Fire danger still critical in basin

Those who've passed the ubiquitous Smokey Bear signs denoting the level of fire danger may have noted in recent weeks that level is stark red reading "very high."

Indeed, according to local officials from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, "prime time fire season - is now."

"We had a late winter and that was a good thing," said NLTFPD battalion chief Greg McKay. "Right now through September or until the first precipitation - that's when we're on 'high-alert'."

While summer wildfires have been rampant in the eastern part of the state - Elko County has suffered the 80,000-plus acre Suzie Fire, the 190,000-plus-acre Charleston complex located 55 miles north of Elko and the still-active 22,813-acre Snow Canyon blaze - along with parts of Southern California, Oregon and Montana, the Tahoe Basin, thus far, has remained unscathed.

"People think, 'well, summer's over and we can relax a little'," McKay said. "That's when we get worried.

"Fortunately, we feel people here are pretty well-educated (when it comes to) fire safety ... but there are no guarantees. Farmer's (Almanac) says it's going to be an early winter, and that's really what we want to hear.

Indeed, danger of wildfires remains critically high, despite the loss of nearly 1.2 million acres statewide in what State Forester Pete Anderson calls an "environmental disaster."

"The social, economic and natural resource impacts (of these fires) will continue for many years to come," Anderson said.

Northern Nevada has lost more than 5 million acres to wildfire over the last seven years resulting in millions of dollars in fire suppression and rehabilitation costs.

"Nevada and all of us who live and enjoy our beautiful and diverse environment are faced with a real environmental disaster," Anderson said.

Among the largest fire complexes in the area was the Sierra-Tahoe Complex of 16 fires that broke out in late June, including the Linehan fire which encompassed almost 5,900 acres in Carson City, Storey and Lyon counties.

The total cost to combat those fires was $1.8 million, including $650,000 for the Linehan fire.

"While the Division of Forestry and our federal partners are preparing for extensive rehabilitation efforts on fire-damaged lands, only a small percentage may actually be treated," Anderson said. "The magnitude of this year's devastation far exceeds available rehabilitation resources."

Anderson said residents need to be aware of the explosive nature created by drying vegetation and high levels of cheatgrass.

"Unfortunately conditions remain extreme and the public must be extremely careful while engaged in any heat-producing activity," Anderson said. "As we approach the Labor Day holiday, it is imperative that every Nevada resident be cautious while enjoying our wonderful outdoors. I implore people to stay on designated roads, carry water, a shovel and to please prevent wildfires."

The Nevada Division of Forestry and the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District expects the fire danger to remain critical through September.

• Nevada Appeal reporter Jarid Shipley contributed to this story. News editor Andrew Pridgen may be reached at (775) 831-4666 ext. 111 or at apridgen@tahoebonanza.com.