LAKE TAHOE FACES CONDITIONS UNMATCHED IN THE WEST
Dense, overgrown forests
Steep, inaccessible terrain
Extreme weather and wind patterns
Communities surrounded on all sides by fuel
A Risk Tahoe Cannot Afford
Tahoe depends on aircraft stationed far outside the Basin. That 40 to 60 minute delay allows fire to explode beyond control. Ground crews alone cannot overcome this gap.
Closest Air Resources: 40-60 Minutes Away
Effective Initial Attack: Under 20-Minute Response
Delayed Response: Catastrophic Wildfire Spread
Currently, Tahoe's nearest air resources are located in Columbia, CA (40 mins) and Vina, CA (60 mins).
Rapid deployment is critical to contain wildfires before they escalate.
Delays directly impact containment and increase probable destruction.
Without Dedicated Type 1 Helicopeter
With Dedicated Type 1 Helicopeter
Large, uncontained fires
Delayed, limited resources
Rapid, effective rescue
Small, contained fires
What is at Stake
$45 billion in property value
A $6 billion tourism economy
Public health, clean water, and regional infrastructure
Entire communities at risk of evacuation or loss
NORTH SHORE WILDFIRE THREAT SIMULATION
Wildfire modeling simulated three lightning strikes, occurring in the middle of the night, in the Tahoe Basin on September 3, 2021, reflecting typical convective activity where moist air collides with dry conditions. In this simulation nearly 10,000 homes were destroyed, 5,600 residents were displaced, and visibility was severely affected by smoke, complicating fire fighting efforts, particularly in Incline Village within 10 hours.
The best defense is a good offense.