Smoke from controlled burn filling Lake Tahoe Basin

The controlled burn Feb. 19 from a lookout on Spooner Summit. Photo/Susan Wood

Updated Feb. 20, 2:50pm

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews continued prescribed fire operations above Glenbrook today. Crews burned approximately 100 acres Tuesday, and have completed the ignition of the remaining 35 acres today.

Operations may continue through the end of the week as weather and conditions allow.

On Feb. 19 smoke impacts to the basin were light, with most of the smoke carried east by the wind. Today, the wind changed direction and smoke is impacting Glenbrook residents on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe. Smoky conditions are expected to last through the rest of Wednesday, with anticipated clearing tomorrow.

Basin residents and visitors may see a significant amount of smoke rising from the project area. Smoke may be visible on highways 50 and 28.

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Updated Feb. 19 4:30pm

Smoke is filling the skies in Carson City. It’s from a prescribed fire in Lake Tahoe.

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U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews are preparing for a possible larger-scale prescribed fire operation above Glenbrook on Feb. 19.

If conditions are favorable, crews could burn up to 135 acres to reduce hazardous forest fuels that could feed a wildfire. The Forest Service is considering staffing a fire information station in the Spooner Summit area for this operation. Updates will follow as more information on weather and fuels conditions becomes available.

Smoke from this operation could be visible in the Reno and Carson City areas, as well as in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Forest Service strives to minimize the impacts of smoke on local communities.

Smoke-sensitive residents should consider staying indoors and keeping doors, windows and outside vents closed. To directly receive prescribed fire updates, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us.

Forest Service staff will post road signs around areas affected by prescribed fire, and update the local fire information line at (530) 543.2600, No. 6.