The Alert Tahoe Camera Network around Lake Tahoe is now complete. When the network first began the creators had a vision for 11 cameras around Lake Tahoe, and years later they are accomplishing that goal. The cameras helps fire fighters spot fires quickly and efficiently.
"Have you seen the benefits first hand? 56 fires have been stopped in Lake Tahoe with their cameras,” said Heidi Hill Drum of Tahoe Prosperity Center.
The sooner the fire is spotted the sooner fire fighters can put it out. Each camera is located at a certain place for a reason. It’s all about having the right angles and filling in gaps so that the camera sees as much area as possible. You don’t want any trees blocking the cameras view.
"There's a valley just to the south of Heavenly and near Job’s Peak that is a source for potential fires. The valley is located near Heavenly Resort and this is the only camera that can clearly see it,” said Graham Kent of the Nevada Seismological Lab.
A fire camera can see hundreds if not thousands of square feet. The latest one near Emerald Bay is the latest one. It takes about one to two days to install the camera itself but it takes much longer to prepare. Everything has to be tested like the radios, to the circuits, and the camera itself. It takes about 2,000 people to keep the network going. It can be expensive too, but the donors we talked to says it is well worth it.
"How much did you donate? So the cameras that we finished we total a little over 100,000 dollars,” answered Megan Weiss of Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation.
If it keeps people safe it is well worth it. They are useful not only on Red Flag Warning days but also when there is lightning or even when there is a slight breeze in the afternoon.
