Historically fire agencies have waited until August to impose restrictions. But in the past few years restrictions have come earlier because of the drought. As of this morning, in the Lake Tahoe Basin, there are restrictions on smoking and campfires. Welding and fireworks aren’t allowed at all.
U.S. Forest Service Fire Chief Kit Bailey says fire agencies are also taking precautions.
"We are on a heightened sense of alert just because of the conditions," says Bailey. "And when we get wind a lot of things start happening as far as pre-positioning and moving resources toward the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Fire agencies tested their disaster preparedness Wednesday with an inter-agency communication drill in Incline Village.
“And the fuels are extremely dry and very receptive to fire and so we are trying to take some preventative measures and reduce our exposure to human-caused fires," says Bailey.
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