Who We Are
Cascade Properties is a gated community on the shore of Lake Tahoe. It is bounded by Cascade Creek to the north, Lake Tahoe to the East, Baldwin Beach to the south and route 89 to the west. There are 31 single family dwellings in the community. Recent events that have raised the need for action include the Emerald Fire and the Caldor Fire.
The Emerald Fire in October 2016 burned 196 acres and destroyed more than 85% of the trees in the area. The fire has left a scar across the landscape immediately above and through parts of our community.
The Caldor Fire began in August 2021 and was not contained until late October 2021. It burned 221,835 acres in the Eldorado National Forest and other areas of the Sierra Nevada, threatening the town of South Lake Tahoe. Our community experienced choking air conditions and flying dead embers. Evacuation orders went into effect on August 30 and lasted a week, although many stayed away longer. The scars of that fire, only the second to surmount the Sierra Nevada mountain range, still remain along the Kyburz and Strawberry sections of Highway 50 which many of us use to get to and from Tahoe.
The Firewise Commitment
Each member of the community can make a difference in hardening the neighborhood's resistance to fire. The Firewise program does not require you to do anything, but all benefit from any efforts made, and effort must be made to stay in the program and enjoy its benefits, including insurance discounts.
Many of us already invest in defensible space measures and the annual removal of debris and dead trees. Reporting your actions and providing receipts to your Firewise community leaders is the easiest thing you can do. See the Submit Report button above to get your contribution to the neighborhood's defenses recorded for our Firewise renewal process which happens in the fall.
In 2025, our Firewise Action Plan asks these of all members:
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Report hours and money spent on home hardening and defensible space work
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Join in a Community Work Day on July 6, 2025, by inspecting and clearing debris within 5' of your home
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Consider installing fine mesh screening for all vents and chimneys to minimize ember intrusion (1/8” mesh available at DIY for under $ 4 a foot)
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Remove wooden fences attached to homes and replace them with non‐combustible fencing or none
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Move firewood that is piled next to your home or under decks to a location a safe distance away from the home
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Remove tarps from firewood piles, or buy fire retardant or fireproof tarps as recommended by At Lake Level Summer 2025
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Commit to reducing combustible material by 50% in the next 3 years in order to mitigate the potential for tree torching and ember production during a wildfire
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Join in community efforts to standardize address markings for easier location by fire and rescue crews - 911 compliant address numbers should be clearly visible from the street, at least 4 inches high, have a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch, and contrast with their background. They should be displayed numerically and be reflective for visibility at night. Options include Modern House Numbers, Amazon.com 5" numbers, and 911 Address Signs.
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Prepare a Go Bag and update yourself on fire readiness and evacuation routes
For other things you can do, please see this Resources: Reportable Firewise Activities and Living With Fire Tahoe.