SLTFD station relocation talk not embraced by all

SLTFD wants to relocate the station on Highway 50 near Al Tahoe Boulevard.

By Kathryn Reed

South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Lorenzo Gigliotti is fueling a fire of discontent as he lobbies to build a firehouse and training center at Lake Tahoe Community College.

While Gigliotti addressed the Lake Tahoe Unified School District board this summer, the Lake Tahoe Community College board heard from President Paul Killpatrick on the matter the same night.

Gigliotti talked about having his department take over South Tahoe High School;s ROP fire program. He had not approached Principal Ivone Larson before that night about this, nor the instructor.

:Right now you are missing the bridge between the ROP and college,” Gigliotti told the school board.

In the college board packet was a history of the floating acre. That;s the piece of land Gigliotti wants the LTUSD board to sell-lease-give up. The unified district owns the acre located on LTCC property. LTCC has the discretion to approve where the floating acre exists, according to board member Roberta Mason.

“Why aren;t you asking the college to use their land?” LTUSD member Sue Novasel asked the chief.

He said he was told to ask the unified board about the floating acre. Gigliotti has never given a presentation to the college board.

Before the meeting Killpatrick said he is wary of having a training facility on campus because of the surrounding forest.

The college fire academy is a collaborative effort among local agencies. No one department has ownership of it. Those close to the situation said it appears SLTFD wants to put its seal on the academy.

Plus, Lake Valley has a training facility at its station near Christmas Valley, so the need to have a second one on the South Shore is questionable. The dated burn tower still provides realistic training scenarios.

“We don’t have enough structure fires to put people in there who have little or no training,: Lake Valley Fire Chief Jeff Michael said of the importance of the burn tower.

Lake Valley acquired a portable from STHS so the academy has a designated classroom this fall.

“I think we have a facility we are all using now,” Michael said.