Fire officials: Some town will be affected by wildfire this summer, who's next?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Over 200 members of the community gathered last week for a Community Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation Planning meeting that featured ten panelists for an important discussion on what is on the minds of many.

The goal is to be a community that is wildfire ready, and the speakers went through the ways both they and the citizens of the South Shore can be prepared for wildfire, establish evacuation routes and what the emergency response will be.

A fire safe community cannot be successful without each person doing their part from creating defensible space, having a "go" kit and know where they will go in case of evacuation.

"This is obviously an extremely critical and extremely important topic to not only our community but to the City and the partners here tonight," said moderator and Citycouncilman Devin Middlebrook.

This is too important a subject to put into just one story so South Tahoe Now will be highlighting what was discussed at the meeting over several stories and what the community can do to be ready.

We've all heard the saying about fire - "It's not about if, it's about when." There will be a community that will be impacted by fire this year, and those in the Lake Tahoe Basin are doing what they can to be prepared so that community is not here.

Fire doesn't know the boundaries of the City, County, or State so a unified effort is essential to being prepared and able to fight a fire.

Future articles over the next several days on being wildfire ready:

Good Fire - Not all fire is bad, a look at prescribed burning and treatment of forests

Unified Response - First responders will know what to do, and where to go, both those in the area and coming into Lake Tahoe to help. The Mutual Aid System.

Defensible Space - How to prepare your home and neighborhood. El Dorado County vegetation management ordinance.

Be Prepared - The Go Bag. Role of Lake Tahoe Unified School District.

Evacuation Areas and Routes - The lake isn't necessarily the safest place to be during a fire

Alert Systems - Code Red and effective communication

Red Flag Pre-Positioning

Fire Camera Alert System