Tahoe community targets barbecue grills after wildfire

The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District has launched a campaign to inform residents around Incline Village on the lake’s north shore about a new code that affects the use of propane and charcoal grills and other outdoor cooking devices on decks of multifamily dwellings.

The code bans all propane grills and allows charcoal grills to remain only if a permanent sprinkler system is in place above the deck. It allows only natural gas grills that are permanently installed on a deck and meet certain specifications.

District officials are trying to get the word out about the danger posed by grills to condominium and apartment complexes.

“The way we look at this is these can be very dangerous not only to the occupants with the grills but to everyone in their building,” said Fire Marshal Tom Smith.

In August, a propane grill was blamed for igniting a wooden deck near the resort community of Sunnyside and sparking a 20-acre wildfire. Authorities said the blaze started at one home and quickly spread to four others.

Smith cited statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, which estimated charcoal grills caused 400 home structure fires and gas grills sparked 600 such blazes in 2001.

Sabrina Ferris, association manager of Stillwater Cove condominiums, said her association is taking steps to meet the code.

The restrictions are part of the 2006 International Fire Code that was adopted by the district and took effect on Jan. 1.

The North Tahoe Fire Protection District around Tahoe City, Calif., near where the five homes were destroyed last summer, does not have a similar ordinance and is not considering one, said district Fire Marshal Dave Ruben.

The August blaze occurred about 20 miles north of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., where a wildfire that began June 24 destroyed 254 homes and charred more than 3,000 acres.