What?
The Fire District Operations Program includes service delivery, disaster planning, infrastructure (buildings, equipment, and rolling stock), communications, and purchasing.

Our emergency service delivery is basically broken down into:

Who Serves You?

Yes, You are the reason we exist, so you are at the TOP! While we hope we never have to visit you for an emergency, please realize that our raison d’etre is to respond to your 911 needs.

When? 24/7!
The District is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week--yes, we’re even here on holidays! Of course we’d love it if you could plan your emergencies during the sunny, daylight hours, preferably after meal times...yeah right! Since you don’t really plan your emergencies, we are poised and ready to respond at all hours of the day (and night.)We try to staff two on during the days, with one on during the nights. Often, during our peak summer season, we have three to four on during the days. We also rely heavily on the volunteers--while they don’t actually stay at the station, each of them carries a pager, and responds from wherever they happen to be.

Where?
Our initial emergency response area is from the El Dorado/ Placer County line on the North, to the northern boundary of Bliss State Park on the south. Through mutual aid agreements, we also respond to 911 calls up to Tahoe Ski Bowl Way (Homewood,) as well as to Eagle Falls in Emerald Bay. Through a contract, we also help the local State Parks out on their emergencies. Members of our staff have also helped on Search and Rescue calls from Squaw Valley to remote areas south of Placerville. When it is really hot and burning, we’ll respond an engine all over the region, and have traveled as far as Yosemite, Reno, Carson City, Loyalton, etc. While the majority of our calls are right here in Tahoma, we are ready to help out wherever needed, while still maintaining sufficient resources to serve the District.

Why?
If the world were perfect, and our prevention program 100% successful, there would be no emergencies. Fortunately, we’re all human and therein lies the answer to the question "why?" Too philosophical? We’re really here because you’ve asked us to look after the safety and welfare of the community. Initially our main task was to suppress fires, however, over the years, we have evolved into an "all risk" type of agency and actually respond to more medical calls than fires. The main reason we exist is to protect the lives, property and environment in this beautiful community here at Lake Tahoe. While these three elements can usually coexist peacefully, once in awhile unexpected chaos occurs resulting in a 911 call for help. (What an existential question--when was the last time you had to justify your existence here on this earth?)