12.0 Conclusions

In general, the communities within the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District have a high potential ignition risk and high fire hazard rating. The high ratings are primarily attributed to limited access, steep slopes, and in places poor defensible space. The Chimney Rock neighborhood was separated out of the Stateline community because of large differences in the fire hazard ratings. Stateline has moderate risk and fire hazard rating due to moderate slopes and good defensible space. Chimney rock has an extreme fire hazard rating primarily due to poor defensible space, steep slopes, and the potential for extreme fire behavior.

There are three efforts that need to be undertaken independently and simultaneously to reduce the risks and hazards in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Each are have an equal priority:

• Homeowners should immediately implement defensible space;
• The US Forest Service, fire districts, and other land owners should begin implementing the priority areas identified on the project worksheets; and
• The TRPA, Forest Service, and Fire Districts must explore alternative treatment methods for steep slopes such as cable yarding.
• Funds need to be obtained as soon as possible to implement the proposed wildfire hazard mitigation projects identified in this report.

To be most effective, fire safe practices need to be implemented on a community-wide basis. There is no way to completely eliminate the threat that wildfires present to communities at the wildland interface. However, the recommendations in this report are intended to increase public awareness and encourage concerned community members to make proactive efforts to effectively reduce the risk of wildfire ignitions near their communities. Implementing defensible space and fuel reduction projects, and public education programs, will help to mitigate the hazards inherent in wildland interface areas.