Here We Go Again - Another Lake Tahoe Wildfire

[trashcanistanista]

Source: KCRA-TV 6:00 PM

The fire started around 1:30 PM today as a housefire in the Talmont subdivision, 3 1/2 blocks from Sunnyside near Washoe Way. It is about 2 miles from Tahoe City. Hwy 89 is closed northbound at Sunnyside and southbound at Tahoe City. Winds have died down but the fire seems to be creating it's own winds. The fire is located in a dense area of homes. There are 13 Fire crews, and over 200 inmate firefighters on scene. The Talmont subdivision is now being evacuated. There has been a fast and furious air assault. There are at least three helicopters and one tanker on the scene.

Crews are trying to keep the fire from spreading north to Tahoe City. There are currently spot fires. So far three homes destroyed.

Red Cross evacuation center is at the Tahoe City Public Utilities building.

No confirmation as to cause of fire, suspected is a home a barbeque, but not confirmed at this point.



No link yet.

[Bobbieo]

1. My daughter has a home in that area - their retirement home.

Son-in-law is working up there right now. Hope their place will survive!!!

[trashcanistanista]

3. I should mention also

That Clinton (yes the Clenis) is up there as well as Feinstein and I saw Doolittle's ugly face at a summit to discuss ways to prevent forest fires, in Incline Village. Also heard on KCRA that Fienstein was staying at Granlabakken (SP?) and told to evacuate. I hope yous SIL's home is safe. I just heard that 5 homes total so far destroyed. They reiterate that there is a very aggressive air assault and pictures I'm watching do not show flames.

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Link

http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=6951202

House fire sparks wildfire at Tahoe, three structures destroyed

Associated Press - August 18, 2007 8:44 PM ET

TAHOE CITY (AP) - Authorities say a house fire sparked a wildfire this afternoon on Lake Tahoe's west shore, and three structures were destroyed.

Placer County sheriff's deputies say the wind-whipped, 10-acre blaze began near the resort community of Sunnyside just south of Tahoe City. No injuries were reported.

Deputies say the house was fully engulfed when crews arrived shortly after 1:30 pm and the fire spread to nearby structures.

They say an unknown number of homes and businesses, including the Granlibakken Resort, have been evacuated.




A little more at link.

Fire is about 20 miles north of South Lake Tahoe.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. And a much better story link

http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/CA_Tahoe_Wildfire_303323C.shtml

[trashcanistanista]

5. Thank you for posting the link.

I'm on dial-up and my computer is not that fast.:-)

[JohnnyLib2]

6. Dammit -- such a beautiful area.

[jenmarie]

7. I'm on the North Shore

on the NV side and thankfully the winds have died down. It's actually very calm right now.

At the summit in Incline yesterday, Feinstein was very focused and intent on getting everyone to realize how dangerous it is here right now. With the exceptionally dry winter and rise in temps, trees are dying faster than ever before. It's literally a tinder box. Global warming is taking a noticeable toll in the Lake Tahoe Basin. :(

I was quite impressed with Senator Ensign, who I normally can't stand. He sort of gave a slap to TRPA (Tahoe Regional Planning Agency) for making it too difficult for people to create defensible space around their homes (which is true). They also have a rule that you're not to clear pine needles away from your house, as they help prevent run-off into the Lake. If we had any rain, that might make sense. TRPA makes life difficult for the fire depart. who says to clear all pine needles within 30' of your home.

[jenmarie]

8. Also at the Summit yesterday

Reid, Ensign call for declaration to override TRPA

Members of Nevada’s delegation have joined Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Cal., in calling for a temporary emergency declaration to override the regulations established by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

The declaration would “temporarily override the regulations that hinder the fire districts and forest service from doing the proper fuels management.”

Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., along with Feinstein made the statement while on a tour of Glenbrook with the Nevada Fire Safe Council on Friday afternoon.

http://www.tahoebonanza.com/article/20070817/NEWS/70817003

[jenmarie]

9. It's so ironic

that this is happening the day after that Summit...

Global warming, catastrophic wildfire heats up Lake Tahoe Forum

Preventing catastrophic wildfire and realizing the threat global warming poses to Lake Tahoe were two of the major points of discussion for the dozen speakers at the 10th annual Lake Tahoe Forum in Incline Village on Friday.

One of the first to talk, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein was among the most adamant official at the forum regarding the reduction of the Lake Tahoe Basin’s susceptibility to catastrophic wildfire.

“It is very clear to me not enough has been done to reduce that threat,” Feinstein said. “The risk of another conflagration is real, ladies and gentleman.”

more.

http://www.tahoebonanza.com/article/20070818/NEWS01/70817006

[trashcanistanista]

11. The pine needle thing should have been addressed

immediately after the last fire. When I lived in Truckee you were heavily fined if you did not clear 30 feet of defensible space and now where I live in the foothills it is 100 ft. TRPA is insane, there are other ways to prevent erosion. Where I live now, if there is a fire and you do not have defensible space, the fire department will not drop retardant on your home. Needless to say, people make an effort to clear their space.

[jenmarie]

10. Fire Update

Update 8:03 p.m. Five homes destroyed in fire, containment expected by 10 p.m.

Update: 8:03 p.m. The U.S. Forest Service expects containment of the Washoe Fire to be around 10 p.m.

The fire happened at 1:35 p.m. as a structural fire on Washoe Way, said Forest Service spokesman Rex Norman. The fire spread to other residences and onto Forest Service land north of Washoe Way. The fire entered an area recently treated for fuels reduction to decrease fire intensity, and burned about six acres of Forest Service land, Norman said.

...

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20070818/NEWS/70818003

[trashcanistanista]

12. Great news!

"The fire entered an area recently treated for fuels reduction to decrease fire intensity"

This speaks volumes!

;-)

[Ian David]

13. Did someone scrub the photos of Ahh-Nold lifting weights in the ashes of the last Tahoe fire?

Arnie tours Lake Tahoe - pics
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1197568


Sorry, the page you requested was not found.
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http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070627/480/705bfb1ff9ee4d3e8e2b2ac72b702259

[WhiteTara]

14. we have fire marks all along the highways

150 miles west of Tahoe where STUPID peole have thrown their cigarettes out of their car windows.