Wildfire
Al Tahoe neighborhood Firewise USA® meeting moved to digital format
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/14/2020 - 6:31pmEvent Date:
July 16, 2020 - 5:00pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Al Tahoe neighborhood of South Lake Tahoe has begun the process of becoming a nationally recognized and certified Firewise USA® community with the support of South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and under the guidance of the National Fire Protection Association.
There is only one other neighborhood, Golden Bear (Lower Montgomery Estates), that is under the Firewise USA® program in the Lake Tahoe Basin though several areas outside the basin in El Dorado and Placer counties are participating.
Column: Wildfire threat still looms
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/13/2020 - 9:44amIf the 4th of July weekend is any indication, Tahoe is under pressure. As coronavirus cases grow nearly everywhere, people naturally look to the mountains, fresh air, and clear water of Tahoe as a respite. Now residents and visitors alike are struggling to adjust to the confusion around re-opening, and visitation that is normally our lifeblood is suddenly a health risk.
South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting Tuesday: Tax increase and Grand Jury on agenda
Submitted by paula on Fri, 07/10/2020 - 2:22pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The next meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council will be on Tuesday, July 14 starting at 9:00 a.m. It will be a virtual meeting and log on/comment instructions are at the end of the story.
On the agenda:
Council will vote on a measure, that if approved by voters on November 3, will add a local one-cent sales tax for general city purposes. There has been outreach done with local residents and finding out what their highest priorities are, and this proposed tax increase would meet those requests:
Responsible recreation is urged over the 4th of July weekend at Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 8:51amSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With months of people being under "Stay at Home" orders, and if the past few days are any indication, this holiday weekend will be busy at Lake Tahoe as people get out in the fresh air, hike, bike, go to the beach and get on the water.
The July Fourth holiday at Lake Tahoe will look a bit different this year with firework shows canceled, social distancing, the requirement of face coverings in public places and growing concerns about responsible recreation.
Fire on southwest side of Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 7:30pm7:00 a.m. Thursday Update: #TallacFire is contained. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit firefighters made good progress last night with assistance from Cal Fire. Accurate mapping has fire at 2.2 acres. Hwy 89 travelers urged to use caution as firefighters continue to mop-up
9:50 p.m. Update: Firefighters are making good progress on the #TallacFire. Hose-lay is completed on left and right flanks. For the safety of firefighters, Highway 89 travelers asked to use caution in the area between Camp Richardson and Emerald Bay as multiple resources are parked on the highway.
Fight Fire With a Plan campaign for Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness Month
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 7:02amLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team is promoting Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness Month during July. This year’s theme is “Fight fire with a plan” to encourage residents and visitors to prepare their family, property and possessions now before a wildfire starts by creating a plan.
Some ways to plan include:
Develop a family evacuation plan.
Assemble a Go-bag and a disaster supply kit for your home and vehicle.
Create and maintain defensible space around homes.
Sign up for emergency notifications for residents and visitors and stay informed.
Multiple agencies working on fire east of Lake Tahoe in Douglas County
Submitted by paula on Wed, 06/24/2020 - 1:59pmUpdate 6/25 at 9:00 a.m.: The Monarch Fire burning in Douglas County is now 1,794 acres. The fire is burning three miles south of Sierra Spirit Ranch in the Fish Springs/ Pinenut Creek Road area.
3:51 p.m. 6/24 update: From Douglas County: Several agencies including Bureau of Land Management, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, East Fork Fire, the US Forest Service and the Nevada Division of Forestry are currently responding to the Monarch Fire, a Brush fire in the Fish Springs Pinenut Creek Rd area. No structures are threatened at this time. No active road closures at this time.
Summer fire restrictions around Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Mon, 06/22/2020 - 4:39pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Fire season is upon us and many restrictions are now in effect where outdoor burning, campfires, and fire pits are concerned. 2020 started out with the driest February on record since the 1850s, and there is an increased fire danger posed by dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region.
It is important to understand that with all of the different fire areas around Lake Tahoe, there are different rules.
Fire at Van Sickle Bi-State Park in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Fri, 06/19/2020 - 7:46pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Multiple agencies responded to a report of a wildfire at Van Sickle Bi-State Park in South Lake Tahoe Friday afternoon about 5:00 p.m.
They were able to jump on the fire quickly, leaving less than 1/4 acre burned.
South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit and the U.S. Forest Service all responded.
Firefighters have completed a hose lay and hand line around the fire and will remain on the scene to mop it up.
The cause is under investigation.
Illegal campfire at historic site in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Wed, 06/17/2020 - 9:20pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Firefighters from the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) responded to the report of another illegal campfire in Lake Tahoe, this time at the Tallac Historic Site on June 17.
LTBMU Engine 341 responded and after a careful inspection, the campfire was declared a wildfire named "The Heritage Fire."
The illegal campfire was constructed on top of a dry stump within the foundation of a historic feature at Tallac Point near Kiva Beach.
Tahoe firefighters knock down east shore fire believed to be started by campers
Submitted by paula on Mon, 06/15/2020 - 3:18pmLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Engine 344 firefighters are on scene Monday afternoon after a report of a wildfire on Lake Tahoe's east shore.
The Chimney Fire was reported at approximately 1:00 p.m. and is located on National Forest lands south of Chimney Beach near the shoreline. Firefighters have the fire surrounded and have knocked it down. It was reported to be a five-foot by 10-foot fire, said Lisa Herron, spokeswoman for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
Letter: Every one of us needs to do what we can to Keep Tahoe Blue
Submitted by paula on Sun, 06/14/2020 - 5:19pmOn June 10 the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center released findings from its annual Lake Tahoe Clarity Report, which showed average Lake clarity for 2019 was 62.7 feet, the second-smallest annual average depth recorded since systematic annual measurements began in 1968.
Column: Tahoe's successes based on working together; eliminating divide
Submitted by paula on Fri, 06/12/2020 - 2:10pmIf ever there was a time to draw on the healing powers of Lake Tahoe, it’s now. The COVID crisis, complete with loss of life and wide-ranging financial impacts, is being compounded by human struggle and a wellspring of social justice demonstrations that are gripping the nation. One of our core values at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is collaboration -- building collaborative relationships to protect Lake Tahoe. I can tell you that Tahoe's successes have not ever come from reinforcing divisions. The imagined “us vs them" simply creates false divides.
Outside burning to be banned in several counties starting June 15
Submitted by paula on Wed, 06/10/2020 - 5:38pmThe year 2020 started out with the driest February on record in California since the 1850s, and this combined with warming temperatures and recent winds are resulting in quickly drying grass.
The increasing fire danger posed by dead grass and hotter, drier conditions
Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities Weekly Tip #10: Connect Virtually
Submitted by paula on Tue, 06/09/2020 - 8:44amLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their tenth and final "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services. All tips are ways people can prepare for wildfire while staying at home.
Weekly Tip #10: Connect Virtually
Wilder Than Wild Virtual Screening
Free virtual screening of award winning documentary Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future
Submitted by paula on Thu, 06/04/2020 - 4:20pmThe Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities (Tahoe Network), with generous support from the Tahoe Fund, is hosting a free virtual screening of the award-winning documentary Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future through the Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema from June 5 - June 11, 2020.
Wilder than Wild is a one-hour documentary that reveals how fire suppressioand climate change have exposed Western landscapes to large, high-intensity wildfires. The film goes on to explore strategies that are being developed to help mitigate the impact of these fires.
Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities Weekly Tip #9: Up your preparedness game
Submitted by paula on Fri, 05/22/2020 - 7:26amLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their ninth "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services. All tips are ways people can prepare for wildfire while staying at home. They will be providing a total of ten tips.
This Week's Tip: Up Your Preparedness Game With Online Tools
Remembering STPUD Director Jim Jones
Submitted by paula on Fri, 05/15/2020 - 10:22amSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On May 7, 2020, South Lake Tahoe lost a steadfast advocate for safe, clean drinking water and reliable wastewater services. James R. Jones, 77, a local engineer and avid sailor, served on South Tahoe Public Utility District’s Board of Directors for 39 years (1977-1989, 1993-2020). During his tenure on the Board, Director Jones focused on building for the future, instead of 'kicking the can down the road.’
Experienced California education advocate joins Lake Tahoe Community College
Submitted by paula on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 6:21pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) has selected a seasoned professional with two decades of experience in California state policy and politics to fill a critical role during unprecedented and uncertain times.
Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities Weekly Tip #8: Create Defensible Space
Submitted by paula on Wed, 05/13/2020 - 12:27pmLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their eighth "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services. All tips are ways people can prepare for wildfire while staying at home. They will be providing a total of ten tips.
Tip #8: Create Defensible Space
Deadline extended for public comment on Lake Tahoe West Shore restoration project
Submitted by paula on Sat, 05/09/2020 - 2:38pmLAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The planned restoration project on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe is a big one, covering 59,000 acres, and will provide a science-based, all-lands approach to guide restoration approaches on the West Shore over the next two decades to increase the resilience of ecosystems and human communities.
Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities Weekly Tip #7: Create a non-combustible zone
Submitted by paula on Wed, 05/06/2020 - 9:22amLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their fifth "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services. All tips are ways people can prepare for wildfire while staying at home. They will be providing three more tips.
This Week's Tip #7: Create a non-combustible zone
Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities weekly tip: #6: Create a home hardening plan
Submitted by paula on Sat, 05/02/2020 - 12:41pmLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their fifth "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services. All tips are ways people can prepare for wildfire while staying at home.
This Week's Tip: Create a Home Hardening Project Plan
Now that the snow has melted, it's time to start planning and implementing projects that harden your home from embers to increase the chance of it surviving a wildfire.
Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities weekly tip: #5: Identify your home's ember vulnerabilities
Submitted by paula on Sat, 04/25/2020 - 9:05amLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their fifth "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services. All tips are ways people can prepare for wildfire while staying at home.
Did you know embers are the leading cause of wildfire-related home ignitions?
Column: 50 years of progress for Lake Tahoe and the nation
Submitted by paula on Fri, 04/24/2020 - 10:51amCelebrations have taken on many new forms since the start of social distancing. Birthday parties have become processions of cars parading past a celebrant’s home—people honking and waving, tossing candy and small gifts (for later disinfecting, then enjoying). And huge international celebrations like the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this week have moved online, giving room for individuals to celebrate and explore the conservation movement in new ways.
Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities weekly tip: #4: Make a home inventory list
Submitted by paula on Wed, 04/15/2020 - 12:09pmLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their fourth "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services.
If you had to process an insurance claim after a wildfire, would you be able to remember every valuable item in your home?
Agencies seek public input on 59,000 acre Lake Tahoe West Restoration Project
Submitted by paula on Sat, 04/11/2020 - 10:17amLAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The proposed Lake Tahoe West Restoration Project is in the final planning stages and the three agencies involved, USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, California Tahoe Conservancy, and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, are inviting the public to provide their input. The project is a big one, covering 59,000 acres, and will provide a science-based, all-lands approach to guide restoration approaches on the West Shore over the next two decades to increase the resilience of ecosystems and human communities.
Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities weekly tip: #3 Talking to kids about wildfire
Submitted by paula on Wed, 04/08/2020 - 9:31amLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their third "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services.
Below are tips, lessons, videos, and hands-on activities for the children in the home.
This Week's Tip: Talking to Kids About Wildfire
Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities Weekly Tip: Make a Family Evacuation Plan
Submitted by paula on Wed, 04/01/2020 - 8:18amLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Due to Stay at Home orders in place it may be several weeks before the Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is able to do normal outreach, they are providing weekly tips on how to prepare for wildfire inside the home.
This Week's Tip: Make a Family Evacuation Plan
Tahoe Network Weekly Tip: Preparing for wildfire while indoors
Submitted by paula on Sun, 03/29/2020 - 9:45amLAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Have you been cleaning out closets, homeschooling, or figuring out what to do in the weeks ahead? With residents staying home and not traveling due to the coronavirus, the Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities will be sending out weekly tips on how to prepare for wildfire while inside.
This Week's Tip: Create a Go-Bag
TRPA approves 6,000 seat Tahoe South Event Center
Submitted by paula on Wed, 03/25/2020 - 5:28pmSTATELINE, Nev. - The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) board today unanimously approved the Tahoe Douglas Visitor’s Authority Tahoe South Event Center planned for the parking lot area of Montbleu Casino Resort in Stateline. Edgewood Tahoe has donated the 13.3 acres at the corner of Lake Parkway and Highway 50 needed for the center.
City of South Lake Tahoe Visioning and Strategic Planning workshop
Submitted by paula on Sat, 02/22/2020 - 5:47pmEvent Date:
February 25, 2020 - 1:00pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Council will be meeting at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday to review their 2019 list of priorities including the City motto, vision and core values, and see if anything needs to be added or modified.
In February 2019, the City Council and key City staff participated in a full-day
Golden Bear neighborhood is first South Lake Tahoe National Firewise USA® Designation
Submitted by paula on Wed, 02/05/2020 - 3:23pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Golden Bear community in South Lake Tahoe has been at the forefront of neighborhood fire safety and their hard work has paid off. They have earned a Firewise USA® designation by the National Fire Protection Association, making them the first South Lake Tahoe community to earn this designation.
Proposed parcel tax for county residents to support Lake Valley Fire
Submitted by paula on Sun, 01/26/2020 - 10:56pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On March 3, 2020, voters in the Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) boundaries will decide if Measure B should pass, a measure that would give the fire department funds for much-needed equipment, apparatuses, and supplies.
USFS sending more U.S. crews to fight Australian bush fires
Submitted by paula on Wed, 01/22/2020 - 12:32pmAs wildfires continue to burn in Australia, the United States is sending additional U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) wildfire personnel to assist with ongoing bushfire suppression efforts in Australia. Three 10-person Incident Management Teams and a group consisting of air support personnel have arrived in Australia in recent days.
Dozens of new California laws go into effect in 2020
Submitted by paula on Thu, 12/26/2019 - 3:33pmNew laws will be going into effect in California in the new year, putting into place California legislature action during 2019. There are many changes including road safety and distracted driving penalties, roadkill rules, minimum wage, independent workers and rent caps.
Except where noted, these laws are effective January 1, 2020:
Traffic Safety
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is highlighting several new laws passed this year:
TRPA honors 29th annual Best in the Basin award winners
Submitted by paula on Wed, 12/18/2019 - 5:01pmSTATELINE, Nev. - Six projects were given Best in the Basin awards Wednesday by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). The presentation of the 29th annual winners was made before their board meeting at Stateline.
The TRPA Best in Basin awards program showcases projects around the lake that demonstrate exceptional planning, implementation, and compatibility with Tahoe’s natural environment and communities.
Six indicted for falsely claiming benefits for properties destroyed in Paradise Camp Fire
Submitted by paula on Wed, 12/18/2019 - 11:58amOn Thursday, Dec. 12, a federal jury returned indictments against six defendants who made false claims for benefits in connection with the 2018 Camp Fire and received funds from FEMA to compensate for their losses, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
City of South Lake Tahoe newsletter: At Lake Level
Submitted by paula on Fri, 12/13/2019 - 8:59pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The December edition of the City of South Lake Tahoe's "At Lake Level" has been released by City Manager Frank Rush. This month Rush covers SnowGlobe, the 56-acre site and a possible new Fire/EMS station for the community.
56-Acre Site
California Tahoe Conservancy board approves forest health, aquatic species and marsh restoration funds
Submitted by paula on Fri, 12/13/2019 - 3:29pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) Board has authorized spending $1,036,750 to implement three high-priority projects to reduce fire risk and improve forest health in South Lake Tahoe and on the west shore.
During their meeting on Thursday, the CTC Board approved funding for projects that include:
- Spending up to $211,250 on forest thinning on Conservancy land in the South Lake Tahoe Ski Run and Bijou neighborhoods,
- A grant to the South Tahoe Public Utility District for up to $338,000 for forest thinning on the grounds of its treatment plant, and
Column: Lake Tahoe West Landscape Restoration Strategy.
Submitted by paula on Wed, 12/11/2019 - 12:24pmAs the Fire Chief serving the north and west shores of Lake Tahoe, I am acutely aware and concerned about the potential for catastrophic wildfire here.
AlertTahoe fire camera system detects 57th fire in Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Wed, 12/11/2019 - 11:41amThe AlertTahoe 11-camera system surrounding the Lake Tahoe Basin has been credited for detecting its 57th fire since first being installed in 2013.
As the Kincade Fire in Sonoma and the Easy Fire in Southern California raged, a camera in Lake Tahoe spotted a small fire on the West Shore. Fire crews were able to respond and quickly put it out.
After 50 years with USFS, Supervisor Crabtree to retire
Submitted by paula on Mon, 12/09/2019 - 1:02pmPLACERVILLE, Calif. - Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Laurence Crabtree announced that he will retire on January 6, 2020, completing a career that spanned 50 years.
South Lake Tahoe kick-off meeting for City’s new Climate Action Plan
Submitted by paula on Thu, 12/05/2019 - 7:56pmEvent Date:
December 11, 2019 - 6:00pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The community is invited to a meeting on the City’s first-ever Climate Action Plan on Wednesday, December 11 from 6:00 p.m.to 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at the airport.
In April 2017 the South Lake Tahoe City Council signed a proclamation to move the City’s entire electrical grid to clean energy by 2032, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below baseline by 2040.
Prescribed fire operations continue in Tahoe Basin, weather and staffing permitting
Submitted by paula on Sun, 11/24/2019 - 9:50pmNorth Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, along with California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy and the USDA Forest Service are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations over the next few weeks in the Tahoe Basin, weather, conditions, and staffing permitted.
Scheduled Prescribed Burns:
Tahoe Pines Campground
Tahoe Basin Wildfire Pre-Attack Plans funded by Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation
Submitted by paula on Thu, 11/21/2019 - 12:22amThe Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation has announced a donation of $18,057 to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD) to enhance wildfire suppression capabilities on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. This donation will result in the expansion of strategic and tactical Wildfire Pre Attack plans covering the entire Lake Tahoe Basin. Pre Attack Plans help first responders by identifying critical infrastructure, vulnerable population groups, evacuation routes, water sources, Temporary Refuge Areas, and locations where forests have been thinned before a wildfire strikes.
Column: Marching forward with forest health
Submitted by paula on Tue, 11/19/2019 - 6:15pmLast week our collective memories returned to that terrible November morning as a raging wildfire swept through Paradise, California. We woke that morning to images of wholesale devastation as fearsome winds drove racing flames from one town and one home to the next. We were horrified to watch videos of citizens running for their lives, desperately trying to escape the smoke and flames that were engulfing everything in their path. Eighty-five people lost their lives—the deadliest fire in California history— in what we now call the Camp Fire.
Caples Fire 100% contained, 3,435 acres burned
Submitted by paula on Sat, 11/02/2019 - 10:34pmA burned area assessment of the area burned by last month's Caples Fire is now underway. The Incident Commander Kevin Breitwieser has declared that the Caples Fire is now 100 percent contained and in patrol status at 3,435 acres.
There has been almost no change in fire size since October 18. The extreme wind event on October 26 that prompted a public safety power shutoff was a good test of the containment lines and resulted in three small spots that were extinguished. Traces of smoke from interior burning will continue to be visible, but no additional fire growth is expected.
Caples Fire has burned 2,949 acres and is 53 percent contained
Submitted by paula on Mon, 10/14/2019 - 7:28pm10.15.19 7:00 p.m. UPDATE: Tuesday was a productive day for firefighters. The northern ridge and southwestern corner are now contained and being patrolled. The containment lines on the eastern and southwestern sides of the fire containment lines are in progress. The hand line on the south side was extended farther northeast towards Castle Point by crews using tactical firing operations. Stronger winds from the southwest are expected late Wednesday afternoon and evening with light precipitation expected Thursday morning.
Governor Newsom signs slew of bills including wildfire protection and defensible space
Submitted by paula on Mon, 10/14/2019 - 3:06pmThe 2019 legislative year for California has come to an end and Gov. Gavin Newsom wrapped u the session with signing several bills. His first year of office saw 870 new laws and 172 vetoed proposals.