wildfire

Lake Tahoe will be thrust in the spotlight again when scientists, public agencies and elected officials meet Aug. 13 for the 16th annual Lake Tahoe Summit. To be discussed with great interest is the protection and health of Lake Tahoe's fragile environment and economy.
“The health of the environment and the health of the economy at Tahoe are linked,” Derek Kauneckis, political science professor and researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno said. “And the collaborations that have been established at the Lake have set the stage for future efforts.”

CARSON CITY – Nevada today affirmed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s automatic drought disaster declaration, which applies to all 17 Nevada counties.

The Lake Tahoe Science Consortium collaborated with University of Nevada, Reno’s Department of Art to create “Visualizing Change,” a photographic art expedition intended to convey concepts in environmental restoration at Lake Tahoe to the scientific community and general public. The exhibit is located in the Prim Desert Research Library at Sierra Nevada College at Lake Tahoe’s Incline Village. It features photography and oil painting contributions from eight noted artists and is free and open to the public through July 27.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit reminds residents and visitors to help protect public safety and our environment during the Fourth of July holiday.
Keep wildfire prevention in mind during Fourth of July celebrations. Possession of fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Seasonal drying conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and a number of human-caused fires have prompted the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District Office and the Nevada Division of Forestry’s Sierra Forest Fire Protection District to announce the implementation of fire restrictions on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 12:01 a.m., and lasting until further notice.

Extremely dry conditions has prompted the Bureau of Land Management Carson City District to urge cities, counties and residents to be aware of the increased chance of wildfire due to extreme dry conditions and warmer temperatures.
“The current conditions for this time of the year are dryer than what we have seen in the last 20 years," said Ken Smihula, fire management officer. “The public needs to be aware of the dry conditions and the very high risk of wildfire. We encourage everyone using public lands to be careful in regards to human-caused fires and take appropriate steps to prevent them.”

More than 350 scientists, environmental policy makers and economic stakeholders will discuss Lake Tahoe and its environmental and economic future at the annual Tahoe Science Conference “Environmental Restoration in a Changing Climate” May 22 to 24 at Incline Village.
The conference, this year being held at Sierra Nevada College, features a scientific poster session and the opening of “Visualizing Change, a photographic exhibition,” on Tuesday evening followed by two full days of seminars and workshops covering more than 20 topics in three main areas:

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is encouraging local residents and part-time homeowners to become “wildfire aware” by taking advantage of public education activities during Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness Week happening May 26 to June 3.

“With the fifth anniversary of the Angora fire coming up, this is a good opportunity for our community to discuss the importance of wildfire awareness,” said Joanne Marchetta, Executive Director of TRPA.

Wildfire Awareness Week kicked off Saturday in Mills Park with displays and information to help residents protect themselves and their property against wildfires.

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s insurance carriers have reported to the Nevada Division of Insurance (Division) that they have received around 1,100 claims as a result of the Caughlin Ranch and Washoe Drive fires. The dollar amount of these claims, mostly due to fire, wind or smoke damage is approaching $35 million.

These insurance claim estimates show the dangers of wildfire. Nevadans should take action during Nevada Wildfire Awareness Week (NWAW) to prepare their homes and evaluate their insurance to prepare for wildfire season.

The Nevada Division of Forestry is conducting prescribed burns at Tunnel Creek in the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park backcountry from March through May, 2012, weather permitting.
The Tunnel Creek road, from State Route 28 to Tunnel Creek Station may be closed in order to conduct the burns.
Signs will be posted throughout the area when burns are being conducted.
Nearly 100 acres are being treated in 15 separate phases.
The burns are part of ongoing fuels treatment and forest restoration efforts in the Lake Tahoe area.

The Nevada Division of Emergency Management/Homeland Security and the National Weather Service are partnering together to educate the citizens of Nevada on National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 12-16.

According to the National Weather Service, Floods and Flash Floods are the #1 weather-related killer in the United States and can occur any time of the year. This is why the Nevada Division of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service Offices in Reno, Las Vegas, and Elko want to help spread the word about being flood safe.

Prescribed fires are planned beginning Monday at various Lake Tahoe basin locations, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The controlled burns are planned for Kingsbury Grade near North Benjamin in Douglas County, the Logan Creek area; north of Emerald Bay; Kings Beach and McKinney Bay near Homewood.

Here is the latest from Washoe County on evacuations. Go here as this list is being updated.

View Washoe Drive Fire (1/19/2012) in a larger map

UPDATE 510PM: Fire burns more than 3,000 acres with zero containment; 4,000 evacuated; no count on home and structure losses.

At 4:40 pm this afternoon, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, under his constitutional and statutory authority, made a state declaration of emergency which qualifies local governments for federal assistance associated with this event. The National Guard is on standby at the request of Sandoval and Washoe County. California has also provided fire assistance as part of a Governor to Governor agreement with Jerry Brown. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been and are being affected by this fire,” Sandoval said. “Declaring a state of emergency ensures that every resource from the local, state and federal level is available to assist. The Nevada Division of Forestry and the Department of Public Safety have also engaged with local responders.” Additionally, Nevada has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). As a result, Nevada is eligible for up to 75 percent funding assistance for eligible costs. The request was made by the Nevada Division of Forestry on behalf of Washoe County at the onset of the fire.

More below the fold.

Expected strong winds to arrive on Sunday has the U.S. Forest Service asking Lake Tahoe fire agencies to be on alert for forest fires in the basin.
The wind, combined with virtually no snow or rain since November, has already pushed the fire danger level back to high. The Forest Service urges the public to use caution with activities that could start a fire.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has approved a project that will reduce wildfire risk to communities on Lake Tahoe's South Shore and restore the health of the area's forests. The South Shore Fuel Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration Project will thin trees and brush on more than 10,000 acres of national forest system land from the Nevada state line to Cascade Lake.

UPDATE 6:30PM: Fire officials have reduced the amount of acres having burned on the east side of Carson City. Tonight officials report 300 acres have been consumed so far in the Laurel Fire burning on BLM land off of Deer Run Road. While no structures are threatened at this time, there is no estimate of containment.

To a packed house of observers, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board voted to approve Phase 1 of the Homewood Mountain Resort Ski Area Master Plan at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 14.

The Tahoe Resource Conservation District has released a series of educational posters which identify some of the biggest threats to Lake Tahoe Basin, as well as what visitors, residents and even kids can do to help. Titled “Tahoe’s Most un-Wanted,” the first three posters feature aquatic invasive species, fine sediments from runoff and invasive weeds, and are free to pick up or request for local schools, businesses and other organizations who would like to display them publicly.

RENO - The estimated number of homes destroyed in a wind-fueled wildfire more than doubled on Saturday to a total of 32, but Gov. Brian Sandoval said it's a miracle scores more weren't lost.A re...

Twenty-nine homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the dangerous wildfire that blasted out of the foothills of southwest Reno on Friday.

Firefighters expected to have the 2,000-acre Caughlin Fire fully contained today, with fire lines cut around fire areas.

Evacuated homeowners were allowed to return noon Saturday, most of them grateful to enter homes firefighters managed to protect from the wind-whipped firestorm. Others found smoking ruins.

RENO - A cloud of grayish-white smoke settled over upscale homes and horse pastures at Reno's edge Friday as firefighters from across Nevada came close to taming a sudden wildfire that sent 16 p...

Here is the latest video report from KRNV:

Officials say a wind-whipped wildfire in Reno has destroyed 20 homes, injured several people and forced evacuations.Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez tells the Reno Gazette-Journal (http://on.rgj.c...

Update 11:53 a.m.: Congressmen Mark Amodei (NV-2) and Joe Heck (NV-3) released the following joint statement regarding the Caughlin Ranch fire:
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this disaster. We are in contact with the Governor’s office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D.C. to offer guidance and assistance in providing resources to address the emergency. We are coordinating efforts to ensure the Prepositioned Equipment Program (PEP) located in Las Vegas is prepared to deploy and assist with controlling the fire if needed. Anyone wishing to make financial contributions to help the victims of this disaster may do so through the Red Cross."

Update 10 a.m: The State of Nevada, Washoe County and the City of Reno have declared a state of emergency. More than 9,500 people have been evacuated, according to City of Reno spokesman Chris Good. The 400-plus-acre fire is still zero percent contained. As of now, Galena High School is the evacuation point. If that fills up, Damonte Ranch High School will be the next evacuation point. Go here for the latest from UNR's Nevada Sagebrush and here from MyNews4.com.

Update 8:15: Fire now officially named Caughlin Fire.

Update 7:11 a.m.: KRNV is on the air talking with Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez who is saying they have lost about 20 homes so far, and the strong winds are a big problem. He also said the winds are so strong that there is no way to get air attacks on this fire.

An Emergency 211 number is being set up to provide better information for Reno residents.

A wind-driven wildfire has burned more than 400 acres and has consumed at least six homes in the Caughlin Ranch area in southwest Reno this morning. The Pine Haven fire broke out around 12:30 this morning and thousands have been told to evacuate. Residents are being evacuated to Reno High School, the designated area for evacuations. Fire agencies from the Carson City and Carson Valley areas are responding as are from the Lake Tahoe area. Power is out to at least 1,000 homes in the area, according to NV Energy.
Flames are threatening homes near Manzanita Lane and Dant Boulevard, and police officers were going to residences to evacuate residents. An officer went to the house of a panicking Kathy Harrah. The officer told her to take a deep breath and said "you are fairly safe," as she and her two sons, John and Kody, grabbed items and put them into their truck. "I have been watching the fire all night. I didn't know it was going to get this bad," she told the Reno Gazette-Journal before ordering her son to rip a computer out of a wall. The area was thick with smoke that hung over over Manzanita. Flames in the canyon below Manzanita shot up dozens of feet in the air as they hit brush. Go here and here for story.

Videos of the fire

Map of fire area

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews are scheduled to resume prescribed fire operations on Kingsbury Grade near South Shore and on the West Shore near the Tahoe Heights area today, Wednesday, November 09, 2011, weather permitting. Both project areas are small, approximately two acres. Operations may continue through the week.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is proposing to thin trees and brush on National Forest System lands near Incline, Nev., to reduce wildfire risk and restore forest health. The LTBMU is seeking public input on the Incline Fuels Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration project by November 28.

The project area includes 3,927 acres of National Forest System lands on the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe, from the California-Nevada state line to Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park.

By the Nevada Department of Wildlife
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) urges chukar hunters to avoid popular chukar hunting areas recently damaged by extensive wildfire in northeastern Nevada.
Despite these fires, the department is still predicting excellent chukar hunting success this season.
Hunters are asked to stay away from China Garden in the Bloody Run Mountains, Tom Basin in the Santa Rosa Range, the northern portion of the Izzenhood Range south of Midas, the Hot Springs Range and the south Turscarora Range.

Firefighters expect to have the 150-acre Holbrook fire contained by this morning.A quick response and some lucky winds slowed down the wildfire that started in western Topaz Ranch Estates, flew ...

By Nevada Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
From Southern Nevada to Lake Tahoe and all parts above and in between, state, federal, local and volunteer firefighting resources have responded to numerous lightning- and human-caused wildfires across Nevada so far this year. The state has lost about 94,000 acres to wildfire this summer, which is significantly less than the five-year average of 428,084 acres a year.