The Lake Valley Fire Protection District is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)—the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years—to promote this year’s Fire Prevention WeekTM campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire SafetyTM.” This year’s campaign, October 3-9th, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.
“What do the sounds mean? Is there a beep or a chirp coming out of your smoke or carbon monoxide
alarm? Knowing the difference can save you, your home, and your family,” said Lorraine Carli, vice-president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA.
The Lake Valley Fire Protection District encourages all residents to embrace the 2021 Fire Prevention Week theme.
It’s important to learn the different sounds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. When an alarm makes noise—a beeping sound or a chirping sound—you must take action! Make sure everyone in the home understands the sounds of the alarms and knows how to respond. To learn the sounds of your specific smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, check the manufacturer’s instructions that came in the box, or search the brand and model online.
The Lake Valley Fire Protection District wants to share safety tips to help you “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety”
A continuous set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and
stay out.
A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.
Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and
the unit must be replaced.
Make sure your smoke and CO alarms meet the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
The Lake Valley Fire Protection District is posting a series of tips on our Instagram (@lakevalleyfire) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LakeValleyFire) sites in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.”
To find out more about Fire Prevention Week, please contact the Lake Valley Fire Protection District’s Public Information Officer Martin Goldberg at (530) 577-3737 or by email at [email protected]. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and fire prevention in general, visit www.fpw.org.
Enhanced fire restrictions began June 15, 2021, and will remain in effect through November or until rescinded. Wood and charcoal fires and other fire-related activities are prohibited in the Lake Valley Fire Protection District. Increased fire danger due to severe drought conditions and warm weather is a big concern this summer. Enhanced fire restrictions will help reduce the possibility of human-caused fires.
By residing in the Wildland Urban Interface (the zone where natural environments intersect human development), we take on the extra responsibility of living with wildfire.
However, living with wildfire at Lake Tahoe isn’t just an individual journey—it’s a team effort between ourselves, our neighbors, and federal, state, and local agencies. It is a partnership, and we all play a role.
May is National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day! Take time this month to prioritize wildfire preparedness and make a plan to lead, educate, organize, and engage your neighborhood this summer. Below are some ideas:
2019 defensible space community workday in the Golden Bear neighborhood, South Lake Tahoe.
Become a Tahoe Network Neighborhood Leader
Tahoe Network neighborhood leaders receive training and access to educational resources and event assistance. With support from the Tahoe Network and your local fire district, you can inspire and empower your community to get prepared.
If you’re interested in becoming a neighborhood leader, contact the Tahoe Network Fire Adapted Communities at [email protected] or 530-543-1501 ext.114.
Educate Your Neighborhood
Introduce yourself to your neighbors and/or widely advertise the threat of wildfire during neighborhood walks.
Distribute our free resources about defensible space, home hardening, and evacuation planning.
Compile neighborhood email addresses and contact information. Send out wildfire preparedness information, emergency updates, or newsletters.
Create a neighborhood communication thread, group, or forum on Facebook or Nextdoor focused on wildfire preparedness.
Discuss your neighbors’ evacuation plan. Identify if any neighbors will need extra assistance.
Engage Your Neighborhood
Plan a wildfire preparedness block party and invite your local fire district.
Plan a defensible space community workday.
Organize a tour of homes with exceptional defensible space and home hardening.
Apply for Firewise USA Recognition
Firewise USA is a national program that recognizes communities who are actively preparing for wildfire. You can join the eight other Firewise USA communities at Lake Tahoe and apply for your neighborhood to be recognized.
Form a committee that’s comprised of residents and other applicable wildfire stakeholders.
Obtain a written wildfire community risk assessment form your local fire district.
Develop an action plan with a prioritized list of risk reduction projects/investments for our neighborhood.
Host a defensible space community work day and an outreach event to educate neighbors on fire preparedness.
Press Release: LVFPD Receives ISO Public Protection Classification 2
Lake Valley Fire Protection District is proud to announce that effective September 1, 2014, the community served by the Fire District will have an ISO Public Protection Classification of 2 in areas with fire hydrants and 2Y for rural portions of the Fire District without fire hydrants. The Fire District worked diligently over the last few years to reduce their community’s rating from a 5 to a 2. The Fire District is one of only 750 fire departments in the entire country to receive this designation.
The ramification of the new Public Protection Classification should be a significant reduction in fire insurance rates for all properties within Fire District boundaries. Lake Valley Fire Protection District, Fire Chief Gareth Harris announced that “I am extremely proud of our hard working men and women who contributed countless hours towards reducing the risk rating for the community we proudly serve.”
The Insurance Services Office, Inc. better known as ISO, is a company that serves insurance companies by evaluating communities all over the country and assigning a risk classification ranging from the lowest risk being 1 to the highest being a 10. They rate communities based on three criteria: The fire department’s capabilities, the firefighting water supply, and the emergency communications capability.
September 21, 2012
RE: Lake Valley Fire Protection District, CA
Class 5/8B, effective 4/1/2012
Dear Constituents of of LVFPD :
ISO has completed its analysis of the structural fire suppression delivery system provided in your community. The resulting classification is indicated above.
The classification is a direct result of the information gathered, and is dependent on the resource levels devoted to fire protection in existence at the time of survey. This classification applies as follows: Class 5 applies to all property within 5 road miles of the fire station and within 1000 ft to a fire hydrant; Class 8B applies to all property within 5 road miles of the fire station with or without a fire hydrant.. Although ISO maintains a pro-active process to keep baseline information as current as possible, in the event of changes, please call us at 1-800-444-4554, option 2 to expedite the update activity.
ISO is the leading supplier of data and analytics for the property/casualty insurance industry. Most insurers use PPC classifications for underwriting and calculating premiums for residential, commercial and industrial properties. The PPC program is not intended to analyze all aspects of a comprehensive structural fire suppression delivery system program. It is not for purposes of determining compliance with any state or local law, nor is it for making loss prevention or life safety recommendations.
If you have any questions about your classification, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Portia E. Stewart
Community Mitigation Analyst
(800) 444-4554 Option 2
Happy holidays from Lake Valley FPD! Here is the schedule for our Holiday engine to drive through our community neighborhoods. Unfortunately due to Covid 19, the Holiday engine will not be handing out candy canes this year. Please wave and say hello from a safe social distance. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us!
December 11 – Echo View Estates, Tahoe Mountain Road, Mule Deer Circle
December 12 – Lake Tahoe Blvd from Boulder Mountain Drive to Grizzly Mountain Drive
December 13 – West side of North Upper Truckee from Zuni Street Highway 50, Chiapa Drive
December 14 – East side of North Upper Truckee from Grizzly Mountain to West San Bernardino Ave.
December 15 – Christmas Valley from Highway 50 to Grass Lake Road
December 16 –North side of Highway 50 in Meyers (lower Apache, Magnet School), behind Station 7 (Cornelian Drive, Navahoe Drive, Cheyenne Drive).
December 17 – North of Pioneer Trail from Highway 50 to Elks Club (Southern Pines Drive, Tionontati Street, Meadow Vale Drive), Player Drive
December 18 – Upper Apache Drive and Mandan Street
December 19 – Pioneer Trail from Busch Way to Washoan Blvd (Glen Eagles Drive, Hekpa Drive)
December 20 – Pioneer Trail from Washoan Blvd to Jicarilla Drive (Apalachee Drive, Nadowa Street, Susquehana Drive)
December 21 – Kokanee Estates (Marshall Trail, High Meadow Trail)
December 22 – Golden Bear Trail, Meadow View Estates (Plateau Circle, Cattleman’s Trail)
December 23 – Cold Creek Trail, Del Norte Street, Black Bart from Pioneer Trail to Meadow Crest Drive
Enhanced fire restrictions begin June 15 at Lake Tahoe
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif., June 15, 2021 – Enhanced fire restrictions begin today, June 15, 2021, and will remain in effect through November or until rescinded. Wood and charcoal fires and other fire-related activities are prohibited on National Forest System lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin, including developed campgrounds. Illegal campfires cause over 90 percent of the wildfires at Lake Tahoe and increased fire danger due to severe drought conditions and warm weather is a big concern this summer. Enhanced fire restrictions will help reduce the possibility of human-caused fires.
Pursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a), and to provide for public safety and protect natural resources, the following acts are currently prohibited within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit:
Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal briquettes and wood, on National Forest System lands. 36 CFR 261.52(a).
Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. 36 CFR 261.52(d).
Operating an internal combustion engine off paved, gravel, or dirt National Forest System roads and trails, except within the Sand Pit Off-Highway Vehicle Area and boats on a water surface. 36 CFR 261.52(h).
Welding or operating an acetylene torch with open flames. 36 CFR 261.52(i).
In addition to the restrictions listed above, possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework, including sparklers and firecrackers, and any other pyrotechnic device is always prohibited.
Pursuant to 36 CFR 216.50 (e), persons with a valid Wilderness Permit or a California Campfire Permit may use a portable campfire pit, lantern or stove that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel, with a shut-off valve, in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials. California Campfire Permits are free and available online at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/.
At the following National Forest beaches, campgrounds and resorts, portable gas appliances with a shut-off valve are permitted without a California Campfire Permit: Baldwin, Meeks Bay, Nevada, Pope, and William Kent beaches; Fallen Leaf, Meeks Bay, Nevada and William Kent campgrounds; and Camp Richardson, Meeks Bay and Zephyr Cove resorts.
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Information about private and state land fire restrictions, regulated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE), is available at https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/current-burn-status/ or from local fire districts.
