Wildfire in Desolation Wilderness started by illegal campfire
South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is asking the public to be aware of fire danger and campfire regulations. A wildfire started Tuesday, March 31, 2015, from an illegal campfire at Granite Lake in the Desolation Wilderness. Forest Service firefighters responded quickly and were able to keep the fire from spreading despite high winds.
Illegal and unattended campfires cause over 90 percent of wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Fire managers are concerned about the impact from illegal campfires as we are in our fourth year of drought and forest conditions are already as dry as they would be in June. “While we realize the warm weather, combined with lack of snow has given folks early access to recreation areas, people need to remember that campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds and are not allowed on National Forest beaches or in the Desolation Wilderness.” said Fire Management Officer, Steve Burns. “We need the public to be mindful of the current fire danger and help prevent human-caused wildfires by not building illegal campfires.”
For information on campfire safety, visit http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfires/ or stop by the Forest Supervisor’s office at 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.