Summer in Tahoe has arrived!

In order to enjoy the beautiful weather and fun times to be had, we need to be wildfire prepared. The good thing is, there are resources to help develop a plan and proven methods to protect our homes from wildfire.

Ember resistance is key

Studies show that combining home hardening retrofits with fire defensible space significantly improves a home's wildfire resiliency. Below is an excerpt from the recent Tahoe Living With Fire article, "What wildfire research tells us about pairing home hardening and defensible space". 

Wildfire research has recognized embers as one of the major causes of loss of residential structures in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) communities (Nazare et al., 2021). Another study with the National Institute of Standards and Technology discovered that during fires in the WUI, most structures are bombarded by ember showers (Manzello et al., 2002). These findings, and more, have shown how effective it is to make improvements (or retrofits) to homes to improve their ember resistance. 

Read more at Tahoelivingwithfire.com.

Preparing for evacuation

If wildfire comes too close, we also need to be prepared to safely evacate. Go through the Evacuation Checklist and read through the guidelines below to make sure you and your family are ready for wildfire.

WHEN A FIRE OR EMERGENCY STARTS 

Unified Command is established quickly between Fire, Sheriff, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Managers. Agencies assess threat level, weather, road conditions, and number of people impacted. 

SUGGESTION:  Fire, law enforcement and emergency management agencies quickly establish a collaborative command organization to ensure cohesive control of the incident. Agencies assess threat level, weather, road conditions, and volume of people impacted. 

The public may be issued: 

🔶 Evacuation Warning — potential threat: prepare to leave. 

🔴 Evacuation Order — immediate danger: leave NOW. 

WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN EVACUATION? 

Law enforcement initiates evacuations, including: 

Door-to-door checks 

Amplified announcements in neighborhoods 

Sirens and patrol vehicles 

Reverse 911 or emergency alert systems 

✅ Emergency vehicles will patrol affected areas to issue evacuation orders and help direct traffic. 

✅ Traffic control points will guide you to safe routes. Some areas may have one-way traffic or road closures. 

✅ Temporary Refuge Areas (TRAs) may be designated only by fire or law agencies if routes are blocked. 

✅ Public shelters and evacuation centers will be established — locations will be announced via local alerts. 

✅ Hospitals, schools, and care facilities have their own evacuation plans, coordinated with county agencies. 

 

Upcoming Events

Community Events

• Tahoe Tree Company | Tuesday, June 23, 10am-12pm 
• Tahoe Douglas Fire and Family Day | Saturday, June 27, 10am-2pm 
• Perennial Nursery | Tuesday, June 30, 10am-2pm 
• Kings Beach Music on the Beach | Friday, July 17th , 6-8:30pm
• Tahoe Summit | Wednesday, August 19th, 10am-12pm 

Neighborhood Meetings & Workdays 

• Hidden Woods Presentation | Saturday, June 27th  
• Bijou 3 Workday | Saturday, June 27th  
• Fallen Leaf Workday | Sunday, June 28th and Thursday, July 2nd  

• Lower Washoan Workday | Saturday, July 11th 
• 14th Green Street| Sunday, July 12th 
• Mill Creek | Wednesday, July 22nd 
• Tahoma Grid | Saturday, July 25th  
• Fallen Leaf Workday | Saturday, August 1st  

 

Get involved today by joining your Fire Adapted Community, attending an upcoming event or webinar, volunteering at a neighborhood work day, or taking steps to create defensible space around your home. Together, we can take proactive steps today to protect our homes, neighborhoods, and the Tahoe Basin for years to come.

Additional Resources

• Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
• Neighborhood Leader Library
• Tax Assessor Webinars: Douglas County, Washoe County, Placer County
• Tahoe Resource Conservation District's April 2026 Newsletter 
• ADD in more recent webinar FAC Culture

 

 

Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities

tahoelivingwithfire.com | 530-543-1501 ext. 114 | fire@tahoercd.org

 

This project was funded due to the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act, which authorized the sale of BLM administered federal lands within a designated boundary in the Las Vegas Valley and required proceeds to be used on projects to fund federal, state and local projects that benefit communities and public lands.