TRAILHEAD FIRE CONTINUES TO BURN

As of Friday, July 1, at 7:15 a.m., the Trailhead Fire has grown to 2,151 acres, according to CAL FIRE, while containment remains at just 12 percent.

Nearly 2,000 fire-fighting personnel are battling the fire that continues to scorch hundreds of acres of land west of Lake Tahoe in Placer and El Dorado counties.

It’s currently burning along the Middle Fork of the American River near Todd Valley. An estimated 2,600 structures were threatened by the blaze, and smoke from it began to filter over Donner Summit and into the Truckee area Wednesday afternoon, JUNE 29.

Further, aircraft assigned to the Trailhead Fire also supported the suppression of two new fires; one three miles west of the Georgetown Incident Command Post, and another roadside start in the Foresthill area, near Lake Clementine. Both starts were contained quickly.

— Sierra Sun staff report

FIRE RESTRICTIONS BEGIN JULY 1

Fire restrictions on National Forest System lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin begin Friday, July 1, and will remain in effect until the official end of fire season.

Campfires will be restricted to certain exempted recreation sites and other fire-related activities will be prohibited. Illegal and unattended campfires cause over 90 percent of wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin and increased fire danger due to the ongoing drought and warm summer weather is a big concern at Lake Tahoe. Fire restrictions help reduce the possibility of human-caused fires.

“Given the past several years of drought we’ve experienced and our current warm temperatures, we ask that the public follow restrictions and help us to keep the Lake Tahoe Basin safe from human caused wildfires,” Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) forest supervisor Jeff Marsolais said.

“Folks need to remain vigilant and remember that campfires and charcoal grills are only allowed in approved areas of the National Forest.” On National Forest System Lands, fire restrictions mean:

No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires are allowed outside of exempted recreation sites (see Forest Order) even with a valid campfire permit. Campfires must be built within agency-installed and approved fire rings or grills. Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California Campfire Permit available at http://www.preventwildfireca.org/campfire-permit or from Forest Service offices during normal business hours;

No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or exempted recreation site;

Internal combustion engines are restricted to National Forest System roads, routes, trails and areas as identified on the LTBMU Motor Vehicle Use Map at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/travelmanagement.

No possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device, using an explosive or operating a welding or other torch with an open flame. All fireworks, including sparklers and firecrackers, are always illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The fire restriction Forest Order will be posted at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/forestorders as soon as it becomes available.

For more information on fire restrictions, call the Forest Supervisor’s office at 530-543-2600, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., or the Taylor Creek Visitor Center at 530-543-2674 on weekends and holidays.

Information about private land fire restrictions, regulated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), is available at http://www.calfire.ca.gov.

AL ANON MEETING

Al Anon meets every Friday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Unity at the Lake, 1195 Rufus Allen Blvd., in South Lake Tahoe. It’s a support group for people affected by alcoholism.