USFS thinning trees throughout South Shore
Thinning of trees for fuels reduction and forest health will continue next week on approximately 170 acres on the South Shore.
Beginning July 28, thinning will take place off of North Upper Truckee Road near West San Bernardino Avenue, Pioneer Trail northwest of forest road 12N08 (Powerline), Pioneer Trail southwest of Columbine Trail and on some urban lots in the Tahoe Island Drive area near 15th Street. Thinning operations in these locations may vary over the next several weeks.
The Forest Service will close areas in some locations from 7am-6pm daily through Oct. 15 for public safety due to heavy equipment operation and falling trees. Hazards may be present even when operations have ceased for the day and the closure is not in effect. Individuals disregarding the closure may be cited, with subsequent fines and jail time.
The forest thinning is part of the South Shore Fuels Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration Project, which will treat approximately 10,000 acres between Cascade Lake and Stateline.
This fuels reduction project is long overdue.
Some people may not like seeing these forest areas thinned but they are also the first ones to point the finger if we have another Angora fire.
I think it’s responsible to not only protect the residential neighborhoods from potential forest fires – but also the forest from fires that could start in a neighborhood.
There’s so much more that should be done like installing solar powered fire sensors in the forest as an early detection/warning system to catch fires before they explode. These sensors can literally notify fire departments and adjacent neighborhoods in time for the fire to be extinguished and allow people to be prepared.