June is Lake Tahoe Basin Wildfire Awareness Month, marking the 10-year anniversary of the Angora Fire. Wildfire is a serious threat to Lake Tahoe's environment and communities. Wildfire Awareness Month encourages visitors and residents of Lake Tahoe to make a renewed effort to protect the high fire-hazard areas in which they live and recreate. The Placer County Supervisors today proclaimed June as Lake Tahoe Basin Wildfire Awareness Month to help bring more awareness to this serious threat.

Homeowners can help prevent wildfires by creating defensible space in their yards. Cleaning up pine needles, trimming tree branches and moving woodpiles away from homes can help reduce the risk of homes catching fire during a wildfire. Residential customers of the North Tahoe Fire Protection District can take advantage of the district’s free property inspections and chipping services. Tahoe residents are invited to dispose of their green waste free of charge at several locations through Oct. 31. Learn more.  

Tahoe residents and visitors can help protect our fire-prone communities by being responsible with fires, whether barbecuing in the yard or camping in one of our many parks. Keep in mind that campfires should always have an adequate fire ring and be thoroughly doused before being left unattended.  

Several community events will be hosted in June to help promote wildfire awareness and safety, including:  

North Tahoe & Meeks Bay Fire District's Fire Safe Bar-B-Que
June 10, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
North Tahoe Fire Protection District, Tahoe City

Wildfire Safety Expo
June 17, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
TJ Maxx Parking Lot, South Lake Tahoe

The Angora Fire 10 Years Later: What have we learned?
June 22 and 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe
(Please note that registration for this event is required as space is limited. You can reserve your place.)

Meyers Community Gathering
June 25, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
For more information about this event, contact Perry Quinn at 530-559-4813. As part of the day’s activities, the Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities has organized a workshop including an Angora fire time series photo display and formal presentation by UNR professor Peter Goin as well as a series of 15-minute talks about a variety of relevant topics such as fire adapted communities, defensible space landscaping, and evacuation planning. For more information about this workshop, contact Marybeth Donahoe at 530-543-1501 ext.114.

View more information on fire safety and prevention in North Tahoe.