CA names bi-state fire commish members

Bee Metro Staff
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, July 28, 2007


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named a slate of California delegates to a bistate commission that will review laws, policies and practices that affect the vulnerability of the Tahoe basin to wildfires.

The California-Nevada Tahoe Basin Fire Commission will evaluate ways to reduce the threat of wildfires, and is to submit recommendations by March 21, 2008.

"It is crucial that we all work together to prevent something like the Angora fire from happening again," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "With this action, I know California and Nevada will rise to the occasion and make sure the Lake Tahoe basin remains as safe as it is beautiful."

On Friday, the governor named State Fire Marshal Kate Dargan co-chair of the commission.

Also named as California's voting members: Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ruben Grijalva; California Environmental Protection Agency Undersecretary Cindy Tuck; California Tahoe Conservancy Executive Director Pat Wright; Lake Valley Fire District Chief Jeff Michael; Nevada Fire Safe Council Tahoe Basin coordinator John Pickett; North Lake Tahoe Resort Association board of directors member Ron McIntyre; and Angora fire victim John Upton.

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Chair Julie Motamedi and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board Chair Amy Horne were named as nonvoting members.