas tree in Lake Tahoe, time is running out and Friday, November 16 may be your last chance.

As of 11:45 a.m. Friday, the US Forest Service office in South Lake Tahoe was sold out of the popular $!0 permits. The only other location in the Lake Tahoe Basin is in Incline Village. As of that same time they were down to about 275 permits and expected to be sold out by the end of the day.

US Forest Service law enforcement officer Adam Nadeau will be at Freel Perk in Meyers on Wednesday, October 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. as part of the national "Coffee with a Cop" day.

The public is invited to join him. The mission of Coffee with a Cop day is to break down barriers between the public and law enforcement. Residents are welcome to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know officers.

Freel Perk is located at 3141 Highway 50 in Meyers.

9:14 p.m. update: The James Loop Fire was reported at 12:45 p.m. at the James Canyon Development near Carson City, Nevada. Tonight, the fire was mapped at 260 acres and is currently 30 percent contained. The fire was caused by heavy equipment working on a new home under construction The fire burned 163 acres of private and 107 acres of Bureau of Indian Affairs lands, but threatened lands
managed by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The East Fork Fire Protection District was in unified command with the U.S. Forest Service.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) and partners, the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association and US Forest Service, are organizing a morning community trailhead cleanup on Saturday, June 2 at 9:00 a.m.

Celebrate National Trails Day, the nation’s largest gathering of trails by volunteering cleaning up the South Shore. Volunteers are needed to help remove graffiti off of massive granite boulders and remove garbage on a trail connector into Van Sickle Bi-State Park.

The morning event will wrap up by noon. Register at: tahoerimtrail.org/national-trails-day

Location

Overnight fire conditions were very active on several fronts forcing additional
evacuations across Northern California. Firefighters are battling 22 large
wildfires that have burned nearly 170,000 acres. Firefighters are bracing for
the winds to shift this evening and increase in speed. 17 people are confirmed
to have died in the wildfires this week. 11 people alone died in the Tubbs Fire,
making it the 6th deadliest fire in our state’s history.
While damage assessment continues on all the fires, it is estimated that at

A new dock, breakwater, restaurant and beach pavilion will all be in place for the 2018 summer season at the Round Hill Pines Resort.

With demolition of the old structure nearly complete, work started last week on a new 3,000-square-foot facility overlooking the beach.

The new building will house a full commercial kitchen, retail space, restrooms, offices for the resort’s management and sales staff, and storage. The seating for the summer bar and grill will be in an open-air pavilion with retractable awnings.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The 2nd annual Public Safety Appreciation Day was held on Thursday, September 7, and community members came out to say "thank you" to personnel from several agencies.

The City of South Lake Tahoe hosted the event which had live music, free BBQ and ice cream and a thank-you card making station.

Kids were able climb on board fire trucks, meet the new Search & Rescue puppy and get to know those who protect them on a daily basis.

Agencies invited were:

Calfire
· California Highway Patrol
· Nevada Highway Patrol
· Douglas County Sheriff's Office

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Everyone is invited out to Lakeview Commons on Thursday, September 7 to say "thank you" to the men and women who protect the South Shore communities at the 2nd annual Public Safety Appreciation Day.

The City of South Lake Tahoe will be hosting the event from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will feature live music, BBQ, a thank you card making station and blue ribbons to tie around the trees at Lakeview Commons as a visual way to say thank you.

This is a multi-agency event to show appreciation:

· Calfire
· California Highway Patrol

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue along with multiple local agencies are coming together and hosting the 4th annual Wildfire Safety Expo on Saturday, June 17 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the TJ Maxx parking lot located at the “Y” where
Highways 50 and 89 intersect.

Everyone one is invited to the free event with lots of information about being prepared in case of a wildfire.