Heller announces funding for Tahoe-area wildfire cameras

LAS VEGAS — The U.S. government is sending $226,000 to Nevada for cameras to help detect and monitor wildfires near Lake Tahoe.

Sen. Dean Heller’s office announced the funding for the AlertTahoe program Tuesday morning that will allow cameras to be upgraded and new cameras to be installed.

The money comes on the heels of the Martin fire burning in a remote area near Winnemucca that got so big it was visible from space.

Heller says in a statement that the AlertTahoe fire monitoring and detection system has helped stop hundreds of potentially devastating fires over the past few years.