Lake Tahoe Basin Wildfire Awareness Month 2015

Summary Report

September 2015 Report prepared by Sonya Sistare

Living With Fire Program, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

Table of Contents

Summary 3 Planning Group 3 Collaborators 4 Events 5 Summary of Key Events: Incline Village Evacuation Drill 7 Skyland Community Evacuation Drill 8 Wildfire Safety Expo 9 Other Activities 10 Proclamations 13 Promotional Efforts

Tahoe In Depth 14 One Less Spark 15 Print Media 16 Social Media 17 Other 18

Summary Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness Month (LTWAM) 2015 was held June 1 - 30, with events and promotional activities taking place throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. This was the 6th annual endeavor, which began as a week-long observance in 2010, expanded to the entire month of May in 2014, and this year moved to June in an attempt to reach more seasonal residents. LTWAM 2015 was a collaborative effort of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT), community volunteers and others interested in increasing awareness of the wildfire risk in the Lake Tahoe Basin and encouraging action on the part of its residents. Members of the TFFT Fire Public Information Team (FirePIT) began coordinating LTWAM in January, with participation from 17 entities. The group selected the theme “Improve Your Odds - Prepare For Wildfire! for LTWAM 2015. The primary funding source was a U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant, with additional support from the Nevada Insurance Council and others as listed on the “Summary of Activities by Funding Source” table, beginning on page 10. Regardless of the funding source, TFFT members worked together to accomplish the goals of the campaign. Overall, 56 organizations including local, state, and federal fire agencies, local and regional government, recreation organizations and others collaborated on the events and activities. We estimated reaching 1,382 individuals who participated in the events and numerous others were reached via promotional activities. Nearly $40,000 of funding and in-kind contributions, from a variety of sources, contributed to the success of this year’s campaign. Efforts will continue throughout the active fire season.

Planning Group

The following 28 individuals from 17 entities attended at least one of the TFFT FirePIT meetings held between January and June, 2015 and assisted in the planning of events and promotional activities as part of LTWAM:

Cal Fire Chris Anthony Brice Bennett California Tahoe Conservancy Victoria Ortiz City of South Lake Tahoe Tracy Franklin Sallie Ross-Filgo Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority Carol Chaplin Lake Valley Fire Protection District Martin Goldberg Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Jenny Ramella North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Tia Rancourt Forest Schafer North Tahoe Fire Protection District Dave Zaski Skyland Fire Adapted Community Ann Grant South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Al Martinez Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Eric Guevin Mark Novak John Pickett Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Tom Lotshaw

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Devin Middlebrook Tahoe Resource Conservation District Jen Cressy U. S. Forest Service - Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Lisa Herron Dave Marion Jason Meinul Olivia Rahman Valerie Sweetland University of California Cooperative Extension Susie Kocher University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Jenny Digesti Sonya Sistare Weidinger Public Relations Jenn Boyd

Collaborators

Representatives from the 56 local, state, and federal fire agencies, local and regional government, recreation organizations and others listed here collaborated on the LTWAM events and promotional efforts:

Amateur Radio Emergency Services American Red Cross Cal Fire California Conservation Corps-Tahoe Center California Highway Patrol California Tahoe Conservancy City of South Lake Tahoe Carl Kelly, DVM Douglas County Board of Commissioners Douglas County Parks Division Douglas County Emergency Management Douglas County Community Emergency

Responses Team Douglas County Sheriff Department Douglas County Search and Rescue East Fork Fire and Paramedic District El Dorado County Sheriff Fallen Leaf Fire Department Incline Village Community Hospital Incline Village General Improvement District KRLT/KOWL Radio KTHO Radio Lake Tahoe Humane Society Lake Tahoe TV Lake Valley Fire Protection District Liberty Utilities Nevada Department of Transportation Nevada Division of Emergency Management Nevada Highway Patrol Nevada Insurance Council

Nevada National Guard North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District North Tahoe Fire Protection District NV Energy Reno Fire Department Skyland Fire Adapted Community South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue South Lake Tahoe Police Department South Tahoe Public Utility District South Tahoe Refuse & Recycling Services Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Tahoe Resource Conservation District T.J.Maxx - South Lake Tahoe Truckee Meadows Community College Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District U. S. Forest Service - Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit University of California Cooperative Extension University of Nevada Cooperative Extension VA Hospital Washoe County Emergency Services Washoe County Commissioners Washoe County Communications/Dispatch Washoe County Community Emergency Response Team Washoe County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program Washoe County Search and Rescue Washoe County Sheriff’s Office

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Events

Date Event Organizer Location Attendance May 19 Presentation of Washoe County

Proclamation Washoe County Commissioners

Reno 20

Collaborators: North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Washoe County Commissioners

May 21 Presentation of Douglas County Proclamation

Douglas County Board of Commissioners

Zephyr Cove

15

Collaborators: Skyland Fire Adapted Community, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

May 21 Presentation of Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Resolution

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District

Zephyr Cove

19

Collaborators: Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, Board of Trustees May 30 Community Evacuation Drill and

Fire Faire* North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District

Stateline 700

Collaborators: Amateur Radio Emergency Services, American Red Cross, Incline Village Community Hospital, Incline Village General Improvement District, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Division of Emergency Management, Nevada Highway Patrol, Nevada National Guard, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, NV Energy, Reno Fire Department, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, Truckee Meadows Community College, U. S. Forest Service-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, VA Hospital, Washoe County Animal Services, Washoe County Communications/Dispatch, Washoe County Community Emergency Response Team, Washoe County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program, Washoe County Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

June 8 Skyland Community Evacuation Drill

Skyland Fire Adapted Community, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District

Zephyr Cove Park

128

Collaborators: Carl Kelly DVM, Douglas County Emergency Management, Douglas County Community Emergency Response Team, Douglas County Search and Rescue, Douglas County Sheriff, East Fork Fire Protection District, Lake Tahoe Humane Society, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, Nevada Highway Patrol, NV Energy, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, Southwest Gas, U. S. Forest Service- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

June 20 Wildfire Safety Expo City of South Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue

T.J.Maxx Parking Lot

500

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Collaborators: American Red Cross, Cal Fire, California Conservation Corps-Tahoe Center, California Highway Patrol, California Tahoe Conservancy, El Dorado County Sheriff, Fallen Leaf Fire Department, KRLT Radio, Lake Tahoe Humane Society, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, Liberty Utilities, South Lake Tahoe Firefighters Association, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, South Tahoe Action Team Volunteers, South Tahoe Public Utility District, South Tahoe Refuse & Recycling Services, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, Tahoe Resource Conservation District, T.J.Maxx, University of California Cooperative Extension - Master Gardener Program, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, U. S. Forest Service - Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit *Note - This event was also included in the Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month Summary Report

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Summary of Key Events

Community Evacuation Drill and Fire Faire Organized by the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, in cooperation with many collaborators, the evacuation drill took place on Saturday, May 30. Residents in Incline Village and Crystal Bay received a reverse 911 call, asking them to voluntarily evacuate to the lower parking lot of Diamond Peak. The call also tested the reverse 911 system. The drill reached out to approximately 1,100 residents in Upper and Lower Fairview, Tyrolian Village/Bitterbrush and Lower Tyrolia. More than 700 people participated in the drill and fire faire, where they enjoyed lunch, and visited with local agency representatives at their information booths and displays, talked to firefighters and other experts, and utilized the free animal micro-chipping service. The event was promoted in advance with flyers distributed throughout the area, banners posted in several key locations, announcements via the local media and at two community information meetings held in May. Photos of the event are presented below.

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Skyland Community Evacuation Drill This Drill was organized by the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the Skyland Community Leader Ann Grant. It was held on June 8 in conjunction with a multi-agency wildland fire exercise. Residents of the 240 homes located in Skyland were notified by reverse 911 and by a Douglas County Sherriff making announcements via a bullhorn throughout the community. A total of 94 residents checked in at the evacuation site and an additional 44 other participants were CERT volunteers or firefighters for a total of 128 participants. At the evacuation site, participants enjoyed lunch and had the opportunity to visit the fire trailer staffed by Douglas County CERT volunteers. At the conclusion of the drill, there was a debrief for the multi-agency wildland fire exercise. The Drill was promoted in advance by direct mail to each home, consisting of a letter from Ann Grant, a customized Wildfire Evacuation Checklist publication with details of the drill and a flyer about Red Flag Warnings. Many residents also received a personal phone call from Ann as she helped them sign up for the reverse 911 system. Below are photos from the event.

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Wildfire Safety Expo South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue hosted this second annual multi-agency event on June 20, at the TJ Maxx parking area in South Lake Tahoe. There were an estimated 500 community visitors who attended the three-hour event. A total of 19 agencies and organizations participated by communicating the importance of wildfire safety, preparedness, evacuation planning, defensible space and other vital information needed in the event of a wildfire. The event was promoted in advance with posters distributed throughout the area, a display ad placed in the Tahoe Daily Tribune for three weeks and announcements via the local media. Photos from the event are presented below.

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Summary of Activities by Funding Source

Direct Funding Item Quantity/Schedule Vendor Funding Source Amount

Newspaper Display Ads - Tahoe Daily Tribune, Sierra Sun, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza

¼-page display ad placed for 4 weeks in June. Circulation for Tahoe Daily Tribune is 10,000, Sierra Sun is 6,200, and North Lake Tahoe Bonanza is 4,800

Sierra Nevada Media Group

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$1,920.00

Newspaper Display Ad - Tahoe Mountain News

¼-page display ad in June issue. Circulations of 8,500 distributed via 200 news racks and countertops

Tahoe Mountain News

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$200.00

TV PSA - Channel 4 KRNV

65 30-second spots, AM/PM news rotator

KRNV U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$2,275.00

TV PSA - Channel 8 KOLO

34 30-second spots, AM/PM news rotator

KOLO U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$2,275.00

Lake Tahoe TV Three interviews and 443 on-air PSA throughout June

Outside Television

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$1,500.00

Radio PSA - KRLT/KOWL

107 30-second rotating spots, and 10 live interviews

KRLT/KOWL U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$750.00

Radio PSA - KTHO

210 30-second rotating spots, five live interviews and five posts on KTHO Facebook page

KTHO U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$500.00

Tahoe In Depth Display Ad

Full page ad in Summer issue, 50,000 copies distributed to Lake Tahoe residents and others

TRPA

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$5,000.00

Creative and Design

Creative and design for Tahoe In Depth Display ad

SDBX Studio

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$500.00

Lake Tahoe Visitor Map**

Full-page ad in the Summer 2015 issue, 100,000 distributed in Sacramento, Reno and Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Visitor Map

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$2,500.00

Stateline Banner (cost shared with Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District)

One banner displayed last two weeks in June

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$689.04

Smokey Bear Cold-Air Balloon**

Two 13-foot Balloons Sykes

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$2,493.08

One Less Spark Campaign - Media**

5,000 Rack Cards, 500 Posters and two vinyl Banners

Mountain Ink U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$788.00

One Less Spark Campaign - Media

Large online banner ad, displayed throughout June

Lake Tahoe News.net

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$485.00

Wildfire Prevention Education Material**

5,400 Smokey Bear fire prevention items to reinforce prevention message

Fire Smart Promos

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$1,780.00

Wildfire Prevention Education Material**

Misc. handouts to reinforce prevention message

Symbols.gov U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$826.00

Wildfire Prevention Supplies**

1,000 One Less Spark lapel pins

Wyoming Trophy & Engraving

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$1,320.00

Support Supplies for Public Events**

Popup awning, table, chairs K-Mart

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$244.04

Wildfire Prevention Posters and Signs**

Posters and signs for public areas (beaches, campgrounds and parks)

Desert Dog Signs

U. S. Forest Service Micro Grant

$2,982.00

Sub Total $28,997.16 **Note - Materials and supplies provided to support continual wildfire awareness efforts throughout the active fire months in the Lake Tahoe Basin and LTBMU.

Item Quantity/Schedule Vendor Funding Source Value

Theater PSA Campaign

A 30-second PSA, airing June 19 - Oct 15

Heavenly Village Theater

Nevada Insurance Council

$2,500.00

Wildfire Awareness Poster

200 posters, distributed and displayed throughout the Tahoe Basin

Dynagraphics

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

$146.00

Stateline Banner (cost shared with U. S. Forest Service)

Banner displayed last 2 weeks of June

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District

$689.00

Printing, Event Giveaways, Raffle Prizes and Live Radio Remote on KRLT/KOWL

Wildfire Safety Expo Various South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue

$2,500.00

Lunch and Refreshments

Skyland Community Evacuation Drill Various

Douglas County Community Emergency Response Team

$475.00

Sub Total $6,310.00

In-Kind Contributions Item Quantity/Schedule Vendor Funding Source Value

NDOT Digital Message Signs

Wildfire Awareness Message displayed on several DMS throughout June

Nevada Department of Transportation

Nevada Department of Transportation

$1,000.00

Skyland Community Poster

Printing one 21” X 36” poster for display at entrance to community

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

$45.00

Lake Tahoe TV PSA Production Outside Television

Outside Television $3,267.00

Sub Total $4,312.00

Grand Total $39,619.16

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Proclamations

Proclamations in support of LTWAM 2015 were issued by the Board of Commissioners in Washoe County and Douglas County. These proclamations are presented below. A Resolution was also issued by the Board of Trustees from the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District.

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Promotional Efforts

Tahoe In Depth A full-page display ad was placed in the Summer quarterly issue of Tahoe In Depth. Additional articles and sidebars featured wildfire awareness and prevention messages and information. A total of 50,000 copies were printed and distributed to all Lake Tahoe Basin residents and others. The ad encouraged residents to ask for a free, personal defensible space inspection from their local fire district or department, and directed them to the LivingWithFire.info/tahoe website. The ad is presented below.

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One Less Spark…One Less Tahoe Fire

The One Less Spark…One Less Tahoe Fire campaign was launched as an additional outreach effort to visitors in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The campaign included posters, rack cards, lapel pins, online and print media articles and ads, and outdoor signs to post in campgrounds and popular recreation areas. Efforts continue throughout the active fire months. Examples of the campaign materials are presented below.

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Print Media

Display ads and a series of educational articles were featured in Tahoe-area newspapers throughout June. This included the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Sierra Sun, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza and Tahoe Mountain News. Additionally, a full-page display ad was featured in the summer issue of the Lake Tahoe Visitor Map. Examples of the ads are presented below.

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Social Media Members of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team and other partners distributed and shared information via social media throughout the month, reaching thousands of residents and visitors with wildfire awareness and prevention information. Examples of these efforts are presented below.

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Other A series of Fire Adapted Community 30-second PSAs were aired on KRNV and KOLO television stations, beginning in June. Additionally, Lake Tahoe TV produced and aired a 30-second PSA throughout June, and conducted weekly interviews with representatives from the TFFT on various wildfire awareness topics. The same PSA was modified for the Heavenly Village Theater to include the Nevada Insurance Council as the funding source. This PSA began airing on June 19 and will continue until October 15. Radio PSAs along with numerous live and recorded interviews aired throughout the month on KRLT, KOWL and KTHO. A screenshot of the Lake Tahoe TV PSA is shown immediately below, and a screenshot of the Heavenly Village Theater PSA is shown at the bottom of the page.

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