PRESS RELEASE
Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team
July 2016
For Immediate Release
Prepare for Wildfire Season by Creating Defensible Space
Contact:
South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – With summer here and wildfires burning in the Sierra Nevada, people at Lake Tahoe must ensure they are prepared for wildfire by clearing hazardous fuels from their properties and creating defensible space.
Local fire protection districts and fire departments around the Lake Tahoe Region offer defensible space inspections and tree removal permits. They are ready to help people reduce wildfire risk and prepare for wildfire.
When a wildfire ignites, vegetation around homes and buildings can help feed the fire. Appropriately managing that vegetation and creating defensible space increases the chance a home or building will survive the wildfire. Properly managed vegetation also makes it much safer for firefighters to respond to extinguish structure fires.
Hazardous fuel reduction means raking up leaves and pine needles in the yard and clearing trees, shrubs, branches and other fuel sources in a way that makes it difficult for wildfire to transfer from one fuel source to another, from the ground up into the trees, and from fuel sources to homes or buildings.
Lake Tahoe residents are encouraged to work together and with their local fire protection district to create defensible space throughout entire neighborhoods.
For homes not on Lake Tahoe’s shoreline, a permit is required to remove living trees greater than 14-inches diameter at breast height. For homes on the lakeshore, a permit is required to remove trees greater than 6-inches diameter at breast height between the house and the lake, or trees greater than 14-inches diameter at breast height in other areas.
Fire Dept./District |
Defensible Space Inspections |
Chipping Program |
Tree Removal Permit |
Fallen Leaf Lake Fire Department |
No |
Free, provided by Lake Valley FPD. Call 530-577-CHIP (2447) |
Contact TRPA. $53 fee |
Lake Valley Fire Protection District |
Free |
Free. Call 530-577-CHIP (2447). |
$75 fee |
Meeks Bay Fire Protection District |
Free |
Free. Use online form to request at www.ntfire.net |
$80 fee |
North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District |
Free |
Free. Call 775-831-0351 ext. 8118 |
Free |
North Tahoe Fire Protection District |
Free |
Free. Use online form to request at www.ntfire.net |
$80 fee |
South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue |
Free |
No |
Contact TRPA. $53 fee |
Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District |
Free |
Free. Use online form to request at www.tahoefire.org |
Free |
More information about creating defensible space and fire-adapted communities is available online at http://tahoe.livingwithfire.info/.
The Tahoe Resource Conservation District is working to create a Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities, partnering with residents and fire districts on the California side of the Tahoe Basin to reduce wildfire risk. Community volunteers and leaders are needed and should contact Marybeth Donahoe at (530) 543-1501 ext. 114 to learn more.
People and businesses are also encouraged to sign up to receive emergency notifications now before a local emergency such as a wildfire occurs.
City of South Lake Tahoe: www.cityofslt.us/signup
El Dorado County:http://ready.edso.org/
Placer County: www.placer-alert.org
Douglas County: https://douglascounty.onthealert.com/
Washoe County: https://www.washoecounty.us/em/RegionalAlerts.php
Remember to Think First to Keep Tahoe Fire Safe this summer. Visit www.ThinkFirstTahoe.org to learn more about wildfire prevention and preparedness and sign a pledge to Think First to Keep Tahoe Fire Safe to show you are taking the wildfire threat at Tahoe seriously and working to reduce wildfire risk in our communities.
About the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team
The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) consists of representatives of Tahoe Basin fire agencies, CAL FIRE, Nevada Division of Forestry and related state agencies, University of California and Nevada Cooperative Extensions, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, conservation districts from both states, the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. Our Mission is to protect lives, property and the environment withinthe Lake Tahoe Basin from wildfire by implementing prioritized fuels reduction projects and engaging the public in becoming a Fire Adapted Community.
For more information, visit www.tahoefft.org.