Fighting Forest Fires at Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts With Snowblowers
In an unconventional approach to combat wildfires, popular ski resorts like Heavenly and Sierra-at-Tahoe are employing snowblowers. The meteorologist at CNN, Taylor Ward, explained that snowblowers help by spraying water into the air, which is beneficial when trying to keep areas moist. Though usually used to generate snow in the winter, these machines are now being utilized for their moisture-dispensing capabilities throughout the Caldo Fire crisis.
Heavenly contributes to firefighting efforts by allowing firefighters to establish a base within their resort. Cal Fire spokesperson, Mike Marcucci, shared that their presence at Heavenly enables firefighters to approach the fire more closely. Cal Fire has planned to redirect the Caldor Fire towards Paradise, an area where combustible materials have already been treated for moisture retention.
The fire relies on dry shrubs and trees for fuel. In Paradise, the abundant moisture would make these materials harder to burn, slowing down the spread of the fire. However, firefighters are facing some obstacles due to strong winds that may cause embers to ignite distant fires up to a mile away. This adds complexity to the already challenging task of containing the flames, Ward explained.
Discoveries of fuel sources have been problematic during the Caldor Fire, causing the blaze to grow rapidly. According to Cal Fire Deputy Chief Steve Vollmer, when the winds stabilize, it will become clearer that the fire fronts near the origin have shrunken.
As of the latest update, the Caldor Fire has expanded to 210,259 acres, with 25% of it contained. Cal Fire has reported that this inferno has already destroyed at least 622 houses and poses a threat to 32,387 properties. CNN's Stella Chan contributed to this report.
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In light of the text context, these expanded versions of the two sentences could be:
- Skiers and snowboarders often visit Lake Tahoe to experience its renowned ski resorts.
- The Caldor Fire has forced potential visitors to adjust or even cancel their travel plans for Lake Tahoe due to its impact on Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort.
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Additional Insights
The Caldor Fire in 2021 had a significant impact on travel to Lake Tahoe, particularly at the Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort. Here's how the fire and subsequent recovery efforts affected travel plans:
- Immediate Impact: The Caldor Fire resulted in the loss of 1,600 acres of Sierra-at-Tahoe, including the destruction of a maintenance shed and damage to lift towers and snowcats. As a result, the resort had to close for an entire season, a critical period for ski resorts.
- Recovery Efforts: After the fire, Sierra-at-Tahoe underwent an extensive recovery process, which required clearing thousands of fire-weakened trees and undertaking infrastructure repairs. This effort took time, and the resort did not reopen until December 2022, more than a year after the fire.
- Transformation of the Terrain: The fire transformed the ski area, exposing new terrain suitable for large powder turns but also introducing new challenges like avalanches and crevasses. Sierra-at-Tahoe installed a wind fence to mitigate these risks and smooth out snow drifts.
- Visitor Numbers: Despite the challenges, Sierra-at-Tahoe has seen a steady increase in visitation numbers each season since the fire. However, the numbers have not fully recovered, and the resort is still working to regain its pre-fire visitor levels.
- Ikon Pass Membership: Joining the Ikon Pass helped Sierra-at-Tahoe in terms of marketing and attracting more visitors. This membership has provided a much-needed boost in business, contributing to a resurgence in passholders and day tickets.
The Caldor Fire had a significant impact on travel plans to Lake Tahoe but has allowed Sierra-at-Tahoe to make a remarkable comeback. The resort's recovery efforts transformed the ski area, presenting both challenges and opportunities. The steady increase in visitation numbers and benefits from the Ikon Pass indicate a positive trend for the resort's future.
