Gondola

Updated:09/29/02 09:44 AM

The fire was reported to have started approximately 1/2 mile up slope from the casinos and burned up slope away from the casino area.

Acres: 670

Containment: 100%

Cause: carelessly discarded smoking materials

The tenacious efforts of the firefighters and support workers have paid off, the Gondola fire was declared 100% contained at 6 PM this evening. Significant work remains before the fire will be 100% controlled. Control is expected 6 PM, on 7/9/02.
Snags and large down logs continue to smolder well inside the burn generating light drift smoke visible from the South Lake and Kingsbury communities. Firefighters will remain on the line throughout the night to monitor the fire and extinguish any hot spots near the fires edge. Sunday day shift will continue extinguishing the hot spots deep within the fire perimeter.

Resource releases continue, and the number of assigned personnel will drop significantly by tomorrow afternoon. No injuries have been reported and firefighter safety remains a top priority. Suppression cost to date has reached $2,000,000 and the final cost is expected to approach $3,000,000.

A Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) team has been ordered and will be arriving over the next several days. This group of experts will assess the burned area and firebreaks to determine what actions are needed to prevent environmental damage during the fall and winter months. The needed work will be completed in the coming days and weeks.

Community support during the firefighting effort has been outstanding. The support of the community and businesses did not go unnoticed by the firefighters. This outpouring of appreciation is particularly welcome by firefighters when it appears likely this is the beginning of a long season away from home for many of us.

No structures damaged and no reports of injuries to firefighters.

Voluntary evacuations: No evacuations

Resources on site: Resources include 12 hand crews and 80 engines. Air resources are back on scene.

Total: 1,352 firefighters

This fire is managed by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (Forest Service)

A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Linda Sczepanik) is managing the fire. Agencies involved include: Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Forest Service, Nevada Division of Forestry, CDF, BLM, state, local and county agencies.

Participating Agencies
Gondola Fire
CA-TMU-009828

Tahoe Basin Agencies

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District
Lake Valley Fire Department
South Lake Tahoe Fire Department
Truckee Meadow Fir
North Lake Tahoe
Truckee Meadows

Federal Agencies

USFS, United States Forest Service
BLM, Bureau of Land Management
National Park Service
BIA, Bureau of Indian Affairs

Nevada Agencies

NDF, Nevada Department of Forestry
Elko Fire Department
Reno Fire Dept
Sparks Fire Dept
Incline Village Fire Department
Lyon County Fire Dept
Storey Fire Dept
East Fork Fire Protection District
Yerington
Carson City Fire Dept
Elco Fire Dept
Lake Valley Fire Dept

California Agencies

CDF, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
CDC, California Department of Corrections
CCC, California Conservation Corps
OES, California Office of Emergency Services
CYA, California Youth Authority
Orange County Fire Department
Ventura County Fire Department
Marin County Fire Department
LACFD, Los Angles County Fire Department
Kern County Fire Department
Aptos - La Selva FPD (Santa Cruze County
Elk Grove FPD (Sacramento County)
Carpinteria-Summerland FPD (Santa Barbara County)
Watsonville Fire Department (Monterey County)
Jackson City Fire Department
Lockwoods Fire Department
Amador County Fire Dept

Resources to fight any other fires in the area are on hand in the respective stations.

Many thanks to the Forest Service for their updates! See their incident website for additional updates.