Lake Valley Fire Protection District has been offering emergency services to the South Shore area of South Lake Tahoe since 1947. Our first piece of apparatus was a 1947 Mack Pumper which we still own today as a parade engine. In 1965 the City of South Lake Tahoe incorporated and formed its own Fire Department. Lake Valley continued its service to the county residents within its 86 square mile district.
Within our borders we have the largest alpine lake in North America, surrounded by the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range. Our response area includes three major ski resorts, miles of backcountry trails, world class climbing, a couple of main artery highways, lakes, rivers, wild land urban interface and a small commercial corridor. Lake Tahoe is billed as “America’s All Year Playground” and it lives up to that motto. Various local activities include mountain biking, backpacking, camping, hiking, tennis golf, rock climbing, water skiing, stand up paddle board, kayak, boating, and jet skiing. That’s just one season! Whatever your pleasure you can find it in our District.
LVFPD is mainly a residential community with a year round population of about 12,000. During the busy seasons with the influx of visitors, that number can be as high as 50,000. Lake Valley Fire is an all risk department. We run approximately 1,600 calls a year. Our call types vary quite a bit due to the recreational opportunities in our District. Calls can range from high angle rescues to avalanche searches and even the occasional cat retrieval from trees. Like most departments we run approximately 85% medical aids which are why we pursued and secured the contract to provide paramedic ambulance service to Eldorado County Community Service Area 3 (CSA#3) in September of 2001. We have a Joint Powers Authority with the City of South Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Fire Department and have been providing three first out Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances to our constituents and visitors for the past 20 years. LVFPD provides and receives mutual aid to and from the surrounding jurisdictions.
