Lake Valley Fire Protection District Notice of Vacancy and Intent to Appoint Director
The community served by the Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) is hereby notified pursuant to Government Code §1780 that there is a vacancy on the Lake Valley Fire Protection District Board due to failure to elect. The appointee will represent the community served by the Lake Valley Fire Protection District as a Board Director. The position to be filled is a 4-year term beginning December, 2022 and ending December, 2026.
To apply, candidates must submit a letter of intent along with a current resume to the Lake Valley Fire Protection District, attention Kayla Galvan by Friday, October 7, 2022 by 5:00 PM.
Eligibility:
Any person who is 18 years of age or older, a registered voter and resident of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District, and who is not disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the state from holding office, is eligible to be appointed a member of the Board of Directors.
Interviews:
The Board of Directors will interview prospective candidates at a public meeting on October 13, 2022, accept oral or written public input at that time, and select the appointee by a majority vote.
The Mosquito Fire started on September 6 at 6:00 PM near Oxbow Reservoir, 3 miles east of Forest Hill, in Placer County. The fire continues to burn in brush and timber in very steep and rugged terrain. The cause in under investigation and no containment date has been set. Your Lake Valley Firefighters are actively involved in monitoring the situation and are prepared to assist our neighboring departments if necessary. For the very latest information, please click, bookmark and follow the links to updates and resources listed below.
INCIDENT UPDATE LINKS
For current fire status, click on any of the following links:
The Lake Valley Fire Protection District (District) welcomes into service a new 2022 Rosenbauer Commander apparatus during a wet-down ceremony on Monday, August 29 at 10 a.m. at Fire Station 7. The public is invited to attend. Donuts, coffee and refreshments will be provided. A wet-down ceremony is a tradition celebrated by fire departments to commission new fire apparatus by anointing it with water sprayed from the retiring fire engine. The ritual dates back to the late 1800s when newly commissioned horses would be washed along with the pumper at their assigned firehouse and then backed into the firehouse bay. “We are excited to mark our 75th year with the purchase of a new fire engine and would like the community to understand the value and improved service delivered with this new equipment,” said Interim Fire Chief Chad Stephen.
The new 2022 Rosenbauer Commander is the first of its kind in the fleet. The new apparatus, designated Engine 7, has a 600 horsepower Cummins diesel motor and an Allison 4500 six speed transmission on a Marmon Harrington 4×4 chassis. The engine holds 750 gallons of water and is capable of pumping over 1500 gallons per minute. To reduce the cancer risk to firefighters, Rosenbauer developed a clean air cab and installed an in-cab recirculation air scrubber.
During the ceremony, we will be retiring our 1997 HME fire apparatus that until last week provided first out response in the District. The HME served our District for 25 years as Engine 7, Engine 6 and later Engine 5 our reserve. The HME responded to hundreds of fires in its history including the Angora Fire and most recently the Caldor Fire. The HME has been one of our longest serving and most dependable fire engines in our 75 years of history.
“We’re very excited to introduce the 2022 Rosenbauer Commander to the Lake Valley Fire Protection District. It brings the right mix of advantages and capabilities for our ever changing community and environment, said Fleet Manager and Fire Mechanic Andrew Sessions.”
The Key to Evacuating Quickly and Safely is Preparation
Contact: Jamie Roice-Gomes, Living With Fire Program Manager [email protected]
As record drought and elevated wildfire conditions persist,the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) reminds residents and visitors to develop an evacuation plan for your family and pack a Go-Bag before the next wildfire.
Emergency responders follow carefully designed evacuation plans that consider all factors when implementing evacuation orders. When asked to leave, it’s crucial to evacuate quickly and safely — preparing for evacuation ahead of time is the best way to ensure a safe, successful evacuation. One way to prepare is to pack a Go-Bag.
“When it comes to evacuation, planning ahead is always a good idea,” said Fire Marshal, Eric Guevin, from Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District. “Be prepared to act fast because time matters, and it could be a matter of life and death or loss of property.”
Choose a Go-Bag(s) that can be easily lifted into your vehicle and has room for necessary items to last a minimum of 72 hours up to two weeks. Rolling suitcases, backpacks and cloth shopping bags are good choices. Once packed, practice loading the Go-Bags into your vehicle and drive potential evacuation routes with family and pets to ensure you’re prepared and able to evacuate quickly.
Some items to pack into evacuation Go-Bags include:
Enough medication for a minimum of 72 hours up to two weeks
Lists of prescriptions and their dosages, prescription numbers, medication names, prescribing physicians, and pharmacy names and contact information
Bottled water for a minimum of 72 hours up to two weeks
Non-perishable foods that don’t require preparation or refrigeration such as nuts, trail bars, jerky, and cereal
NIOSH N95 or P100 masks for wildfire smoke
Important documents
Cell phone chargers
Supplies, water, food and medications for pets, including pet carrier(s)
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 USDA 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 within the Lake Tahoe Basin from wildfire by implementing prioritized fuels reduction projects and engaging the public in becoming a Fire Adapted Community.
Agencies share simple tree removal and defensible space steps in urgent call to action
Contact: Jeff Cowen, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, (775) 589-5278 or [email protected]
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev., July 20, 2022 – With smoke in the air again, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) are sharing an urgent call to action for Lake Tahoe residents and property owners to create defensible space and to follow a few simple steps if tree removal is needed.
Fire agencies, TRPA, and other water quality agencies are in agreement on all defensible space requirements and have developed simple tree removal guidelines to
aid property owners in protecting homes and neighborhoods.
Defensible space is the area between a house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been managed to reduce the wildfire threat. Creating this space allows firefighters to safely defend the house and could even improve the likelihood of the home surviving without assistance. TFFT Incident Commander and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Division Chief Isaac Powning says while defensible space sometimes requires a little planning, it should be a top priority for residents. “Start with the simple things like raking pine needles and moving firewood away from structures,” Powning said. “Getting a free defensible space evaluation from your local fire agency will tell you what is needed, then it’s a matter of breaking it up into manageable projects. Tree removal may be a part of it, but the other recommendations are just as important.”
Following the 3,100-acre Angora Fire in 2007, forest managers, fire agencies, and water quality agencies including TRPA formed the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team to coordinate efforts, streamline policies, and increase the pace and scale of forest health projects. The improved coordination led to some of the preparations that helped firefighters protect Lake Tahoe communities last year when the Caldor Fire entered the basin and burned nearly 10,000 acres.
“Property owners have a critical part to play in creating more resilient forests and protecting communities and TRPA encourages everyone to follow defensible space
guidelines,” TRPA Public Information Officer Jeff Cowen said. “Public agencies are in alignment and working together to prevent and prepare for wildfires and protect the natural resources we all treasure at Tahoe.” Most fire hazard trees and limbs can be removed without a permit. Trees more than 14
inches in diameter and trees in a few specific circumstances require a Tahoe Regional Planning Agency permit, which is usually available from the local fire protection district with a defensible space evaluation.
Here is what property owners can do without contacting a permitting agency:
Remove and manage brush in the “lean, clean, and green” zone within 30 feet of
structures. Brush and smaller trees are ladder fuels, which can carry flames
upward from the ground and into the tree canopy.
Remove dead limbs, limbs within 10 feet of a chimney outlet, building or deck,
and any live limbs in the lower one-third of the tree.
Remove live trees less than 14 inches diameter at breast height. Diameter at
breast height is measured 4.5 feet above ground on the uphill side of the tree. If
unsure, use a string or soft measuring tape to measure around the tree. A 14-
inch tree is 43.9 inches around.
Remove dead trees. A conifer (pine/fir tree) is considered dead when it doesn’t
have any green needles. Deciduous (leafy) trees can be determined dead by a
qualified forester.
Outside of these circumstances, the first step is to request a free defensible space evaluation from the local fire district or department. In most cases, defensible space evaluators can issue tree permits on behalf of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, if needed. Residents, renters, and property owners can find their fire district contacts at tahoelivingwithfire.com/. In sensitive areas, such as stream environment zones and along the lakeshore, vegetation removal should be done in consultation with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency forester. Contact and other information are available at trpa.gov/trees-and-defensible-space/.
Tree removal can only be done with permission of the property owner. Information for renters is available at tahoelivingwithfire.com/. To report fire hazards on Forest Service lots, contact the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit hotline at (530) 543-2759 or online at fs.usda.gov/ltbmu . For lots owned by the California Tahoe Conservancy, call (530) 542-5580 or report a concern online at tahoe.ca.gov/report-an- issue/. Concerns can also be reported to your local fire district or department.
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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 USDA 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 within the 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 https://tahoe.livingwithfire.info/about/
Red Flag Warnings and National Fire Danger Rating System
We can all prevent wildfire!
Contact: Eric Guevin, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District 775-588-3591 or Lisa Herron, USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit 530-721-3898
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev., July 21, 2022 – Fire season is year-round. In the past, wildfires normally occurred in late summer and early fall when temperatures were high, humidity was low and vegetation extremely dry. Local, state, and federal fire managers now know that devastating wildfires can occur any time of year. Over 90 percent of wildfires are caused by people and are completely preventable. Fire prevention education is the key to keeping our communities and forests safe from unwanted wildland fires.
Lake Tahoe Basin, California and Nevada fire restrictions are implemented by fire and land management agencies to help keep our communities and forests safe during conditions that lead to increased wildfire danger. In addition, the National Weather Service (NWS) issues Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches to alert fire departments, fire districts, and the public about critical fire weather conditions that have the potential to cause wildfires to grow rapidly in size and intensity before first responders can contain them. The NWS issues Red Flag Warnings when strong gusty winds combine with very dry air, or when thunderstorms with little to no rainfall are expected. Below is an explanation of the differences between a Fire Weather Watch and a Red Flag Warning.
Fire Weather Watch – declared when critical fire weather conditions could develop over the next 2-4 days. A watch is issued when forecasters have reasonable confidence that critical conditions will develop at longer lead times.
Red Flag Warning – declared for weather events which may result in critical fire weather conditions that may occur within the next 24-48 hours. A Red Flag Warning is the highest alert. During these conditions, extreme caution is urged because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire.
During Red Flag conditions in the Lake Tahoe Basin, all open flames including propane are banned to prevent major wildfires from happening.
In addition to Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches, the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) allows fire managers to estimate the daily fire danger for a given area. NFDRS uses five different color-coded adjective ratings to help the public understand fire potential. These signs are placed in key locations to alert the public about current fire danger and are most often associated with roadside Smokey Bear signs. Below is an explanation of the different fire danger adjective ratings.
Fire Danger Level: Low (Green)
Vegetation that can feed a wildfire does not ignite easily from small embers, but a more intense heat source, such as lightning, may start fires in duff or dry rotten wood. Fires in open, dry grasslands may burn easily, but most wood fires will spread slowly, creeping or smoldering. Control of fires is generally easy.
Fire Danger Level: Moderate (Blue)
Fires can start from most accidental causes, but the number of fire starts is typically low. If a fire starts in an open, dry grassland, it will burn and spread quickly on windy days. Most wood fires will spread slowly to moderately. Average fire intensity will be moderate except in heavy concentrations of vegetation, which may burn hot. Fires are still not likely to become serious and are often easy to control.
Fire Danger Level: High (Yellow)
Fires can start easily from most causes and small vegetation (such as grasses and needles) will ignite readily. Unattended campfires and brush fires are likely to escape. Fires will spread easily, with some areas of high intensity burning on slopes or concentrated vegetation. Fires can become serious and difficult to control unless they are put out while small.
Fire Danger Level: Very High (Orange)
Fires will start easily from most causes. The fires will spread rapidly and have a quick increase in intensity, right after ignition. Small fires can quickly become large fires and exhibit extreme fire behavior, such as long-distance spotting and fire whorls. These fires can be difficult to control and will often become much larger and longer-lasting fires.
Fire Danger Level: Extreme (Red)
Fires of all types start quickly and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious and can spread very quickly with intense burning. Small fires become big fires much faster than at the “very high” level. Spot fires are probable, with long-distance spotting likely. These fires are very difficult to fight and may become very dangerous and often last for several days, weeks or months.
It’s vital that everyone in the Lake Tahoe Basin educates themselves about wildfire prevention and preparedness. Share learned information with family and friends, and always take steps to prevent a wildfire from sparking. Together, we can prevent the next wildfire. For links to Red Flag Warnings and Fire Danger Ratings, and tips for preventing and learning to live with wildfire, visit TahoeLivingWithFire.
