Wildfire

Seven outstanding restoration, sustainability, and construction projects were recognized as recipients of Best in the Basin awards by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) during an online meeting of the agency’s Governing Board. The projects and programs each exhibit outstanding planning and execution and lead the way in environmental stewardship in the Lake Tahoe Region, according to the agency.

Governor Steve Sisolak announced a "at least a three-week statewide pause" to protect Nevadans from the pandemic due to a surge in positive cases and deaths. Starting Tuesday, November 24 at 12:01 a.m. there will be tighter business restrictions and a stricter mask mandate in the state of Nevada.

Many thought he would be calling for a shutdown in the state, but instead he chose the "pause" at this time. Sisolak said ten percent of all COVID-19 cases in Nevada since beginning of pandemic have been recorded in the last seven days.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fund has kicked off its annual Request for Projects process, a time they seek applications seeking funds of $5,000 to 1,000,000 to complete their goals to help preserve Lake Tahoe.

The funding for projects are designed to restore Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity, create healthier forests, improve transportation, create more sustainable recreation, and inspire greater stewardship in the region.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has begun closing recreational facilities for the winter season. Seasonal closures apply to many National Forest recreation sites in the Tahoe Basin including beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and forest roads.

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.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce Board recently asked the nine City Council candidates ten questions they felt were of most importance to its members. The questions focused mainly on topics relating to things that will or may affect both the local small businesses and the community in general.

Their board made the decision to not endorse a specific candidate this election, but instead rank them based on how much they align with the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce goals based on their answers to the questions below.

Autumn’s reflections have begun and Lake Tahoe’s forests and wildlife are preparing for the winter. While fall is generally a treasured time of year at the lake, a sense of uneasiness hangs in the crisp air as we brace for the next phase of the COVID crisis.

Summer was record breaking on many fronts. Businesses and agencies with major staff and budget shortages were suddenly required to manage the pandemic, following strict protocols. Trash overflowed on our pristine beaches and roadways. Follow that with more than 8,300 wildfires and 4 million acres burned in California alone.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are three open seats on the South Tahoe Public Utility Board of Directors this election season, two for a four-year term and one for a two-year term.

South Tahoe Now reached out to the candidates and below are their answers to a set of questions. For the two four-year terms, incumbent Kelly Sheehan is running for reelection, Duane Wallace is running after being appointed to fill Jim Jones's spot on the board until this election, and they are joined by David Peterson.

The American Red Cross volunteer workforce is spread thin with the number of disasters currently across the country. It has been a very active hurricane and wildfire season and they have an urgent need for volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of those affected by disaster.

The easiest way to sign up is to visit https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html (find urgent needs here) for jobs from shelter associates and managers to health services.

As fall approaches, and we think about spending more time inside, devote just a little more time outside to get your yard cleaned up and prepared for winter.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) is reminding residents to make preparations now to be ready for fall wildfires and to save time and energy next spring.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It will be hard to find someone in favor of taxes, but with them being the reason many things in this world are funded, they are accepted to some degree.

On November 3, the City of South Lake Tahoe will be asking voters for support of a one-cent local sales tax known as Measure S.

Teens 4 Tahoe, an environmental stewardship group formed by six teens in collaboration with the nonprofit Tahoe Fund, will host a free virtual screening of the award-winning documentary Wilder Than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future on October 4, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The virtual event, proposed by the teens living in Tahoe and around the Bay Area, will be the group’s first effort to help educate their peers about wildfire preparedness. It will include viewing of the one-hour long documentary followed by an online Q&A session with Kevin White, the film’s producer.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Lake Tahoe Basin is under Red Flag/Critical Fire Weather conditions through 11:00 p.m. Friday.

California is extremely stressed for resources and it is important for residents and guests to understand the dangers these weather conditions present.

With 70-90 mph ridge winds and low humidity values predicted Thursday night into Friday along the crest of the Sierra, any spark could easily become a catastrophic wildfire.

UPDATE 9/17 10:45AM: The Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) event previously forecast for Friday, September 18 for the Incline Zone is canceled due to updated weather forecasts.

There is a Red Flag warning at Lake Tahoe with elevated fire weather conditions and NV Energy will continue to monitor conditions and take extra steps to mitigate wildfire risk. This includes staging their line crews, vegetation management crews and fire agency partners at specific locations around the lake.
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WASHOE COUNTY, Nev. - The Washoe County Health District – Air Quality Management Division (AQMD) has issued a Stage 2 Air Pollution Warning for Washoe County based on current air pollution levels. This warning means that all residents should stay indoors and reduce activity levels due to the susceptibility of increased health risks.

This is the first Stage 2 warning ever issued by the Health District and is in place until further notice.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After one day of blue skies above Lake Tahoe, smoke once again has filled the Basin. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno, the smoke is from multiple fires including the Fork Fire west of Lake Tahoe which sent some smoke into Emerald Bay on Wednesday.

NWS Reno has just issued a Dense Smoke Advisory which is in effect now through Friday at 5:00 p.m. due to the smoke moving into the area faster than previously forecast.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The community is invited to a webinar to review the City of South Lake Tahoe's draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) on Wednesday, September 9 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The City has completed its draft CAP and is in the midst of the public review period. This CAP is critical for reducing emissions in the region and will also provide benefits to the community through supporting local economic development, improving wildfire resilience, reducing air pollution, improving traffic conditions, and improving public health and quality of life.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As tourists fill the Lake Tahoe Basin and locals plan their holiday weekend there are rules that everyone needs to remember - no outside fires with charcoal or wood, and wear a mask.

Although people may want to take a vacation, the pandemic doesn’t so make sure you are following proper safety precautions.

Join Cal OES Director, Mark Ghilarducci, CA Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and United Policyholders Executive Director, Amy Bach for a Statewide Virtual Town Hall on wildfires assistance and insurance resources available to renters and homeowners.

With many communities experiencing evacuations, loss of homes and the continued threat of COVID-19, it is imperative for you to have up to date information on services and resources.

Friday, September 4th at 1:30PM
Join Via ZOOM: https://tinyurl.com/CDIwildfire
FACEBOOK LIVE: Facebook.com/insurancecagov

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Al Tahoe neighborhood of South Lake Tahoe has been working on becoming a Fire Wise community, and this weekend's defensible space project took them closer to obtaining this recognition.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif.—Lake Tahoe West partners have released an interactive “story map” to explain ongoing and proposed actions to restore forests and watersheds across 59,000 acres of Lake Tahoe’s west shore. (StoryMap Here)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With 367 current wildfires in the state of California, fire fighting resources are spread thin. Calfire If there was a fire in South Lake Tahoe, are you prepared?

Tens of thousands of residents are evacuated from their homes in Napa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Salinas, Grass Valley, Nevada City and other cities in the state. Most of the fires were started by a massive lightning storm over Northern California Sunday where over 10,800 lightning strikes were observed.

Forest officials everywhere are saying: Recreate Responsibly.

Despite large campaigns about fire restrictions and "pack it in pack it out," many visitors to the Eldorado National Forest are not acting responsibly.

Fire and law enforcement officers had another busy weekend contacting a record numbers of visitors about campfires they had made that are not allowed under the current fire restrictions in the Eldorado National Forest.

UPDATE 5:57PM: Fire crews have knocked down the Topsy Fire and are mopping up hotspots, according to fire officials. The cause of the fire is under investigation. It was noted that there were a number of lightning strikes in the area shortly before the fire started.