Tahoe City, Calif. June 12, 2020
Erin Holland - Public Information Officer North Tahoe Fire Protection District
We hope that you and your family are staying safe and healthy. This time of year we are normally busy meeting with our community members to discuss fire risk, ways to be prepared, how you can make your homes more resilient to wildfire, and sharing ways you can keep your family prepared should there be an emergency.
In the era of COVID-19, we are following the governor’s directives to avoid gatherings in an effort to keep our community healthy. While we are not meeting with you in person, we are thinking of you. We want to thank the Tahoe Resource Conservation District and Meeks Bay Fire Board President Ed Miller, who helped create this video so that we could provide you with a current fire season outlook from the comfort and safety of your own home. Watch here: https://youtu.be/NdrGTPzyUoY
We also encourage you to watch this video provided by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office to familiarize yourself with the Hi-Lo Siren that law enforcement would use in the event of an evacuation. Watch here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3866772856727428
Wood and charcoal fires are banned during fire season, while gas and propane fires remain permitted unless we are experiencing red flag/critical fire weather. In those conditions all open flames are banned. If you see an illegal fire, please notify 911 and advise the call taker that the fire is illegal but not out of control. They will send a single engine rather than a full structure fire response. We would much rather respond through the 911 system and have our engine company educate the occupants, than to respond to a fire after it has escaped. For perspective, there have already been 3 escaped residential fires in the Tahoe Basin in the past week. Any one of those could have turned into another Angora.
Fireworks, which are always illegal in the Tahoe Basin, are also likely this weekend with COVID- 19 requiring the cancellation of our professional fireworks displays. Please report non- emergency illegal firework activity to 530-886-5375.
Now is a good time to remind you of additional resources that are available to our community during this busy holiday. Many short-term/vacation rental properties have re-opened, and with that comes a new wave of visitors to our community. Many of these visitors are unfamiliar with our norms; from fire restrictions to not feeding bears. This is a good opportunity to share resources you can use to educate our visitors on appropriate conduct, and if necessary report activity that needs to be addressed by the property owner or manager.
In Placer County, the Short Term Rental Program is facilitated by Host Compliance. Program information: https://www.placer.ca.gov/6109/Short-Term-Rental-Program
Email: STR@placer.ca.gov
A short-term rental helpline has been established for residents and guests to offer fast, discreet assistance resolving a short-term rental ordinance violation. Please contact the 24/7 hotline at 530-448-8003 or visit https://safe.hostcompliance.com/placer-county-ca/tips
El Dorado County’s Vacation Home Rental program is also facilitated by Host Compliance. Program information: https://edcgov.us/Government/planning/vhr/Pages/vacation_home_rental_complaints.aspx Email: VHRcomplaints@edcgov.us (this is EDC Code Enforcement for non-emergencies) Phone: (530) 573-3000 (El Dorado County Sheriff Non-Emergency)
El Dorado County recommends you contact the “Local Contact” that should be visibly posted on the property as a first step, and if they do not resolve the issue, then notify the sheriff.
If a neighbor complains to Host Compliance, the property owner is required to have a local contact who will respond to the address within 30-60 minutes to resolve the complaint. They also keep a log of complaints on properties. Any time you have a non-emergency issue, you should be able to find quick resolution reporting it to Host Compliance.
Have a safe and happy holiday, please wear your masks so that we can keep Tahoe open, and thank you again for doing your part to keep our community safe!
Erin Holland - Public Information Officer
North Tahoe Fire Protection District
P.O. Box 5879
Tahoe City, CA 96145
530-584-2361 (office)
530-308-1158 (mobile)