emerald fire
Early Christmas presents for several groups in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Thu, 12/05/2019 - 2:13am
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The El Dorado Community Foundation played Santa Wednesday night, handing out checks for 29 different projects in the South Lake Tahoe area that help both children, education and adults.
Over $50,000 was distributed to the following groups (with funded projects listed):
Community
Kiwanis Community Organization, Inc. - Coats for Kids
Juvenile Service Council of El Dorado County - Life Skills/Job Readiness program
Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless - Coordinated Entry
Choices for Children - The Healthy Bottom Line Program
Wildfire weather is here. Are you prepared for power shutoffs?
Submitted by paula on Mon, 08/05/2019 - 5:00pm
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – As we move into the warmest and driest days of summer and early fall, the threat of catastrophic wildfire increases throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. High winds, low relative humidity, and dry vegetation are a dangerous combination. When dangerous fire weather is forecasted, the National Weather Service may issue a Red Flag Warning.
Not all fire is bad fire - Creating healthy forests around Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Thu, 05/02/2019 - 11:20pm
The following is the second in a series of stories on being a community that is prepared for wildfire.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Vegetation fires are natural and were normal before policies were created to suppress them for fear of uncontrollable and destructive wildfires as seen in the late 1800s. When some of the first residents arrived in Lake Tahoe between the Gold Rush and Silver Strike, it was common to see just six-seven Jeffrey Pines per acre. Trees in the Tahoe Basin were clear cut to provide the lumber for building mines under Virginia City.
Quick response keeps Echo Summit fire contained to small area
Submitted by paula on Thu, 09/20/2018 - 9:41am
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An illegal and abandoned campfire near the Pacific Crest Trail ignited a fire on Wednesday evening.
Crews from USFS, Lake Valley Fire and Calfire were called to the 5:20 p.m. fire on September 19. They staged at the Echo Summit Caltrans maintenance yard on Highway 50, and when determined to be on Forest Service land, the Engine 42 crew from USFS hiked into the fire location and the others were on call in case needed.
Lake Tahoe Summit: Bi-state, bipartisan effort to preserve Tahoe never complete
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/22/2017 - 10:15pm
Achievements in preserving Lake Tahoe were celebrated August 22 during the 21st Lake Tahoe Summit at Tallac Historic Site, but it was clear there is a lot more to do and the job will never be over.
Started by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, this annual gathering of government, public agencies and private partners highlights what has been done, what is being done, what what still needs to be done in keeping Lake Tahoe clean and clear.
Local Rotary clubs help UNR fire camera network at Tahoe prepare for robust fire season
Submitted by paula on Wed, 05/24/2017 - 10:24pm
With a record mountain snowpack changing to a robust, above normal, significant fire potential, wildland firefighting agencies are gearing up for another fire season and the University of Nevada, Reno is ramping up its AlertTahoe HD/4K fire camera system, which overlooks and helps protect dozens of western mountain ranges and hundreds of square miles of Nevada’s Great Basin.
Sugar Pine Foundation gets musician Jack Johnson's help this summer
Submitted by paula on Thu, 04/27/2017 - 6:17pm
As of 2016, the Sugar Pine Foundation has spearheaded the plating of over 94,000 sugar pine seedlings within 1,696 acres while involving over 6,600 volunteers, and the 2017 season is here.
Lake Valley Fire announces Firefighter and Citizen of the Year
Submitted by paula on Mon, 04/17/2017 - 1:42pm
The Lake Valley Fire Protection District held their first Commendation Ceremony on Saturday night at Lake Tahoe Golf Course, honoring firefighters and citizens for their efforts during the past year.
Winners during the evening:
Firefighter of the Year – Ted Jackson
Civilian Award of Merit – Jacob Zorn, Dept of Transportation
Civilian Award of Merit – Ian Whitmarsh, University of San Francisco
Life Saver Award – Alex Vaughn, Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Patrol
Life Saver Award – Engineer Wes Long and Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Anderson
Public comment sought on tree removal and reseeding at Emerald Fire area
Submitted by paula on Fri, 04/14/2017 - 7:23pm
Trees will need to be removed from the Emerald Fire area, and the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is asking for comments on a proposal to remove the hazardous trees and plant seedlings in that area.
“Restoration of the Emerald Fire area will help restore habitat for various wildlife species and provide benefits to the Lake Tahoe watershed,” said LTBMU Forest Supervisor, Jeff Marsolais. “The restoration effort will also provide visual benefits to residents and visitors and allow for a more fire resilient landscape.”
Emerald Fire showed how fuel reduction minimized forest damage
Submitted by paula on Sun, 11/20/2016 - 9:28pm
It doesn’t take a wildland fire professional to see how fuel reduction can protect forests and communities.
It just takes a field trip to the site of the Emerald fire near the southwestern shores of Lake Tahoe.
Despite burning at the same time and under similar conditions to the disastrous Little Valley fire, the Emerald fire was much less destructive.
Power restored to Spring Creek area after Emerald Fire - expect more outages
Submitted by paula on Fri, 10/28/2016 - 9:41pm
Liberty Utilities restored power yesterday to the 131 Spring Creek residents in South Lake Tahoe who had been without power since the October 14 Emerald Fire. The utility company had originally thought they wouldn't be able to get the power back on until November 4.
Two storms headed to Lake Tahoe bringing rain, wind and snow
Submitted by paula on Wed, 10/26/2016 - 11:24pm
Two storms are headed to Lake Tahoe and each will bring rain, wind and a chance of snow.
The first storm will hit Thursday into Friday, with the other one right on its tail Saturday night into Sunday.
Storm one:
Hurricane Seymour off the coast of Mexico will bring heavy rainfall that will likely cause travel delays, especially for those driving across the Sierra. The peak period for heavy rain looks like it will be early Friday morning. Rain will spillover into Western Nevada as well, so be prepared with ponding water on the roadway.
Lake Valley Fire chipping away at Emerald Fire scene, offers free service to all County residents
Submitted by paula on Wed, 10/19/2016 - 4:53pm
The Lake Valley Fire Chipping Crew, along with members of Calfire, have been cleaning up the area burned by this weekend's Emerald Fire near Cascade Properties.
All El Dorado County residents not within the City limits can also take part in this service until October 28. The program will end for this year after that day and resume in Summer 2017.
To take part in this free service, call the chipping crew at 530.577-CHIP (2447).
Highway 89 reopens after Emerald Fire burns 176 acres near South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Mon, 10/17/2016 - 1:57pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - Highway 89 reopened at noon on Monday, October 17 after being closed since Friday due to the Emerald Fire.
Fire and road crews have been working to complete containment of the fire as well as clearing debris and fallen trees after the weekend's fire and heavy rains.
Also, all evacuation orders have been lifted.
Traffic will be metered through the fire area by Caltrans. The Highway will be subject to future closure as repair work and tree removal continues and debris is removed from the highway.
Emerald Fire now 100% contained, road remains closed for cleanup
Submitted by paula on Mon, 10/17/2016 - 8:22am
The Emerald Fire is 100 percent contained after burning 176 acres along Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe.
Debris from the weekend's high winds and torrential rains near the burn area continue to impact the roadway and Highway 89 remains closed until Caltrans completes cleanup. It is closed from Fallen Leaf Lake to Emerald Bay North Gate.
According to Liberty Utilities, all customers have had power restored.
The following areas will be open to residents only:
Evacuation orders lifted in Emerald Fire area, Highway 89 remains closed
Submitted by paula on Sun, 10/16/2016 - 2:26pm
3:15 p.m. update from Liberty Utilities: At this time, Liberty Utilities has restored power to most of their South Lake Tahoe customers who were affected by the Emerald Fire. Crews continue to coordinate with emergency responders to re-energize power lines deemed safe to do so given forecasted weather and fire danger.
While power has been restored in most of the evacuated areas, multiple downed power poles and lines in the Spring Creek area still pose a danger and service to that area may not be restored until as late as Tuesday, 10/18, depending up officials' assessment of conditions.
Emerald Fire remains at 176 acres, 90 percent contained
Submitted by paula on Sun, 10/16/2016 - 11:49am
Crews remain at the scene of the Emerald Fire near South Lake Tahoe today, both getting containment lines around the burned 176 acres and preparing for heavy rains that could cause flash flooding. There is a containment line around 90 percent of the fire, with the west slopes above Cascade Lake remaining to be contained.
As of 7:00 a.m. Sunday, there are six engines, three fire crews and one tender in the fire area which surrounded Highway 89 each and west between Fallen Leaf Lake and Cascade Lake.
Heavy rain totals with Saturday's storm in the Sierra, more on the way
Submitted by paula on Sun, 10/16/2016 - 9:45am
Since Friday morning, rain has pummeled many areas of the Sierra Nevada. As of 8:00 a.m. Sunday, South Lake Tahoe had received 2.54" of rain, with more on the way. By Monday morning, a trace of new snow could be seen on the South Shore.
Update on Emerald Fire: 176 acres burned, remains at 90% contained
Submitted by paula on Sat, 10/15/2016 - 5:41pm
10:00PM update - The Emerald Fire is now 90 percent contained after burning 176 acres in the Spring Creek area between Fallen Leaf and Cascade lakes and Lake Tahoe on Friday, October 14.
Heavy rains have helped put out the fire as firefighters complete the containment line above Cascade Lake.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Power remains off in the area as a precaution, and homeowners are still evacuated until conditions improved as flash flooding in the burn area may occur.
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Flash flood warning for Emerald Fire and Little Valley Fire areas
Submitted by paula on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 9:27pm
There is a flash flood warning on Saturday for the Little Valley and Emerald Fire burn scars.
The National Weather Service in Reno has issued the warning for Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night.
Another band of heavy rain is expected Saturday afternoon with rainfall rates over over 1" in three hours in the areas of the burns. The rain could trigger debris flows and rock falls, which have already been reported across Highway 89 near the Emerald Fire.
These rocks and debris may affect area homes and highways, the NWS said.
AT&T coverage an issue for much of Lake Tahoe Friday
Submitted by paula on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 6:53pm
If you're an AT&T cell phone and/or internet customer, including those with UVerse, you already know your coverage was less that stellar Friday. The loss of power from cell towers on the west side of the lake affected service to the California side of the lake, the Nevada side apparently not having issues.
According to Heidi Hill Drum, Executive Director of the Tahoe Prosperity Center, her source at AT&T said 8 cell sites including 4GSM were affected by the Emerald Fire Friday. They told her the community could expect to be up and running by Saturday morning.
Small fire overnight behind Meek's Lumber in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 2:43pm
Firefighters from the South Shore jumped on an early morning fire behind Meek's Lumber on Lake Tahoe Blvd. Friday.
At 3:02 a.m., people driving by saw the flames and called 911. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue responded along with Tahoe Douglas Fire, resulting in two engines, medics, an ambulance and battalion chief at the scene.
This fire was burning at the same time as the Emerald Fire off of Highway 89 in the Spring Creek area.
One acre burned and the crews were released just before 6:00 a.m.
Today's rainbow from Regan Beach in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 12:41pm
Thank you South Tahoe Now reader Julie Abner for her photo from Regan Beach on Friday. "Rainbows bring rain to tackle Emerald Fire," she said.
Emerald Fire burning near South Lake Tahoe consumes 210 acres, is now 80% contained
Submitted by paula on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 7:07am
8:00AM update 10/15: Highway 89 remains closed in both directions from Fallen Leaf Lake Road to Emerald Bay due to the Emerald Fire which remains 80 percent contained this morning. Acreage burned is 210 acres.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
There are 3 engines and 12 firefighters still on the scene.
Opening time for Hwy 89 is still unclear. CHP estimates Saturday afternoon and Caltrans estimates the road will be closed until Monday. This is to allow crews to clean up the fallen trees and other debris on, and near, the roadway.
