wildfire

UPDATE 9AM:: The Kyburz Fire has burned 200 acres as of this morning, but is now 30 percent contained. Highway 50 remains closed in both directions. Caltrans will reevaluate the closure at 10 a.m. this morning.
The fire is burning on both sides of the highway and has jumped across the American river heading east.
There are 350 personnel working this fire.
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There is a wildland fire burning this afternoon near Kyburz on the West Slope of El Dorado County and 22 miles west of South Lake Tahoe. Highway 50 is closed in both directions.
Voluntary evacuations are being done between Kyburz and Strawberry.

A Bombardier CL415 firefighting aircraft is now at the Lake Tahoe Airport for the summer to aid the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies in fighting fires, officials announced Tuesday.

Nicknamed the “Super Scooper” for its capacity to repeatedly scoop and drop large quantities of water on a fire, the CL415 provides the Forest Service with increased initial attack capability in the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding forests.

History shows time and time again our greatest accomplishments at Lake Tahoe are achieved when people work together. In the past, Tahoe was known as a place where unproductive interactions between stakeholders led to a stunning decay in our environment and our economic vitality, creating a region that seemed frozen in time.

Participants in the annual Wildfire Awareness Half Marathon and 5K Runs in Washoe and Clark counties raised more than $15,000 for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency on Thursday voiced its strong support for legislation to reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act that has been introduced in Congress by Tahoe’s Senate delegation.

Sponsored by U.S. Senator Dean Heller, R-Nevada, along with Harry Reid, D-Nevada, Dianne Feinstein D-California, and Barbara Boxer, D-California, the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act would authorize up to $415 million in federal funding over 10 years to help continue critical environmental restoration work at Lake Tahoe.

Personal use fireworks are illegal to use or possess in Carson City, Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding counties, including sparklers and so-called “safe and sane” fireworks. As you enjoy your holiday, leave fireworks to the professionals by attending one of the many public displays around Carson City and Lake Tahoe.

Are drought-ravaged trees the new wildfire fuel?RENO — Drought-ravaged trees could pose a serious threat to homeowners and forest communities as Nevada’s wildfire season gets underway....

Two instances in the past week where people flew drones that disrupted firefighting operations in Southern California has prompted federal, state and local wildfire managers to again urge the public not to fly the unmanned aircraft systems within or near wildfires.

Most of the fires are single-tree fires with some ground fire, and the largest is only a half-acre in size. Winds are calm, and the Lake Tahoe Basin received substantial rainfall in the area of the fire starts, so the rate of spread is low. The Forest Service is staffing all nine fires with the assistance of Tahoe-Douglas and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection Districts.

GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — Firefighters on the Washington Fire, 3 miles south of Markleeville, California continued to optimize lower wind conditions to increase containment.

Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch reports significant progress was made Thursday towards containing the western flank of the fire south of Markleeville. The fire, named after the Lady Washington Mine near the origination point, has burned 16,490 acres and is now 15 percent contained.

GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — UPDATE 7:30 a.m., Thursday: Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch reports firefighters made progress for the second consecutive day Wednesday on the 17,205-acre Washington Fire eight miles south of Markleeville, Calif.

Firefighters upped the containment of the fire to 10 percent on the sixth day of suppression efforts. The primary tactical priority continues to be preventing the fire from reaching Markleeville. The next priorities are to contain the fire in the Wolf Creek and Monitor Pass areas.

Carson City Health and Human Services has been receiving several calls about the impact of the smoke from the Washington Fire in Alpine County, Calif. Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials.

GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — UPDATE 6:30 a.m.: Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch reports firefighters made progress Tuesday on the 16,553-acre Washington Fire eight miles south of Markleeville, Calif. Lighter winds and conditions more conducive to aggressive ground and air suppression helped crews contain five percent of the fire by the end of the day.

Tinder-dry vegetation, exceptional drought conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and several human-caused fires have prompted multiple agencies to implement fire restrictions beginning Friday on public land throughout western Nevada.

Tinder-dry vegetation, exceptional drought conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and several human-caused fires have prompted multiple agencies to implement fire restrictions beginning Friday on public land throughout western Nevada.

UPDATE 10AM TUESDAY: Washington Fire swells to 16,544 acres. Crews are working to construct a containment line south of Highway 89 and north of Highway 4 to prevent the fire from spreading toward Markleeville. Smoke continues to waft into Carson Valley and Carson City.
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GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — UPDATE 5 a.m., Tuesday, June 23: Smoke from the Washington Fire in Alpine County drifted over Carson Valley early Tuesday morning, plunging air quality into the “very unhealthy” range, according to the Nevada Division of Environmental protection.

GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — The Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch reports a 75-acre wildfire, dubbed the Washington Fire, is burning near Silver Peak in Alpine County, pushing up a large plume of smoke visible from Carson Valley south of the Gardnerville Ranchos.

Thinning of trees for fuels reduction and forest health has resumed on approximately 340 acres of National Forest System lands on the east side of Highway 267 north of Speckled Avenue above Kings Beach, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

A famous bear visited Heavenly Mountain Resort Tuesday to raise awareness about fire danger in Lake Tahoe. Thanks to Heavenly Mountain Resort for helping out Smokey Bear by banning all smoking on the mountain.
Here, Smokey uses the telescope at the Gondola mid-station to check out the work the Forest Service and its partners have done to reduce hazardous forest fuels and protect Lake Tahoe communities from severe wildfire.

A wetter than average spring hasn't dented four years of drought, with fire agencies ramping up in preparation of summer fire season in the Sierra, Pine Nut Mountains and on public land throughout Nevada.

The Bureau of Land Management Carson City District, U.S. Forest Service and the Nevada Division of Forestry warn of the dangers looming this season, with temperatures climbing and tinder dry conditions on the ground and in the forests.

It’s Wildfire Awareness Month at Tahoe, and with the summer tourist season around the corner, we must all remember that drought has left our Region with severely dry forest conditions and an extreme risk of wildfire. This summer we need to think about “when” not “if” another fire will happen. All of us have important roles to play in preventing the next wildfire, and in making sure our homes, families, and communities are prepared for it.

In a continuing effort to help increase the population of Bi-State sage grouse, the Nevada Department of Wildlife is partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to address major threats to the population within an area located in Lyon and Mineral counties.

May is Nevada Wildfire Awareness month. Each year the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, other program partners and corporate sponsors, work together to educate Nevadans on living with wildfire. Much of western Nevada is a high fire hazard environment, especially in this drought year.

A multi-state proclamation, signed by the Governors of Nevada, California, Idaho, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Montana, recognizes May 2015 as Wildfire Awareness Month and encourages all citizens to “learn to live safely in a wildfire environment.”

The Nevada Division of Forestry is hosting “Junk The Junipers,” 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 16 at the division’s office, 885 Eastlake Blvd. in Washoe Valley.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will resume work on the Carnelian, Incline and South Shore Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration projects in early May. These projects authorize thinning of trees and brush on National Forest System lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin to reduce the risk of severe wildfire and create healthier forests.

May the Fourth be with you, Carson City. Happy Star Wars Day. The movies created by George Lucas made celebrities of most all the actors involved, but today you can enjoy a little time with some celebrities of a home-grown nature. Bike Month in Carson City always features a Celebrity Bike Ride: past years have had the mayor, city leaders, officials, and other notables. Meet up at Telegraph Square for a short ceremony celebrating an award from the League of American Bicyclists for a Bicycle Friendly Community and the many new trails recently built in our valley.

MONDAY:

• Made In Nevada Day AND Wildfire Awareness Day at the Legislature

The 2015 operating season begins this weekend at Nevada State Railroad Museum. Come on down and take a ride on the Edwards Motorcar Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides are $4 for Adults; $2 for Children ages 4-11 and museum members; and FREE for Children ages 3 and under. The first Sunday of the month always sees a pancake breakfast at the Elk’s Club; let them take care of the cooking and clean-up!

SUNDAY:

• First Sunday Breakfast at the Elks Club: 515 N Nevada (bar opens 7am; 8:30-11am, $7)

Have you picked your pony yet? The Kentucky Derby is today, but that is far from the only thing running today. Chili on the Comstock is hosting their inaugural Fun with the Runs 5K Saturday at 10 a.m. The 1926 Edwards Motor Car is running, too, and ready for rides at the Nevada Railroad Museum. The wine walk is always a good time, and with Mother’s Day next weekend, it can’t hurt to peruse the shops before you run out of time to pick the perfect gift.

SATURDAY: Kentucky Derby Day:

Depending on the weather, prescribed fires around the Lake Tahoe basin may resume beginning Monday, according to the U.S. Forest Service.