10th anniversary of Angora Fire: "I didn't think it'd be fair for us to have fun with the tragedy"

June 25 to July 10, 2007: The Angora Fire destroys 242 homes, burns 3,100 acres, destroys 67 commercial structures, and damages 35 other homes. The fire was 100% contained by July 2 and firefighters had 100% control of the fire on July 10.

July 13 to July 15, 2007: 78 celebrities participate in the American Century Golf Championship at Edgewood Tahoe.

The scar over the mountains at the southwest end of Lake Tahoe was evident as the celebrities started to arrive for the annual tournament at Edgewood. As they walked to the tee box at hole 17, the tragic view of the devastation was enough to stop them

"I didn't think it'd be fair for us to have fun with the tragedy that just happened," said former NBA player Charles Barkley during a recent press conference about the tournament that happened just 3 days after the Angora Fire was under control. He left the course and headed to the fire area where he met with firefighters and then treated them, along with their families, to dinner at Cabo Wabo inside Harveys. Lake Valley Fire, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Tahoe Douglas Fire Departments joined Barkley. At the peak, there were as many as 2,180 firefighters involved in battling the blaze.

"The town rolls out the red carpet for us every year and we can't just come there are play," added Barkley of his thoughts in 2007.

Not only did Barkley take everyone to dinner, he also donated $100,000 that year and added another $90,000 the following year to go those who lost everything. in the Angora Fire.

"Thank you for having us up there every year," said Barkley.

In photo at table above:
Mike and Robin Mosca, LVFPD
Perry and Jamie Quinn, LVFPD
Andy and Hedi Kaufer, LVFPD
Jo and Lisa McAvoy, LVFPD
Colin and Marianka Hardgrove, LVFPD

In group photo above: Starting on the left at the top, moving right:
Perry Quinn, Tyler Jack, Steve Monday, Chris Wildman, Steve Ricioli, Rob Hembree, Ray Zachau, Kevin Crebbs, Russ Dow, Charles Barclay, Fred Vermillion, Sean Sullivan, Chris Anaya, Jon Anderson, Andy Kaufer, Karl Koeppen, Kim George, Meaghan Reid, Jo McAvoy, Colin Hardgrove, Jim Drennan,

Photo of Charles with the young man: SLTFR Steve and Stephanie Monday's son Saxon at 5-months-old.

Many thanks to Battalion Chief Karl Koeppen for his help on naming those in the photos!