By Steven Harmon
Contra Costa Times (California)
Copyright 2007 Contra Costa Newspapers
All Rights Reserved
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, acting governor while Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Europe, declared a state of emergency for the 2,500-acre Angora fire that has devastated the South Lake Tahoe basin, opening the way for state and federal dollars to cover what is expected to be millions of dollars in losses.
The fire, whose northern edges are within two miles of South Lake Tahoe, has claimed at least 170 residences and still threatens another 1,000 residences, said Henry Renteria, the director of California's Office of Emergency Services.
It is considered the worst fire in 100 years in the South Lake Tahoe area, though there have been no fatalities or injuries, he said. Evacuations are under way for residents. An American Red Cross shelter has been established in the South Lake Tahoe area, with 35 evacuees currently staying at the center. More than 120 residents have been offered hotel rooms.
A state of emergency allows the state government to bring personnel, equipment and facilities together under the direction of the Office of Emergency Services. Just as important, it clears the way to seek help from the federal government. Already, the Federal Emergency Management Administration has provided a grant to attack the fire and reimburse urgent firefighting costs.
Garamendi said he has been in constant contact with Schwarzenegger, including a 23-minute call Monday morning that included Renteria and the local fire chief.
"Many residents have already lost their homes and many more are in danger," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "I am working closely with all parties, and we remain committed to ensuring that every resource is available in an effort to prevent any further losses."
So far, more than 1,000 fire personnel have been used, along with 12 helicopters, 43 hand crews, 110 fire engines, four bulldozers, five water tenders and 110 support personnel. With the first shift of firefighters having gone past 24 hours, more personnel and resources are being requested.
California's Mediterranean climate — high heat with low humidity and winds — combined with large quantities of dead and downed "fuels" such as timber make for the state's annual fire season, said Ken Pimlott, assistant deputy director with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Another combustible factor playing out in South Lake Tahoe fire is the urban-wildlife "interface," in which residences bump up against dense forests and woods.
The problem was sufficient enough in the Tahoe region to inspire a 1997 summit that brought together President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and Gov. Pete Wilson and produced an agreement in which the federal government began to support thinning projects.
"But this is a vast forest area," said Garamendi, who represented the area as an assemblyman and senator from 1974 to 1984. "There's no way to get it down in one year, or even 10 years. But the thinning has been going on around the basin. We've got more to do, and not just in the Tahoe basin, but in places like the Sierras and Southern California mountains."
