Who decides whether or not it's a burn day?
At this time, Air Resources Board (ARB) makes the decision, each day, whether or not it is a burn day. This decision is not made by any other government agency. You can call 888-332-2876 to find out burn day status.

How you can get a burn permit
Prior to receiving a burn permit you must first complete the following tasks.

Call the District office at (530) 525-7548, between 8:00am and Noon, and make an appointment for a site inspection.

If you have had a burn permit the year before, and will be burning in the same location, we will be happy to issue a burn permit at the District office.

How you can find out if Emerald Bay is open or closed
(is there an alternate route)?
The easiest, most up to date, and most accurate way to find out if Hwy. 89 is open around Emerald Bay, is to call the CalTrans road conditions number. Dial 800-427-ROAD (7623), press the highway number in question (89), and listen carefully. If the recording says that Hwy. 89 is closed five miles north of Hwy. 50 to D.L. Bliss State Park, then Emerald Bay is closed.

If Emerald Bay is closed, the only way to get to South Lake Tahoe is to travel around the East Shore, through Nevada.

Who you can call regarding a dead or injured wild animal
Or Bear Problems
You can contact either State Fish and Game at (916) 358-2900 or El Dorado County - Wild Animal Rescue at (530) 577-2273, or (530) 525-PAWS for problem bears.

How you can become a volunteer
Contact the District office at (530) 525-7548, or stop by Station 61 located at 8041 Emerald Bay Road, Meeks Bay, and talk to the Fire Chief or Duty Officer.

How you can join the Auxiliary
The Auxiliary is always happy to gain new members. They hold their meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at Station 61 located at 8041 Emerald Bay Road, Meeks Bay. The meetings start at 7:00pm. Please call (530) 525-7548 to confirm the date.

What happens when you call 911?
When you have an emergency and dial 911, because you are calling from El Dorado County, your call is routed to the El Dorado County Dispatch office in Placerville. If your emergency does not require the attention of the Sheriff’s office, your call will then be routed to Placer County Dispatch (PCSO) at Lake Tahoe, located in Tahoe City.

The reason for re-routing these emergency calls is because this District works very closely with the fire agencies in the north Tahoe area who are also dispatched through Placer County. Additionally, the PCSO is more familiar with our local area than the dispatchers in Placerville or Camino.

Where is the Meeks Bay Trail Head?
If you enjoy hiking in the summer or cross-country skiing and/or snowshoeing in the winter, you may be interested in locating the Meeks Bay Trail Head. The trail head is located just north of Meeks Creek (which is just north of Station 61) on Hwy. 89, on the west side, in Meeks Bay. It is also just south of Meeks Bay Resort.

How can you contact Meeks Bay Resort and/or the U.S. Forest Service campground located behind the fire station?
Meeks Bay Resort’s phone number is 530-525-6946

The U.S. Forest Service campground, located directly behind Station 61, is run by California Land Management (CLM) and their reservation number is 877-444-6777. The Campground Host’s site is #32.

When is it illegal to park on the street?
It is illegal to park on the street, even if there is no snow, any time between November 1 and May 1 of each year. The fine is $208.00! Additionally, there are a few other "No Parking" areas posted in the District - keep your eyes open for the signs. If in doubt, do not park anywhere that will block a fire engine from getting by.

Who provides snow removal in the mountains
(roads and highways)?
Snow removal on the highways is provided by CalTrans. Snow removal on surface streets is provided by El Dorado County Department of Transportation, within the county boundaries. Our County Service Area currently has two graders (snow plows) and two rotaries (blowers). They remove snow from our streets as quickly as the snow fall allows. Remember, the County can clear the streets faster if there are no vehicles blocking the road (see above).

What is defensible space?
It’s the law. Defensible space is the clearing of all flammable vegetation around your home, at least 30' from the structure. Clear dead leaves and cut small trees and brush. Clean all needles and leaves from the roof and eaves. Trim tree limbs within ten feet of your chimney and trim all dead limbs hanging over your house and/or garage. Make sure your chimney has a spark arrester of ½" mesh screen. Please contact us, or call 800-TAHOEGReen, if you have any questions.

Where is Lake Tahoe?
Usually, when this question is asked, the person is referring to the casinos located at South Lake Tahoe. If this is the case, simply head south on Hwy. 89, from Meeks Bay, until you reach Hwy. 50 (the first signal light - approximately 20 miles). At Hwy. 50, turn left and continue until you locate the casino of your choice.

If, in deed, you are looking for the lake, or access to it, there are numerous locations around the lake to obtain access. However, there are only two locations in this District, where the public can access the lake and they are both in Meeks Bay. One is at Meeks Bay Resort and the other is at the U.S. Forest Service - Meeks Bay Campgrounds. Both require a fee for parking within their gates.

Referrals for services  - Who You Should Call?
(chimney cleaning, defensible space clearing, snow removal)
The best referral for chimney cleaning and repair, help creating a defensible space, and residential snow removal is the yellow pages of the local phone book.

When and Where are Board Meetings Held?
Meeks Bay Fire Protection District typically holds its meetings on the fourth Wednesday of each month, at 5:30pm, at Station 61 located at 8041 Emerald Bay Road, Meeks Bay. However, occasionally, the day of the board meeting may change so we recommend that you call (530) 525-7548 to confirm.

What’s on the Board’s Agenda?
The board agenda is posted in four locations: Station 61 - 8041 Emerald Bay Road, Meeks Bay; Station 62 - 7164 Seventh Avenue, Tahoma; the laundromat at 7000 Emerald Bay Road (near the Tahoma Post Office at Pine & Hwy. 89); and PDQ Tahoma Market - 6890 West Lake Boulevard, Tahoma.

If you would like to receive an agenda each month, we can send one directly to you. We can e-mail it, fax it or mail it, whichever you prefer. Just write us a letter and let us know how you would like to receive it.

When is the Pancake Breakfast?
Typically, the Meeks Bay Volunteer Firefighters Association - Annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast is held the first weekend in July.

Why you need to post your house number, 
and where you should post it
In an emergency, the more help we have locating you, the faster we can get there. House numbers should be a minimum of 4" in height. Please make sure your house numbers are more than just visible from the road. Make sure they are obvious from the road. Have a friend or neighbor drive by your house, without telling them where to look, and see if they are able to locate your house number "immediately." That’s how much time we have to locate your house number. Remember, we can’t help you if we can’t find you.

Who you can call about prescribed burning in the Basin?
Various agencies use fire as a tool to remove the excessive vegetative fuel that has accumulated throughout the years. If you know the landowner that is conducting the prescribed burn, contact them (U.S. Forest Service, California Tahoe Conservancy, California State Parks, private landowners, etc.).

If you want to burn on your property, see "How you can get a burn permit?"

What Do Firefighters Do When They Aren't Fighting A Fire?
A Day In The Life of a Meeks Bay Firefighter:
r Firefighter r Mechanic r Coordinator r Mail Clerk r Liaison r Hazmateer r Board Clerk r Planner r Duty Officer r Actuarialist r Payroll Clerk r Investor r Safety Officer r Speaker r Accountant r Promoter r Maintenance Man r Community Support Specialist r Typist r Motivator r Chamber of Commerce r Baker r Plan Reviewer  r Politician r Lost Travelers’ Helper r Economist/ Financier  r Survey Analyst r Hydrant Shoveler r Copier r Chain Monkey r Proof Reader r Campground Host r Ghost Writer r Radio Technician r Filing Clerk r Painter r Receptionist r Electrician r Coffee Maker r Collator r Carpenter r Editor r Counselor r Snow Shoveler r Benefits Analyst r Typesetter r Janitor r Scheduler r Teacher r Student r Problem Solver r Engineer r Contractor r Courier r Prevention Officer r Inspector r Rescuer r Plumber r Paper Pusher r Statistician r Exerciser r Infrastructure Manager r Crisis Preventor r Cook r Purchaser r Researcher r Public Relations r Report Filler-Outer r Landscaper r Telephone Operator r Hydrant Maintainer r Janitorial Engineer r Sales Person r House Cleaner r Vehicle Detailer r Small Tool Repairman r CPR Instructor r Information Specialist r Rope Technician r Inventory Clerk r Records Clerk r Fire Instructor r Chimney Inspector r Mover r Fitness Nut r Gopher r Pump Panel Operator r Sausage Searer r Hose Roller r ChiefCook&BottleWasher r Explainer r EMT r

How You Can Become A Firefighter?
Despite the labor shortage in many areas of the nation, the fire service is blessed with an abundant source of applicants for every opening. It is not unheard of to have hundreds, if not thousands, of prospective candidates at any given testing. Firefighting is considered one of the top occupations in this Country.

So...what do you have to do to get one of these coveted jobs?

Well, there are as many answers to this as there are firefighters, however, if you’re really serious about becoming a firefighter, we suggest the following (not necessarily in order):