The 3 Best Firefighters Around The Lake Tahoe Region

Firefighters serve communities in ways that extend well beyond responding to fires. Today's departments balance emergency medical care, rescue operations, wildfire preparedness and public safety education while remaining ready to respond around the clock. Recognized in the Best of Tahoe are fire agencies and personnel whose work reflects the wide range of responsibilities required to protect residents, visitors and the surrounding landscape throughout the year.

Lake Valley Fire Protection District

Lake Valley Fire Protection District provides fire suppression, advanced life support emergency medical services and wildland fuels management across unincorporated communities surrounding the South Lake Tahoe Basin. The district also responds to wildland fires in challenging, roadless terrain through coordination with regional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Engineer/Paramedic Dusty LaChapelle, a South Lake Tahoe native, joined the district in 2013 after serving with CAL FIRE and Pioneer Fire, and was named Firefighter of the Year in 2016. Engineer/Paramedic Dylan Yuzbick also serves as part of the district's emergency response team.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue provides 24-hour fire suppression, rescue operations and specialized emergency response services within the incorporated city limits of South Lake Tahoe. The department staffs its frontline engines and medical units with paramedics to deliver advanced life support care before patients reach the hospital. Firefighter/Paramedic Luke Daum has served with the department since at least 2021 as part of its full-time emergency response team.

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