The Angora fire has been burning up more than trees and houses, it has been burning money. Estimates for damage to structures alone has hit $141 million.
The last large fire on the Sierra Front, the 8,723-acre Waterfall fire, cost $8 million to fight in 2004. We assume those costs will increase substantially to fight the Angora fire.
Calling in air protection is not a small part of the cost of fighting the fire. A large tanker off contract can cost up to $10,000 an hour, which explains the reluctance of fire managers to call in the tankers at Minden-Tahoe Airport.
Explains it ... but perhaps does not justify it.
One of the reasons we've fought to keep the Minden tanker base here in the Valley is to keep the big planes close to where the fires are.
While $240,000 for a days' worth of tanker drops off contract seems like a lot of money, it's a pittance compared to the cost of the estimated 200 homes and businesses destroyed in the fire.
We understand that there are more people in Reno and Sparks, but South Lake Tahoe is a city in the trees and the Angora fire is a hard lesson in the need for a quick, full response.
Anyone who deals with an emergency situation knows that the best response is one where everybody comes running, now.
