Incline Village, NV – The Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Chiefs, members of the fire-based Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (MAC) and the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT), expressed appreciation for the joint Proclamation issued by the Governors of Nevada and California prior to the 17th annual Lake Tahoe Summit held in August. The TFFT is a partnership of federal, state and local agencies working to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and promote fire defensible space at Lake Tahoe. The team consists of representatives of Tahoe Basin fire agencies, CAL FIRE, Nevada Division of Forestry and related state agencies, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), the USDA Forest Service (USFS), conservation districts from both states, the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The Proclamation, signed by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, and California Governor, Edmund G. Brown Jr, committed the two states to a continued partnership and increased cooperation on wildfire protection and preparedness efforts in the Tahoe Basin. Together the two states pledged to:

Support strong bi-state cooperation and a strong wildfire protection and preparedness and response capability within the Tahoe Basin.
Work closely with the Lake Tahoe Regional Fire Chiefs Association to further enhance integrated federal, state and local activities.
Support the efforts of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team and community-based wildfire awareness efforts to identify fuel reduction projects and potential funding sources.
Work with regional organizations such as the Lake Tahoe Public Information Team and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority to increase public awareness among both permanent and seasonal residents, as well as visitors about actions the public can take to help protect the Tahoe Basin from wildfire.
Work to address, as an element of the Regional Plan, implementation of fire safe building standards and regulations in cooperation with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and local jurisdictions, as well as joint work with regional organizations to develop a biomass strategy to reduce fuel loads in the Tahoe Basin.
Support reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, which includes federal funding to help support the 10-year fuels management plan and competitive grants for fuels work.

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“We were gratified to receive a Proclamation from Governors’ Brown and Sandoval in support of continuing and strengthening our states’ joint fire protection efforts in the Tahoe Basin,” said Chief Michael Brown of the North Tahoe Fire Protection District located in Incline Village, Nevada.

“Though the local fire districts represent two states and seven districts, we are one Basin,” added Chief Gareth Harris, of Lake Valley Fire Protection District. “When it comes to fire protection in Lake Tahoe, we are all in this together.”

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