Resources

Risk Assessment Survey

Reportable Firewise Activities

Emergency Resources

Tahoe Specific Resources

Defensible Space Inspections
Home Hardening Checklists
and more

Community Workday 2025

July 6, 2025

RISK ASSESSMENT SURVEY

We are waiting for a link to a personal survey you can do to assess your own risk.

REPORTABLE FIREWISE ACTIVITIES

Credit to the Santa Barbara Fire Council and Firewise for the below:

HARDENING YOUR HOUSE / You 'harden your house when you make it less susceptible to wind-blown embers. If you reduce the number of ways that embers can penetrate the exterior of your house, you reduce the probability that your house will catch fire.

You know you’ve hardened your home against windblown embers when you’ve had…

your roof repaired or replaced with Class A fire-resistant material
your siding repaired or replaced with rated fire-resistant material
gaps in siding and trim caulked and sealed
gaps around garage doors covered with trim
plastic skylights replaced with double-pane glass skylights
single-pane windows replaced with double-pane windows
an approved spark arrester installed on you chimney
ember-resistant screens installed in roof, soffit, or foundation vents
the gutters on your house cleaned
leaves and debris removed from your roof
removed (or replaced) five feet of wood fence touching the house with non-combustible material
combustible material removed from open areas below decks
non-combustible skirting applied around the base of raised decks
combustible wood or wicker patio furniture replaced with steel or aluminum furniture
jute outside doormats replaced with non-combustible doormats

CLEARING DEFENSIBLE SPACE: You “clear defensive space” when you remove anything in your yard that could ignite if blown embers fell on it. The idea is to remove any source of fire that could spread to your house.

You know you’ve cleared defensible space when you’ve had…

a tree service do work
a tree rimmed or removed
the canopy raised on one or more trees
a hedge pruned or removed
shrubs or brush removed
fire-prone shrubs replaced with fire-safe shrubs
fallen leaves and branches removed
wood-chip mulch replaced with non-combustible mulch
a woodpile or scrap pile relocated as far from the house as possible

NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH: You participate in “neighborhood outreach” when you actively spend time on efforts to educate and support your neighbors in understanding Firewise actions and encouraging wildfire mitigation and emergency response education.

You know you’ve engaged in neighborhood outreach when you have…

used your tools to help a neighbor who lacks the necessary tools or skills to harden the home
arranged to check in with a neighbor in the event of any emergency
joined other neighbors in working on wildfire risk mitigation in common areas, e.g.: clearing brush and debris
otherwise spent time or money supporting Firewise work that’s not on your own property.

READY TO SUBMIT A REPORT? Click here.

EVACUATION ROUTES

The 2024 Lake Valley Fire Evacuation Plan has our neighborhood under the West Lake Tahoe evacuation map, showing we should go north or south on Highway 89 (surprise, surprise). Our Perimeter Evacuation Zone is Fallen Leaf. The full plan can be accessed here: The Lake Tahoe Regional Evacuation Plan

Included in the plan are how evacuation routes are selected (page 18), special considerations for Access and Functional Needs Populations including the need to evacuate service animals and/or equipment (page 19), and the requirement for homeowners who rent or have guests to post a QR code and url address at all exit doors with the link to their area's respective alert and warning information. In the Appendix, you will find information needed upon return to your home (page 34). El Dorado County specific plans start on page 68, and include mention of misdemeanor charges should one violate evacuation orders.

SHOULD YOU NEED TO SHELTER IN PLACE:

Immediately move people and pets indoors.
Close and lock all exterior doors and windows.
Turn off all heat and air conditioning systems.
Close chimney flues and all other openings into the structure.
Access disaster preparedness materials (72-hour kit, cell phone, radio etc.).
Move to an interior room or basement (if appropriate).
Set up an air purifier in the room if you have one.
Monitor broadcasts for additional instructions.

Shelter in Place

Perimeter Evacuation Zones Map (Lake Tahoe)

SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS

The County of El Dorado Alert Notification System’s self-registration portal allows you to enter important information about yourself and your home including any special medical needs, access codes, house layout, photos, pets, and emergency contacts.

CodeRED Alerts: Sign up for these in the Apple Store, Google Play, or online at CodeRED.

Note: There is a TahoeAlerts.com Emergency Location Service website recommended in the Evacuation Plan but when we tested it, we learned 'This location (Cascade Road) is outside of the Tahoe Emergency Notification System region.'

PRE-PACK A GO BAG

CALFire and Ready.gov recommend the following be placed in a 'go bag' or two to be placed in an easy-to-grab cool, dry location and an easy-to-carry duffel bag or backpack for essentials and a wheeled-bag for heavier food and water just in case:

A 3-day supply of non-perishable food & 3 gallons of water per person
Can opener if kit contains canned food
Paper cups, plates and disposable utensils, paper towels
Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
A flashlight with extra batteries
A battery-powered radio with extra batteries
A first aid kit & sanitation supplies with first aid instruction book
A whistle to signal for help
N95 dust masks to help filter contaminated air
A map with at least 2 evacuation routes
Necessary prescriptions or medications, including eyeglasses and feminine supplies
A change of clothes & extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
Extra car keys, credit cards, cash ($200 recommended at a minimum)
Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, insurance, bank account records)
Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream if applicable
Games, books, and other activities for children if applicable.
Pet food & water if applicable
Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape to shelter in place
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Non-sparking wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Once you have a Go Bag, sit down with your family and develop a Family Communication Plan.

Last but not least, schedule an annual day to re-evaluate your needs and replace expired items.

EVACUATION CHECKLIST

In the case you have time to prepare prior to evacuation, these are the steps recommended by

Err

Preparation:

Fill up the car with gas

Charge your phones and any power banks

Double check your Go Bag packing list

Review your Family Communication Plan

Important Documents to Pack:

Birth certificates

Social security cards

Drivers licenses

Passports

House titles

Vehicle titles

Insurance policies

Personal Will, Advance Directive

Trust documents

Loan documents

Legal paperwork (marriage, divorce, custody, etc.)

Medical prescriptions

List of savings & bank accounts

Photos/list of valuables

Credit cards, checks, cash

Phone numbers (family, friends, financial advisor, attorney, insurance agent)

Password records

Safe deposit keys

Personal Items:

Cell phones

Computers

Batteries for the above / power banks

Photos

Flash drives and hard drives

Family heirlooms

Cameras

Jewelry

Clothing

Medications

Eyeglasses

Pet Needs:

Leashes, collars, tags

Carriers, toys, chews, blankets

Food, bowls, litter

Before Leaving:

Make a video of the house, its condition and its contents

Move BBQ and other propane tanks to the street

TAHOE SPECIFIC RESOURCES

Lake Valley Fire / Free Defensible Space Inspections

Lake Valley Fire / Home Hardening Checklist

Lake Valley Fire / Fire Adapted Communities

South Lake Tahoe Emergency Preparedness Checklists

City of South Lake Tahoe Alert Center Notify Me Sign Up

City of South Lake Tahoe Evacuation Plans

CalFIRE

CalFIRE Ready for Wildfire Checklists and More

COMMUNITY WORK DAY 2025

July 6, 2025: Each household is asked to inspect 'Zone Zero', the area within 5' of each home, and remove or make a plan to remove any dead or live vegetation, pine needles, or other debris that could pose a fire risk. Hours and number of persons involved should be reported by email to nimancg@gmail.com.

As described in At Lake Tahoe Summer 2025:

Defensible space can be thought of as a series of concentric circles emanating from your home, with each circle constituting a zone. As you get closer to your home, the requirements for protecting your home from wildfire threats become more numerous and stringent. The most important zone is Zone Zero, also known as the Ember Resistant Zone. This zone extends from 0 to 5 feet from your home and should be almost entirely clear of live and dead vegetation.

As pine needles and pinecones accumulate this summer, rake frequently and clear this zone of all dead vegetative debris. If you have significant vegetative debris accumulation on your roof, take time to carefully clear it. If you have space, move firewood piles at least 30 feet away from your house; otherwise, completely cover them with a fire retardant tarp. Keep in mind that Zone Zero includes the area under and around any attached decks, and this area should also be cleared of any vegetative debris.