USFS: Cigarette cause of Tahoe grass fire

A discarded cigarette is being blamed on the Aug. 26 fire near West Way on the South Shore.

“We’d like to remind everyone that, while fall is approaching, the Lake Tahoe Basin remains in high fire danger, and the Forest Service has issued fire restrictions for the lands we manage. In particular, smoking is prohibited in most places on the national forest,” U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Cheva Heck said.

The fire burned about one-quarter acre. But the dry, grassy area that was charred backs to houses.

The Gondola Fire of July 2002 proves how one cigarette can cause a major forest fire.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report