Winter Travel Safety Contact(s): Lake Valley Fire Protection District, Leona Allen (530) 577-3737

Meyers, Calif. -The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team would like to remind everyone that extra precautions need to be taken while traveling during the winter. Along with potential hazardous road conditions, motorists can expect extreme delays due to snow conditions or accidents. We recommend following these tips to ensure a safe trip to your destination: Ensure that your vehicle is stocked with extra warm clothing, food, water, a shovel and other survival supplies in case you become stuck on a mountain road.

Make sure that your gas tank is full before leaving on any trip.

ALWAYS carry chains (it's the law!)

Leave your headlights on while driving.

Advise someone when you're leaving and where you're going.

Drive carefully, even when the roads appear dry. Patches of ice tend to accumulate on curves and bridges when the rest of the roadway is clear.

Clean the snow COMPLETELY from your car. Any snow left on your roof can slide down unexpectedly and a thin glaze of ice can reflect in the sun, obstructing your view.

Check road conditions before you leave. For California - http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi or call I-800-427-ROAD (7623). For Nevada - http://www.nevadadot.com/traveler/roads/ or call 877-NV-ROADS (877-687-6237).

or call I-800-427-ROAD (7623). For Nevada - or call 877-NV-ROADS (877-687-6237). You must stop and put on chains when highway signs indicate chains are required. You can be cited by the California Highway Patrol and fined if you don't. You will usually have about a mile between "Chains Required" signs and the checkpoint to install your chains.

If you are driving slower than the traffic around you, use turnouts so that others may pass. ### About the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team



The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team ( TFFT ) consists of representatives of Tahoe Basin fire agencies, Cal Fire, Nevada Division of Forestry and related state agencies, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the USDA Forest Service, conservation districts from both states, the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. Our Mission is to protect lives, property and the environment within the Lake Tahoe Basin from wildfire by implementing prioritized fuels reduction projects and educating the public on becoming a Fire Adapted Community.



For more information, visit www.tahoefft.org.



